Eczema
Cause, Prevention and Treatment of Eczema
Eczema is a skin disorder that is common in both children and adults. It results in dry, red and inflamed skin.
As the skin condition worsens, it becomes more itchy, thickened, grooved, and may blister, weep and crack.
Let us look at the cause of eczema and treatments available.
Eczema in Children
About one in 5 children suffer from eczema at some point.
In very young children, symptoms usually appear on the face, scalp, arms and legs.
As children get older, you will find symptoms appearing in the skin fold areas – the front of the elbow, back of the knee, inside the wrist, near the ankles, and around the neck.
Although things may improve as children get older, many continue to suffer throughout their lives.
Effective treatments are available. Consult a dermatologist.
Causes of Eczema
Nobody knows for certain what causes it but it is believed to be caused by an abnormal response of the skin&rsquos immune system.
The most common things that may cause the eczema to worsen include:
- Irritating soaps
- Detergents
- Chemicals
- Certain foods
- Clothing made of wool
- Temperature changes
- Stress
STRESS AND ECZEMA
Many people with eczema notice that stressful times make their skin condition worse. Some emotions that may trigger an outbreak include frustrations, worry, embarrassment, anger and extreme tiredness.
Share your feelings with a family member, friend or doctor or dermatologist so you can get the help you need. Walk around, breathe deeply, drink water or stretch to relax your muscles and de-stress.
Read this article to learn more about the the effects of stress on the skin.
Eczema Treatments
There is no cure for eczema but advances in medical care in recent years have brought good news and new hope for sufferers.
Consult a dermatologist to make a safe and effective treatment plan that works best for you and your family.
The itchy, dry, inflamed skin resulting from the chronic skin condition has many different triggers for different people.
Hot, humid weather, synthetic clothing, emotional upsets, hot water, perfumes or pet hair could aggravate the skin.
Controlling it involves a combination of emollients, topical steroid or non-steroid creams, anti-itch medication and antibiotics. And, like the condition, every sufferer is different.
STANDARD TREATMENT
After a bath, pat dry and then apply topicals, then moisturizers on top.
The topicals are in most cases, steroid creams. These work by reducing the inflammation of the skin, and itching.
They have been used for more than 50 years in the treatment of eczema, and doctors are well aware of the side effects.
The main one is skin thinning, or atrophy. An indicator of this would be stretch marks, visible veins, and skin that bruises easily.
Certain areas are more prone to side effects, like your face, eyelids, arm folds, neck folds, so you have to alter the potency of the steroid in these places.
Steroids are very safe if used properly with the appropriate strength and appropriate amount.
They are still the first line of treatment, although for nearly every patient, using moisturizers, topical steroids and antihistamines, and avoiding triggers, is the advice.
In the last 10 years, the treatment of eczema has changed because we have a better understanding of this skin condition and are able to use more targeted treatment.
This treatment involves more than just a difference in steroid strength, it means an entirely new type of topical, non-steroidal cream.
Such creams, called calcineurin inhibitors, have only been around for a few years. There are only 2 on the market. One goes by the name Protopic (tacrolimus) and the other, Elidel (pimecrolimus).
These creams work by suppressing the immune system so that it does not overreact and create symptoms of eczema.
When using these creams, you don’t have to worry so much about the steroidal side effects like skin thinning.
These new ones are second-line agents. They are the emerging treatments. We’ve been using light therapy for years and cyclosporine, but these have their own side effects.
The doctors give patient 3 months on cyclosporine and in that time they have no flare-ups but while you are tailing off and discontinue the oral treatment, you have to bring back the steroid or other creams.
The new creams are highly effective for severe eczema but side effects are in direct proportion to dose strength. Side effects can include raised blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, swelling of the gums, pins and needles in the hands and feet, and general tiredness.
This treatment, along with light therapy, would not be used for mild breakouts, but for chronic conditions and for sparing the patient steroids.
So the new creams not only show none of the side effects of steroids, but they can also be used continuously, even on the face.
The biggest problem so far with Protopic is the burning sensation on first application. It is more common in adults than in children. It will mostly last for 6 to 12 hours. On further application, it doesn’t happen.
There are some patients who have the burning sensation every time they apply but it disappears after a week of treatment.
In summary, the treatment options available are:
- Topical steroids
- Non-steroidal therapies that can be used on any part of the body to modulate the skin’s immune system
- Antibiotics
- Moisturizers
- Antihistamines (anti-itch) medication
- Ultraviolet radiation therapy
Discuss your treatment options with a dermatologist.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Some forms of alternative medicine include
- Chinese medicine
- Acupuncture
- Homeopathy
- Ayurvedic
Skin Care for People with Eczema
While there is no permanent cure, a good skin care routine can help in keeping the itch and rash under control.
- Be sure to understand and follow your doctor&rsquos instructions before applying or taking any medication
- Make skin care a part of your daily routine along with other activities such as brushing your teeth
- Keep your medication handy in an area of your bathroom or bedroom
- Avoid scratching by covering the itchy area with a cold, wet, washcloth for a while
- Be doubly devoted to your skin during stressful times. Do not miss a treatment and be sure to keep open scratches / lesions / wounds clean.
- You and your doctor can work hand in hand to keep your condition under control.
Last but not least, choose skin care products that will help to provide relief to your eczema condition.
- Authentic Dead Sea Bath Salt
Depending on the severity of your eczema condition, bathe daily or every other day with the Dead Sea Bath salt.
Dissolve 1 cup of Dead Sea salts into your bath. Then relax and let the salts do their job!
The high mineral content in our authentic Dead Sea salt has been proven to help relieve Eczema.
- Adovia Dead Sea Mud
Apply a thin layer to the affected areas and leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off.
The Adovia Dead Sea Mud moisturizes your skin, gently peels away dead skin cells to reveal more youthful, healthier skin layer.
It is 100% pure, with no chemical additions.
- Shea Body Butter
Apply Shea Body Butter after shower or bath, it will soften and revitalize your skin. Shea Butter has a high concentration of Vitamins A and E that nourishes the skin and makes it look healthy.
An ideal cream for treating dry skin, cracked elbows and knees, and scars of your eczema condition.
- Dead Sea Black Mud Soap
Use the Dead Sea Black Mud Soap for your daily shower.
Made with pure Dead Sea Mud, this soap provides relief from Eczema as you take your regular shower.
Formulated with a unique combination of Dead Sea minerals derived from Dead Sea Mud, this mud soap is effective for cleansing your skin, while simultaneously infusing it with minerals essential to keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized.