Eczema is a common skin infection that causes dry skin, itchy, rashes, scaly, blisters, and patches of skin. It’s a common illness that isn’t contagious. Eczema is often scratchy, and it can be very attractive to scratch the affected spots on the skin. But scratching usually injures the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to spread.
Research has shown that deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred. Try to reduce scratching IF possible. Also, you could try massaging the affected area instead. Itchy skin is the most common sign of eczema. Severe eczema may include periods of outbreaks that can last many days or even several weeks.
This type of eczema comes with other difficulties beyond itchy skin and rashes and can lead to hospitalization if left untreated. So it’s important to get a diagnosis. A dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional will also have professional knowledge of treatment options, developing your symptom management plan, and stopping future outbreaks.
SYMPTOMS
Multiple people with eczema often have symptoms like hay fever, allergic asthma, and food allergies. Proper, consistent skin care is essential in the prevention and control of eczema. Eczema is a normal condition, but you can take steps to avoid stimuli and prevent symptoms from affecting your skin.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ECZEMA?
There are different types of eczema according to the symptoms. From the types, you can get the treatment.
Atopic Eczema (Dermatitis)
The main type of eczema is sometimes called dermatitis or atopic eczema. It affects 2 in 10 children and 1 in 10 adults. There is usually a family history and people who have atopic eczema are likely to get asthma or hay fever too. Eczema on the ankle, Eczema on the back of the knees
Discoid Eczema
Also known as nummular eczema and discoid dermatitis. You get circular or oval patches of eczema on your skin.
Contact Dermatitis
This happens when your skin comes in contact with things that trigger your eczema. Things like: detergents, bleach, jewelry, latex, nickel, paints, poisonous plants, skin care products, soaps, perfumes, solvents, foundations, and powders.
Varicose Eczema
Also known as venous or stasis eczema it often affects your lower legs. It occurs because there are issues with the flow of blood via your leg veins. This is more common in people aged 65 and above.
Dyshidrotic Eczema (Pompholyx)
This happens when Small blisters break out across the palms of your hands and the flanks of your fingers.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ECZEMA?
The main cause of eczema is unidentified, but researchers do know that people develop eczema because of an exchange between genes, an overactive immune system, stress, and being exposed to environmental stimuli like dry weather, dust, soap, and cream reactions, excessive heat or cold, makeup products, fragrances, wipes and shampoos.
Overactive immune system:
Atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, results from an overactive immune system that causes the skin barrier to become dehydrated and itchy.
This disorder can surface on any part of the body and has various symptoms. Many factors can contribute to eczema, including an interaction between your environment and your genes. When an irritant or an allergen from outside or inside the body “switches on” the immune system, it produces a rash, or a flare-up, on the surface of the skin. This rash causes the symptoms common to most types of eczema. Wrinkles of the skin, especially the flexural areas behind the knees, elbows, lower legs, and other areas of skin that rub against each other can lead to irritation.
Genetics:
There is also a potential genetic element to eczema that includes a protein called “filaggrin” that helps maintain moisture in your skin; a filaggrin weakness can lead to more dehydrated, itchier skin. If you have family members with atopic dermatitis and certain other types of eczema, you may be at an increased risk.
Environment:
Along with having a family history of eczema, many common family items are also potential environmental irritants and can cause allergic reactions leading to an eczema flare.
Courses of some Common triggers of eczema may include:
- Extended exposure to dry air, excessive heat, or cold
- Some types of soap, shampoos that cause dander, bubble bath products, body wash, and facial cleansers
- Laundry detergents and fabric softeners with chemical additives
- Certain materials like wool or polyester in clothing and sheets
- External cleaners and disinfectants
- Natural liquids like the juice from fruit, vegetables, and meats
- Formaldehyde, which is found in household disinfectants, some vaccines, glues and adhesives
- Isothiazolinone, an antibacterial found in personal care products like baby wipes
- Cocamidopropyl betaine, which is used to thicken shampoos and lotions
- Paraphenylenediamine, which is used in leather dyes and temporary tattoos, Dust mites, and living in dirty spaces
Stress:
stress can also trigger an eczema flare-up, but it’s not precisely known why. Some people’s eczema symptoms and flare-ups get more threatening when they’re under stress. Many get stressed, simply learning they have eczema, and this can stimulate skin flare-ups.
