LOOKING AND FEELING YOUR BEST WITH ECZEMA

Types of eczema

Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy and inflamed. There are several types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis.

Eczema is very common. And in many cases, it’s also manageable. In fact, over 30 million Americans have some form of eczema.

Eczema flares often show up on the backs of the knees

Living with eczema can be an ongoing challenge. The word “eczema” is derived from a Greek word meaning “to boil over,” which is a good description for the red, inflamed, itchy patches that occur during flare-ups. Eczema can range from mild, moderate, to severe.

It’s most common for babies and children to develop eczema on their face (especially the cheeks and chin), but it can appear anywhere on the body and symptoms may be different from one child to the next. More often than not, eczema goes away as a child grows older, though some children will continue to experience eczema into adulthood.

Adults can develop eczema, too, even if they never had it as a child.

Eczema is not contagious. You can’t “catch it” from someone else. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When an irritant or an allergen “switches on” the immune system, skin cells don’t behave as they should causing an eczema flare-up.

Common Eczema Symptoms

What does eczema look like?

Dry, sensitive skin

Red, inflamed skin

Dark colored patches

Itchy rash - difficult to detect in infants, but sleeping disorders are an indication

Rough, scaly and thickened skin

Oozing eczema patches

Scabs form on the patches

Most Common Eczema Triggers

Irritating products:

Fragrances, soaps, laundry detergents

Home cleaning products

Irritating clothing: wool, synthetic fabrics, etc.

Environmental factors:

Dust, dust mites and pollens, which are naturally present in the air

Tobacco and pollution

Changes in temperature

Heat & sweat

Very dry air

Lifestyle factors:

Pets

Emotional stress

Food allergies

Teething

Changes in hormone levels

Eczema treatment can be found here