ECZEMA SUFFERERS: What are the symptoms of eczema?
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at
2:50 am
I tried googling, couldn’t get accurate info..IF YOU HAVE ECZEMA, please post..
Filed under: Eczema Symptoms
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Very dry and itchy skin
EXTREMELY itchy… so bad it stings… it’s like little red bumps that are really irritated
It can start out as a rash looking patch or it can start as a little blister like bump–at firat it itches and then if you continue to scratch it it will start to hurt-one it starts it can be very hard to get rid of as it will start to clear up when treated but then start up itching again-sometime you can get relief from over the counter products but sometimes you need a RX strength–stress aggravates it more or causes it to flare up as well as certain foods , lotions perfumes etc.
If you have it on your hands or fingers keeping them out of water is the best thing but is really hard to do.
Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis.
Doctors do not know the exact cause of eczema, but an abnormal function of the immune system is believed to be a factor. Some forms of eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema. Changes in the weather, or even psychological stress for some people lead to outbreaks of eczema.
Eczema most commonly causes dry, reddened skin that itches or burns, although the appearance of eczema varies from person to person and varies according to the specific type of eczema. Intense itching is generally the first symptom in most persons with eczema. Sometimes, eczema may lead to blisters and oozing lesions, but eczema can also result in dry and scaly skin. Repeated scratching may lead to thickened, crusty skin.
While any region of the body may be affected by eczema, in children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck.
Types of eczema:
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin. Atopic dermatitis is believed to be caused by an abnormal function of the body’s immune system. The condition tends to come and go, depending upon exposures to triggers or causative factors.
Contact eczema (contact dermatitis) is a localized reaction that includes redness, itching, and burning where the skin has come into contact with an allergen (an allergy-causing substance) or with an irritant such as an acid, a cleaning agent, or other chemical. Other examples of contact eczema include reactions to laundry detergents, nickel (present in jewelry), cosmetics, fabrics, clothing, and perfume. The condition is sometimes referred to as allergic contact eczema (allergic contact dermatitis). Skin reactions to poison ivy and poison sumac are examples of allergic contact eczema. People who have a history of allergies have an increased risk for developing contact eczema.
Seborrheic eczema (seborrheic dermatitis) is a form of skin inflammation of unknown cause. The signs and symptoms of seborrheic eczema include yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp, face, and occasionally other parts of the body. Dandruff and “cradle cap” in infants are examples of seborrheic eczema. Seborrheic dermatitis is not necessarily associated with itching. This condition tends to run in families. Emotional stress, oily skin, infrequent shampooing, and weather conditions may all increase a person’s risk of developing seborrheic eczema.
Neurodermatitis, also known as lichen simplex chronicus, is a chronic skin inflammation caused by a scratch-itch cycle that begins with a localized itch (such as an insect bite) that becomes intensely irritated when scratched. Women are more commonly affected by neurodermatitis than men, and the condition is most frequent in people aged 20-50. This form of eczema results in scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms. Over time, the skin can become thickened and leathery. Stress can exacerbate the symptoms of neurodermatitis.
Stasis dermatitis is a skin irritation on the lower legs, generally related to the circulatory problem known as venous insufficiency, in which the function of the valves within the veins has been compromised. Stasis dermatitis occurs almost exclusively in middle-aged and elderly people, with approximately 6-7% of the population over age 50 being affected by the condition. The risk of developing stasis dermatitis increases with advancing age. Symptoms include itching and/or reddish-brown discoloration of the skin on one or both legs. Progression of the condition can lead to the blistering, oozing skin lesions seen with other forms of eczema, and ulcers may develop in affected areas. The chronic circulatory problems lead to an increase in fluid buildup (edema) in the legs. Stasis dermatitis has also been referred to as varicose eczema.
Dyshidrotic eczema (dyshidrotic dermatitis) is an irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet characterized by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn. The cause of dyshidrotic eczema is unknown. Dyshidrotic eczema is also known as vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, dyshidrosis or pompholyx. This form of eczema occurs in up to 20% of people with hand eczema and is more common during the spring and summer months and in warmer climates. Males and females are equally affected, and the condition can occur in people of any age.
There are several treatment options for eczema such as:
1. Oral antihistamines – histamine is responsible for some symptoms of eczema but particularly the itching. Taking antihistamine ensures a good night’s rest.
2. Healing Natural Products – made from the pure essential oils extracted from plants and applied topically to relieve eczema symptoms and to begin the healing process of repairing the skin.
3. Corticosteroids – a topical steroid but only available on prescription from your doctor. It is best to use the lowest effective strength as using high strength topical steroids for periods of time can cause side effects such as thinning of the skin.
4. Coal Tar – this should be used under the supervision of a doctor as it can irritate some people’s skin. Coal tar has a strong smell and can stain clothing.
5. Cyclopsorin oral medication – this medication is sometimes used in helping to manage the symptoms of severe eczema. It reduces the immune system activity which in turn reduces inflammation. However there can be very serious side effects and its use has to be monitored very strictly.
6. Evening Primrose Oil – this is either applied topically or taken in capsule form. This oil contains gamma linolenic acid which is thought to be lacking in some of those who have eczema.
7. Phototherapy – this is another treatment for those with chronic eczema where the patient is exposed to up to 30 sessions of ultraviolet radiation. Expert supervision is required because the risks are the same as for sunbathing namely accelerated ageing of the skin and the increased risk of skin cancer.
Therefore if you take good care of your skin and choose a course of treatment that will work, you will go a long way to keeping your eczema under control.
8. More information on http://www.skinoriginal.com/eczema.htm will help you a lot to get rid of eczema quickly and safely.