WHERE ARE THE COMMON PLACES ECZEMA APPEARS ON THE BODY?
Eczema can appear anywhere on your skin. The numerous common places where you’ll see symptoms of eczema include the hands, Neck, Elbows, Ankles, Knees, Feet, Face, particularly your checks even on the ears and lips. Eczema can also appear in less expected places like Nipples, Breasts, Folds of skin around the vagina, and Penis.
CAN ECZEMA BE TREATED?
Your treatment for eczema is special to you and what caused your symptoms to flare up? Moisturizing regularly using gentle or sensitive skin moisturizers is extremely helpful in the treatment of eczemas,
Keep the room temperature as regular as possible. Changes in room temperature and humidity can dry your skin, use a material or fabric that will not irritate your skin. Use sensitive skin or unscented laundry detergent.
Light therapy to improve the appearance of your skin and remove blemishes, avoid triggers, and apply moisturizer when your skin is damp after a bath or shower.
Take baths or showers with warm, not hot, water. Stay hydrated and drink a lot of water each day, Water helps keep your skin moist. Apply topical medications to your skin as advised by a dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional. Take oral medications like anti-inflammatory medicines, antihistamines, or corticosteroids to reduce itchiness and swelling.
CAN A PARTICULAR FOOD ACTIVATE ECZEMA?
The relation between eczema and food might be allergies. If you have food allergies, you must avoid that particular food. One of the reasons you must avoid that food is that it may provoke or aggravate your eczema symptoms. Some common allergies to food are Peanuts, Dairy, milk, and Eggs.
Pay detailed attention to what you eat. If your eczema flares up after you eat a particular food, then you might have an allergy to it. If you don’t have a food allergy, then there are no foods that will cause or aggravate your eczema.
ARE THERE COMPLICATIONS OF ECZEMA?
When Eczema is not managed and treated, it can lead to some complications which can affect the body.
Sleep crises: Eczema can cause difficulty sleeping and disrupt your sleep hygiene.
Skin infections: Constant scratching may leave your skin open to and prone to bacteria and viruses that can cause infections.
Thick and scaled skin: Scratching may cause your skin to harden and thicken over time.
Additional types of eczema: Usually, having one type of eczema can raise your chance of having another developed.
Asthma and hay fever: Eczema can often lead to developing asthma or hay fever, especially in children younger than age 12.
Skin change: Patches of skin that are dimmer or more delicate than the surrounding region. This complication after the rash has healed is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. It’s more common in people with brown or Black skin. It might take several months for the discoloration to disappear.
HOW CAN ECZEMA BE DIAGNOSED?
There’s no precise test that can be used to diagnose eczema. Usually, a doctor can diagnose the condition by looking at your skin, asking you about your symptoms, and studying your skin. Occasionally, a patch examination might be done to help find eczema triggers. A patch examination can identify particular allergens that trigger symptoms, like skin allergies associated with contact dermatitis
During a patch examination, an allergen is applied to a patch that’s put on the skin. Your skin will become inflamed and irritated if the allergen is a trigger for you.
HOW LONG THOSE THE TREATMENT TAKE EFFECT?
After treatment, it could take several weeks before your skin clears up completely. Medications specified by your Doctor relieve your symptoms and heal faster. If your symptoms get more deficient even after treatment, or if they don’t disappear after a few weeks, consult your Doctor.
Many people live with eczema, and it can be challenging, but it is not a death sentence. Eczema can be well managed with a good skincare routine, the goal of treatment is to prevent flare-ups and your symptoms from getting worse. Finally, be sure to avoid triggers, moisturize, take your medicine, and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.