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Permalink Reply by eczema living on April 5, 2017 at 3:45am

Eczema is sometimes called dermatitis which means inflammation of the skin. There are different types of eczema. The most common type is atopic eczema. In this type of eczema there is a typical pattern of skin inflammation which causes the symptoms.

The word atopic describes people with certain allergic tendencies. However, atopic eczema is not just a simple allergic condition. People with atopic eczema have an increased chance of developing other atopic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.

How Does Eczema Affect Your Life?

Eczema can be a very stressful and frustrating condition, and can make living your daily life challenging and uncomfortable. The intense, frequent itch can cause loss of sleep and days off from work, and many children have to miss school days. You may find yourself making significant lifestyle changes and even avoiding fun activities, like going to the pool or playing a sport, because of your eczema. You may wear certain clothes to cover up the way it looks. Of course, if you’re a parent, you may worry if you’re doing everything you can to help your child.

What are the types of eczema?

When people refer to eczema, they usually mean atopic dermatitis. This is the common and chronic type of eczema. Other types include:

•  Contact dermatitis is caused by contact with irritants. Burning, itching, and redness occur. The inflammation goes away when the irritant is removed.
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis affects fingers, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. It causes itchy, scaly patches of skin that flake or become red, cracked, and painful. The condition is more common in women.
• Nummular dermatitis causes dry, round patches of skin in the winter months. It usually affects the legs. It is more common in men.
• Seborrheic dermatitis causes itchy, red, scaly rashes, particularly on the scalp, on the eyebrows, on the eyelids, on the sides of the nose, and behind the ears.

What causes eczema?

The cause of eczema is not fully understood. But it is thought to be triggered by an overactive immune system that responds aggressively to the presence of irritants.

An eczema flare-up is when one or more eczema symptoms appear on the skin. Common triggers of eczema flare-ups include:

•     chemicals found in cleaners and detergents that dry out the skin
•     rough scratchy material like wool
•     synthetic fabrics
•     raised body temperature
•     sweating
•     temperature changes
•     sudden drop in humidity
•     stress
•     food allergies
•     animal dander
•     upper respiratory infections

Signs and symptoms

The classic symptoms of eczema are:  

Itching.  This is the worst aspect because it can be upsetting for the child.  It also makes the child scratch causing further rawness of the skin and possible infections to develop.
Redness caused by extra blood flowing through the blood vessels in the skin in the affected area.
A grainy appearance to the skin, caused by tiny fluid filled blisters just under the skin called “vesicles.”
Weeping when the blisters burst, either by themselves or because of scratching, and the fluid oozes on to the surface of the skin.
Crusts or scabs that form when the fluid dries.
Children with eczema often have dry, scaly skin.  This may be the result of the disease or it may also be the natural skin type of the family.  Dry skin can be a predisposing factor to developing eczema.
Pale patches of skin may appear because eczema can disturb the production of pigment which controls skin colour. The effect does fade and disappear.
Lichenification - a leathery, thicker skin area in response to scratching.

Eczema Treatments?

Good skin care is key. If your eczema is mild, that might be all you need, along with some changes in your daily habits.

If you have severe eczema, you may need to take medicine for it, too.

Soap and moisturizer. Use a mild soap or soap substitute that won't dry your skin. You’ll also want a good moisturizer in cream, lotion, or ointment form. Smooth it on right after a shower or bath, as well as one other time each day.

Short, warm showers. Don’t take very hot or very long showers or baths. They can dry out your skin.

Stress management. Get regular exercise, and set aside time to relax. Need a few ideas? You could get together with friends, laugh, listen to music, meditate or pray, or enjoy a hobby.

Get a humidifier. Dry air can be stressful for your skin.

Medicines

If your doctor decides you need meds to treat your eczema, those may include:

Hydrocortisone. Over-the-counter cream or ointment versions of it may help mild eczema. If yours is severe, you may need a prescription dose.

Antihistamines. Ones you take by mouth are available over-the-counter and may help relieve symptoms. Some of these make you drowsy, but others don’t.

Corticosteroids. Your doctor may prescribe these if other treatments don’t work. Always follow your doctor's directions when taking steroids by mouth.

Thanks,
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