Eczema
Eczema - "The Itch That Rashes" by Richard H Ealom
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper
layers of the skin and often comes and goes in cycles,
meaning that at some times of the year sufferers are able to
feel normal, while at other times they will distance
themselves from social contact. Diagnosis is generally based
on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in sensitive areas
such as face, chest and other skin crease areas. It is
sometimes referred to as "the itch that rashes," since the
itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash.
It can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in
infants, it typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks,
forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. Outbreaks can usually be
avoided with some simple precautions.
Dermatitis
One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis
(or "atopic eczema"). There are several different types, but
the one people usually mean when they say eczema is atopic
dermatitis. In general,it will come and go, often based on
external factors. It is a chronic skin disorder
characterized by itching rashes, which may be red, scaly,
dry, or leathery. It is not yet known what causes it, but it
does seem to run in families that have a history of asthma,
allergies or atopic dermatitis.
Some herbs, such as chamomile, are known to cause allergic
contact dermatitis. It is a chronic disease, but only about
a third of children with it will continue to have problems
as they get older. In atopic dermatitis it is typical for
there to be episodes of calm mixed with flares ups of
eczema. It's the most common kind of eczema.
Treatments
Moisturizing is one of the most important self-care
treatments for sufferers of eczema. Another option is to try
bathing using colloidal oatmeal baths. Other than direct
treatments of the symptoms, no cure is presently known for
most types of dermatitis; even cortisone and
immuno-modulation may often have only minor effects on what
may be a complex problem. These applications are generally
most effective when applied directly after bathing (within
three minutes is a common recommendation) so that the
moisture from the bath is "locked in". Tar treatments and
photo-therapy are also used and can have positive effects;
however, tar can be messy.
While there are many therapies, it isn't always easy to find
the right one for you. Eczema patients can be treated, but
medical therapies often don’t help a pain which is more than
skin deep. The primary treatments are aimed at controlling
and preventing inflammation and itching and include avoiding
triggers, frequent bathing and hydrating of the skin,
liberal use of moisturizers and lubricants, and the use of
steroid creams for flare ups. With numerous treatments on
the market, it's critical to be well informed when making
decisions with your doctor. The natural human desire to
scratch or rub an itchy rash just makes the condition worse,
and treatments can be slow and are not always completely
effective.
Conclusion
Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin
conditions and occurs in both children and adults, but
usually appears during infancy. It is an allergic condition
that affects the skin. Also known as dermatitis it can be
exacerbated by dryness of the skin. It's not contagious but
like many diseases, currently cannot be cured.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million
people in the United States have some form of this disease.
About 10 percent to 20 percent of all infants have it;
however, in nearly half of these children, the disease will
improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15
years of age. Because dermatitis is usually dry and itchy,
the most common treatment is the application of lotions or
creams to keep the skin as moist as possible. One of the
most important components of a treatment routine is to
prevent scratching.
Finally, in cases where eczema is resistant to therapy, your
physician may prescribe the drug cyclosporine A, which
modifies immune response; however, this is used only in
extreme cases because of its association with serious side
effects.
About the Author
Richard H. Ealom is the Author of this article and the
creator of "Free Articles On Diseases: How To Prevent and
Cure Them". Need more information Please visit our website @
http://rainydrops.com/a-eczema/eczema.php or
http://rainydrops.com/alternative-orthodox.php
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