what causes eczema? is it infectious?
Saturday, July 24th, 2010 at
2:59 pm
what is the medication?
Filed under: Eczema Causes
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
ECZEMA-
Atopic dermatitis, also referred to as eczema, is an itchy eruption of the skin. It’s a long-lasting (chronic) condition that may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. Atopic dermatitis is most often seen in infants and children, but it can continue into adulthood or first appear later in life.
Although atopic dermatitis may affect virtually any area, it classically involves skin on the arms and behind the knees. It tends to flare periodically and then subside for a time, even up to several years. The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is unknown, but it may result from a malfunction in the body’s immune system.
Even mild atopic dermatitis can be extremely itchy. Self-care measures, such as avoiding soaps or other irritants and applying creams or ointments, can help. See your doctor if your symptoms distract you from your daily routines or prevent you from sleeping.
The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is unknown, but is likely due to a combination of dry, irritated skin together with a malfunction in the body’s immune system. Stress and other emotional disorders can worsen atopic dermatitis, but they don’t cause it.
Atopic dermatitis often occurs along with allergies and frequently runs in families in which other family members have asthma or hay fever. About three out of four children who have signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis later develop asthma or hay fever.
Treatments for atopic dermatitis aim to reduce inflammation, relieve itching and prevent future flare-ups. Over-the-counter (nonprescription) anti-itch creams, along with other self-care measures, may help control mild atopic dermatitis.
Although atopic dermatitis is related to allergies, eliminating allergens is rarely helpful in treating the condition. Occasionally, items that trap dust — such as feather pillows, down comforters, mattresses, carpeting and drapes — can worsen the condition. Allergy shots usually aren’t successful in treating atopic dermatitis and might even make the condition worse.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend prescription corticosteroid creams or ointments to ease scaling and relieve itch. Some low-potency corticosteroid creams are available without a prescription, but you should always talk to your doctor before using any topical corticosteroid. Side effects of long-term or repeated use can include skin irritation or discoloration, thinning of the skin, infections, and stretch marks on the skin.
If itching is severe, oral antihistamines may help. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others) can make you very sleepy and may be helpful at bedtime. If your skin cracks open, your doctor may prescribe mildly astringent wet dressings to prevent infection.
If these measures don’t help, your doctor may prescribe a short-course of oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to reduce inflammation and to control symptoms. These medications are effective but can’t be used long term because of potential serious side effects, which include cataracts, loss of bone mineral (osteoporosis), muscle weakness, decreased resistance to infection, high blood pressure and thinning of the skin.
A class of medications called immunomodulators, such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel), affects the immune system and may help maintain normal skin texture and reduce flares of atopic dermatitis. This prescription-only medication is approved for children over the age of 2 and for adults. Due to possible concerns about the effect of these medications on the immune system when used for prolonged periods of time, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that Elidel and Protopic be used only when other treatments have failed, or if someone can’t tolerate other treatments.-
It is not infectious. Allergies or stress make it worse, but it isn’t always caused by that. Unscented Aveeno baby lotion works better for me than the prescription creams.
You can’t really get rid of exzema.
I’ve had exzema since I was 3.
Just use aveeno, non-scented,
and bathe in aveeno-unscented oatmeal bath.
aeevno doesn’t work for me any more. i use neem lotion, capsules and soap. my rash is clearing up. i got mine because of food allergies. i just had to figure out what i was allergic to. i have and now it is going away. i had this rash for about 2 yrs. you can get neem at health food stores.