| Eczema: Cause, prevention and Treatment
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Eczema: Cause, prevention and Treatment
Eczema is the name given for many skin conditions where skin is inflamed.
Form of eczema is different for different people. With eczema, skin looks red with rashes, dry, patchy, flaky and itchy. It is a condition of skin, which is often called as “Itch those rashes” because whenever person feels itch and scratch, it gives rashes.
Eczema can affect any part of the body. If it is seen in infants, it usually occurs at cheeks, forehead, neck, scalp and legs. In other people, it can occur at neck, face and inner side of elbows, knees. If scratched hard, it oozes out and skin becomes leathery because skin thickens by constant scratching.
Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema fond in around 10 to 20 percent of population, mostly children. This type of eczema clears with age.
It is an allergic type of eczema. Atopic eczema is very itchy; skin becomes inflamed and hence red.
What triggers eczema:
Exact cause of eczema is unknown but it is not contagious. Substances that trigger eczema are not the same for all persons suffering with eczema. Most of the times, it is difficult to identify the substance that irritates eczema. It can be sweat or feeling too cold can trigger eczema. Sometimes coarse or rough materials cause eczema. Other causes may be detergents, soaps, disinfectants, and dust mites, juices of fresh fruits or animal saliva. Upper respiratory infection and stress can also aggravate existing eczema. There can be the family history of eczema.
How to prevent trigger of eczema?
The important fact about eczema is that it cannot be cured; it can be just managed by identifying the thing that triggers itching. You can take some precautions and measure to avoid triggering eczema. By taking these precautions, you can reduce the intensity of eczema. The basic precaution to avoid eczema is to keep the skin moisturized by applying moisturizer frequently. Avoid any activity involving excessive perspiration. Avoid immediate change in humidity and temperature. Do not take too much stress. Avoid coarse and rough materials. Do not use harsh detergents and harsh soaps for cleansing. Identify and avoid foods that can trigger eczema on your skin. Try to identify and avoid environmental factors like pollens, mites etc. Do not wear wool and synthetic clothing, which triggers eczema. Wear cotton clothes or cotton-blended clothes.
What can you do to treat Eczema?
The most important routine, you can follow to prevent eczema, is to resist the temptation to scratch. Another important step towards prevent eczema is to keep the skin hydrated and moist because one main symptom of skin with eczema is that it is dry and itchy. Apply as much moisturizers and emollients as possible. When you wash your skin or just after bathing apply moisturizing cream or lotion. It traps the extra moisture on the skin surface. When your skin is itching much, apply cold compress to soothe it and to relieve itching. If itching persists even then, apply over the counter corticosteroid creams or lotions to soothe inflammation.
There are other more potent corticosteroid ointments also but they have side effects also. But doctor prescribes these ointments for a limited time period and that too very small application of ointment as these medicines lead to thinning of skin.
Because of inflammation and bruises, skin gets infected very soon. To give relief from severe itching, patient is prescribed drugs leading to drowsiness and let him sleep. There are other treatment like tar treatment and photo therapy. Phototherapy requires light emitting from special equipments. Some kinds of eczema cannot be treated by this therapy, and then serious medicines are used.
Eczema Control in Children:
A child’s immune system is not strong and cannot resist any allergic reaction. Managing eczema in children is quite complicated as children cannot resist temptation to scratch when feel itching. Keep the skin of child moisturized by applying emollients and moisturizing lotion frequently. Most of the children get rid of it with growing age. Always keep home, play area and toys clean and free of dust mites, as dust mites are common trigger for eczema. Use only mild soaps and oily cleansers to wash child’s skin to avoid dryness. Try to get cotton clothing and only cotton beddings for your child. One last but important eczema treatment tip is to take proper care of skin even after your eczema is healed.
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