INTRODUCTION: Eczema is a kind of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin and usually 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 inter-action. Diagnosis is usually based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease areas.
It is sometimes called the "the itch that rashes," since the itch, when scratched, causes the appearance of a rash. It can occur on practically any part of the body; however, in infants, it usually occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. Outbreaks can often be avoided by taking simple precautions.
DERMATITIS: One of the most common types of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or "atopic eczema"). There are several different kinds, but the one that most people usually mean when they say eczema is atopic dermatitis. In general, it comes and goes, 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.
TREATMENT: Using moisturizers is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of the disease. Another course of treatment is bathing using colloidal oatmeal baths. Other than direct treatments of the symptoms, no cure is presently known for most types of eczema; even cortisone and immuno-modulation may often have only minimum 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 a lot of therapies, it isn't always easy to find the one that works for you. Patients with eczema can be treated, but traditional 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 including avoiding triggers, frequent bathing and hydration 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 covering various inflamed skin conditions and happens in both children and adults, but most frequently appears in infancy. It is an allergic reaction that affects the skin. Also known as dermatitis it can be exacerbated by dry skin. It is not contagious but as with many diseases, currently cannot be cured.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the US have some form of dermatitis. About 10% to 20% of all infants have it; however, in nearly half of these children, the problem will improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15 years old.
Since dermatitis is usually dry and itchy, the most common treatment is the use of lotions or creams to keep the skin as moist as possible. One of the most important parts of a treatment routine is to prevent scratching.
Finally, in cases where eczema does not respond to therapy, your doctor may prescribe the drug cyclosporine A, which modifies immune response; however, this is used only in extreme situations because of its association with serious side effects.
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