An overview of Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that causes dry and itchy patches of skin. It’s a common condition that isn’t contagious. Symptoms of eczema can flare up if you contact an irritant or an allergen.

1. Atopic dermatitis : This is what people are usually talking about when they say “eczema.” This is the most common form, and it affects more than 7% of American adults. It’s also linked to other allergic disorders, like asthma and hay fever, and often starts in childhood.

2. Contact dermatitis : Nearly everyone gets this at some point in their lives. It happens when your skin comes into contact with something that causes a rash. The trigger can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Triggers are unique to each person and vary by the two types of contact dermatitis: Irritant dermatitis and Allergic dermatitis

3. Dyshidrotic eczema : This is a less common but more challenging form of eczema. It causes outbreaks of tiny blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sides of the fingers. It may be triggered by sweating or irritants like metals.

2. Neurodermatitis : This type of eczema tends to cause just one or two intensely itchy patches, often on the nape of the neck, an arm, or a leg. Risk factors include having another form of eczema, like atopic or contact dermatitis, or just very dry skin. But it’s also linked to some mental health issues like anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Women between the ages of 30 and 50 have a higher chance of getting it than other people.

5. Nummular eczema : This coin-shaped eczema often appears after a skin injury like a burn or insect bite. You’re more likely to get nummular eczema if you or your family members have atopic dermatitis, allergies, or asthma.

6. Seborrheic dermatitis : This happens in areas of your body with lots of oil glands. When it’s on your scalp, it’s called dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis probably results from a severe reaction to a high amount of Malassezia yeast, a common organism, on the skin. It’s also linked to other skin conditions, like psoriasis, acne, and rosacea, as well as a variety of other diseases.

Stasis dermatitis : This type happens in people who have poor blood flow, usually in the lower legs. Unlike some other types of eczema, these plaques aren’t linked to faulty genes. Some lifestyle habits raise the risk too, like being overweight and not getting enough activity.

The cause of eczema isn’t completely understood. However, researchers think that it’s triggered by an overactive immune system or An immune system response to something irritating.

Additionally, researchers have found that some people with eczema don’t make enough of a protein called filaggrin (filament aggregating protein). This protein is responsible for helping your skin stay moisturized and healthy.

Eczema tends to flare when your skin is exposed to external irritants, which cause your immune system to overreact. We’ve listed common triggers for flare-ups below.

1. Chemicals or preservatives found in cleansers and detergents

2. External allergens such as pollens, mold, dust, or dust mites

3. Rough scratchy material, like wool

2. Sweating

5. Stress

6. Animal dander

7. Respiratory infections or colds

Eczema symptoms can appear anywhere on the body and vary widely from person to person. They may include:

1. Dry, cracked skin

2.Itchiness (pruritus)

3. Rash on swollen skin that varies in color depending on your skin color

2.Small, raised bumps, on brown or Black skin

5. Oozing and crusting

6. Thickened skin

7. Darkening of the skin around the eyes

8. Raw, sensitive skin from scratching

Developing a basic skin care routine may help prevent eczema flares. The following tips may help reduce the drying effects of bathing:

1. Moisturize your skin at least twice a day. Creams, ointments, shea butter and lotions seal in moisture. Choose a product or products that work well for you. Ideally, the best one for you will be safe, effective, affordable and unscented.Using petroleum jelly on your baby's skin may help prevent development of atopic dermatitis.

2. Take a daily bath or shower. Use warm, rather than hot, water and limit your bath or shower to about 10 minutes.

3. Use a gentle, nonsoap cleanser. Choose a cleanser that's free of dyes, alcohols and fragrance. For young children, you usually need only warm water to get them clean — no soap or bubble bath needed. Soap can be especially irritating to the skin of young children. For people of any age, deodorant soaps and antibacterial soaps can remove too much of the skin's natural oils and dry the skin. Don't scrub the skin with a washcloth or loofah.

2. Pat dry. After bathing, gently pat the skin with a soft towel. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp (within three minutes).

5. Avoid irritants and allergens.

6. Use a humidifier if dry air makes your skin dry.

A healthcare provider will diagnose eczema after a physical exam, where they can take a close look at your skin. Most often, people receive an eczema diagnosis as a child, as it’s common among children, but a diagnosis can happen at any age when symptoms arise.

Symptoms of eczema can look similar to other conditions. Your provider might offer tests to rule out other conditions and confirm your diagnosis. Tests could include:

1. An allergy test.

2. Blood tests to check for causes of the rash that might be unrelated to dermatitis.

3. A skin biopsy to distinguish one type of dermatitis from another.

A dermatologist, allergist, or primary care doctor can help you identify the correct treatment for eczema. The right treatment for you will depend on the type and severity of your eczema. You might find it helpful to combine more than one treatment.

Options include:

Medications

Oral over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines can relieve itching. They work by blocking allergic reactions triggered by histamine. However, they can cause drowsiness, so it’s best to take them when you don’t need to be alert.

Examples include:

1. cetirizine (Zyrtec)

2. diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

3. fexofenadine (Allegra)

2. loratadine (Claritin)

5. Cortisone (steroid) creams and ointments can relieve itching and scaling. But they can have side effects after long-term use, including: thinning of the skin, irritation, discoloration

Low potency steroids, like hydrocortisone, are available OTC and can help treat mild eczema. High potency steroids for moderate or severe eczema can be prescribed by a doctor.

A doctor might prescribe oral corticosteroids when topical hydrocortisone isn’t helping, These can cause serious side effects, including bone loss.

Immunosuppressants are prescription medications that prevent your immune system from overreacting. This prevents flare-ups of eczema. Side effects include an increased risk of developing cancer, infection, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.

Therapies

Light therapy, or phototherapy, uses ultraviolet light or sunlamps to help prevent immune system responses that trigger eczema. It requires a series of treatments and can help reduce or clear up eczema. It can also prevent bacterial skin infections.

Lifestyle changes

Stress can trigger symptoms or make them worse. Ways to reduce stress include:

1. doing deep breathing exercises

2. practicing yoga

3. meditating

2. listening to relaxing music

5. prioritizing a good night’s sleep

A cold compress can help alleviate itching, as can soaking for 15 to 20 minutes in a warm or lukewarm bath.

Alternative treatments

1. green, black, or oolong tea

2.coconut, sunflower, borage, and primrose oils

3. acupuncture

2.aromatherapy

There are several things that people with eczema can do to support skin health and alleviate symptoms.

1.taking lukewarm baths

2. applying moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing to “lock in” moisture

3. avoiding rough, scratchy fibers and tight fitting clothing

2.using a humidifier in dry or cold weather

5. using a mild soap or a non-soap cleanser when washing

6. where possible, avoiding rapid changes of temperature and activities that cause sweating

7. keeping fingernails short to prevent scratching from breaking the skin

8. air drying or gently patting the skin dry with a towel, rather than rubbing the skin dry after bathing or taking a shower

9. taking extra precautions to prevent eczema flares in winter

Sleep troubles : Eczema can cause difficulty sleeping and disrupt your sleep hygiene.

Skin infections : Repeated scratching can leave your skin open to bacteria and viruses that can cause infections.

Asthma and hay fever : Eczema can often lead to developing asthma or hay fever, especially in children younger than age 12.

Thick and scaly skin : Scratching can cause your skin to harden and thicken over time.

Additional types of eczema : Often, having one type of eczema can increase your risk of another developing.