Overview:
Eczema is a state wherein patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, cracked, and demanding. Some forms can also cause blisters.
Different kinds and stages of eczema affect 31.6 million men and women in the United States, which can be over 10% of the population.
Many people use the term eczema when referring to atopic dermatitis, which is the most frequent type.
The expression atopic describes a collection of conditions that involve the immune system, such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and hay fever.
The term dermatitis means inflammation of the skin.
Certain foods, such as nuts and dairy, can cause symptoms. Environmental triggers include pollen, smoke, soaps, and fragrances.
Some people outgrow the illness, whereas others are going to continue to have it during adulthood.
This article will explain what eczema is and go over its symptoms, treatments, causes, and types.
Symptoms:
The signs of atopic dermatitis can vary based upon the age of the man that has it.
Atopic dermatitis is common in infants, with dry and scaly patches appearing on the skin. These patches are usually intensely itchy.
Continuous rubbing and scratching can lead to skin infections. Learn how to spot infected eczema here.
In most cases, however, eczema is mild.
The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
Dry, scaly skin
Itching
Skin Flushing
Some of the symptoms of eczema are different in people with darker skin. Individuals with severe eczema may require more intensive treatment to ease their symptoms.
Most people with the condition develop it before the age of five years. But, an estimated 60% of children will no longer reveal symptoms by adolescence.
People with the illness will often experience periods of time in their symptoms worsen, followed by periods of time if their symptoms will enhance or clear up.
The symptoms in children and adults may be different. The following sections will outline some of these differences in more detail.
Symptoms in Infants:
The following atopic dermatitis symptoms are common in infants under the age of 2:
- Rashes around the scalp and cheeks
- Some Rashes that bubble up before leaking fluid
- Rashes that can cause intense itchiness, which may hinder sleep
Symptoms in children:
The following atopic dermatitis symptoms are common in kids age 2 and above:
- Rashes that appear behind the creases of elbows or knees
- Rashes that appear on the neck, thighs, ankles, and the crease between the buttocks and legs
- bumpy rashes
- Rashes that can eventually become lighter or darker
- Skin thickening, also known as lichenification, can subsequently develop into a permanent itch
Symptoms in adults:
The following atopic dermatitis symptoms are typical in adults:
- Rashes that normally appear at the creases of the elbows or knees or the nape of their neck
- Rashes that cover much of the entire body
- Very dry skin on the affected areas
- rashes that are permanently itchy
- Skin ailments
Adults who developed atopic dermatitis as a child but no more experience the condition may still have dry or easily irritated skin, hand eczema, and eye problems.
The appearance of skin affected by atopic dermatitis will be dependent on how much a person scratches and whether the skin is infected.
Scratching and rubbing can further irritate the skin, increase inflammation, and make the itching worse.
Treatments:
There’s currently no cure for eczema. Treatment for the condition aims to heal the affected skin and prevent flares of symptoms.
Doctors will suggest a treatment plan based on an individual’s age, symptoms, and present state of health.
For some people, eczema goes away with time. For others, however, it is a lifelong illness.
The sections below will list some treatment options.
Home Remedies:
There are several things that individuals with eczema can do in order to support skin health and alleviate symptoms.
For example, they can try:
- Applying moisturizer over 3 minutes of bathing to”lock-in” moisture
- Using a humidifier in cold or dry weather
- With a mild soap or a non-soap cleanser when washing
- Taking extra precautions to prevent eczema flares in the winter
- Air drying or gently patting the skin dry with a towel, rather than massaging against the skin dry after bathing or taking a bath
- Keeping fingernails short to stop scratching from breaking the skin
People can also try various natural remedies for eczema, including aloe vera, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar.
Medications:
Physicians can prescribe several medications to treat the symptoms of eczema, including:
Topical corticosteroid creams and lotions: All these are anti-inflammatory medications and ought to relieve the main symptoms of eczema, such as inflammation and itchiness.
Folks can apply them directly to the skin. A range of topical corticosteroid creams and lotions are available online. Some people may benefit from prescription-strength medications, nevertheless.
Systemic corticosteroids: When topical treatments are not successful, a physician may prescribe systemic corticosteroids.
All these are available as injections or oral tablets. People should only use them for short periods of time.
Also, it’s important to say that the symptoms may worsen upon stopping these medications if the person isn’t already taking another medication for your condition.
Antibiotics: Doctors prescribe antibiotics when eczema happens alongside a bacterial skin infection.
Antiviral and antifungal medications: These can treat fungal and viral infections.
Antihistamines: All these can reduce the risk of night scratching, as they tend to cause drowsiness.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors: This medication suppresses the activities of their immune system. It decreases inflammation and helps prevent flares.
Barrier repair moisturizers: All these decrease water loss and function to repair the skin.
Phototherapy: This involves exposure to UVA or UVB waves. This technique can treat moderate dermatitis. A physician will monitor the skin carefully during the treatment.
Even though the state itself isn’t currently curable, each person ought to have a tailored treatment plan.
Also, even after an area of skin has healed, it is important to keep looking after it, as it may easily become irritated again.
Causes:
The specific cause of eczema remains unidentified, but many health professionals believe that it develops because of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Children are more likely to develop eczema when a parent has it or another atopic condition. If both parents have an atopic condition, the danger is even higher.
Some environmental factors can bring out the symptoms of eczema. These factors include:
Irritants: These include soaps, detergents, shampoos, disinfectants, juices from fruits, meats, and vegetables.
Allergens: Dust mites, pets, pollens, and mold can all lead to eczema. This is known as allergic eczema.
Microbes: These include bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, viruses, and certain fungi.
Hot and cold temperatures: Really hot and very cold weather, high and low temperatures, and perspiration from exercise can bring out eczema.
Foods: Dairy products, eggs, nuts and seeds, soy products, and wheat can cause eczema.
Anxiety: This is not a direct cause of eczema, but it can make the symptoms worse.
Hormones: Females may experience increased eczema symptoms if the hormone levels are changing, such as during pregnancy and at certain points in the menstrual cycle.
Types:
There are several types of eczema. Apart from atopic dermatitis, other types include:
Allergic contact dermatitis: This can be a skin reaction that occurs following contact with a substance or allergen that the immune system recognizes as foreign.
Dyshidrotic eczema: This refers to irritation of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of their feet. It is characterized by blisters.
Neurodermatitis: This leads to scaly patches of skin on your head, forearms, wrists, and lower thighs. It occurs due to a localized itch, such as from an insect sting.
Discoid eczema: Also known as nummular eczema, this type gifts as circular patches of irritated skin that can be crusted, scaly, and itchy.
Stasis dermatitis: This describes skin irritation of the lower leg. It’s usually related to circulatory issues.
Summary
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition. The most common type is called atopic dermatitis.
Eczema is most common in children, but the majority grow out of it by the time they reach adolescence.
Although there’s presently no cure, people can treat and prevent eczema flares using home remedies, moisturizers, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Ask your friends and loved ones for support.
If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…
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