What Causes Eczema? Eczema Causes And Treatment
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a skin condition that affects a wide variety of people
. It can be caused by many things and comes in a multitude of variations.
Eczema often presents itself as scaly, flaky and cracked patches of dry skin, red itchy areas, open weeping flesh and/or little water blisters.
Sufferers may find themselves consciously or unconsciously scratching the affected area thereby making the condition worse and delaying the healing process.
Causes of Eczema
Eczema is often thought to be caused by the skin becoming irritated by something it has come into contact with.
While this theory holds true for some people, other factors that can cause eczema include hereditary disposition, allergies, poor circulation in elderly sufferers and natural bodily yeast.
Eczema may also be triggered or worsened by stress. Here good hypnotherapy - or self hypnosis recordings that teach the individual to release and handle stress - can prove truly useful.
Types of Eczema
Atopic Atopic eczema is hereditary and tends to affect children. It is mainly found in bodily areas which fold / crease such as behind the knees, however it may also show itself on the torso, neck and face. Fortunately, most children grow out of atopic eczema by their late teens
Allergic Contact Eczema
As the name suggests, this type of eczema is caused by contact with or through the ingestion of a substance or food to which the sufferer is allergic
Discoid Eczema
Generally found in the elderly, discoid eczema may be the result of dry skin which has become infected. It usually shows itself as circular patches of dry, red skin.
Irritant Contact Eczema
Irritant contact eczema comes about by frequent contact with everyday substances. These can include detergents, washing up liquids,shampoo etc. Often found on the fingers and hands, it can also be found on other parts of the body
Pompholyx Eczema
Found on the hands (often, but not always, between the fingers) and on the feet. Pompholyx eczema usually manifests itelf as small blisters which break and weep. The area becomes raw and can bleed
Seborrhoeic Eczema
Normally known as 'cradle cap' on babies or dandruff on older people, this type of eczema can get quite bad if not treated and can spread to other areas of the body
Gravitational or Varicose Eczema
Elderly people are the main sufferers of this condition. It can be a symptom of hypertenstion or high blood pressure when it appears on the lower part of the legs, and it may also be a symptom of poor circulation. In severe cases the skin can become weepy and, if very thin or fragile, can develop ulcers
Treatment
Treatment can include over-the-counter preparations or specific medication prescribed by a doctor. Steroid creams or tablets are commonly prescribed.
Often not prescribed, but extremely effective in some cases, such as pompholyx eczema, is antibiotic powder.
Sufferers can often ease things by washing with an aqueous (water based) cream rather than ordiary soap.
Common sense precautions should be taken to avoid food or substances that can bring on irritant or allergic contact eczemas. The wearing of non-latex gloves for washing up, hair washing and household chores is recommended.
Finding out and understanding as much as possible about the type of eczema that the sufferer has will empower him or her to manage the condition.
As with most medical conditions, it is wise to visit your doctor or health advisor in order to get a proper diagnosis and suitable treatment.
IMPORTANT: This information is not meant to replace medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor if you are experiencing a skin disorder.
by: Peter James Field
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