New types of creams have revolutionised the treatment of eczema, a very itchy, unsightly skin disorder also known as dermatitis. Altering your lifestyle, environment and even diet are often key to clearing up your patches of red, rough skin.
Eczema can first appear in babies, usually on their face and limbs. It then disappears, and may recur elsewhere on the body later in childhood. Ultimately, most children outgrow eczema. In those adults who do have this disorder, the skin perceives an irritation as a threat, and the immune system mounts a defence reaction. This includes initiating inflammation with a release of chemicals that cause red, itchy blotches. (Eczema means 'to boil out' in Greek.) These lesions usually appear on the scalp, wrists and hands, and at the crease of the elbows, the back of the knees and sometimes elsewhere on the body. Because the discomfort to the skin occurs before the rash appears, eczema has been dubbed 'the itch that rashes' rather than the reverse.
There are several different types of eczema, but most are related to a personal or family history of allergies (see on shortly). If your eczema flares after contact with certain foods, drugs or animal dander, you have atopic dermatitis, which usually goes away once the offensive substance is removed. Emotional stress can also set off eczema (neurodermatitis), as can poor circulation in the legs (statis dermatitis) and extremes in weather and humidity.
LIKELY FIRST STEPS
TAKING CONTROL
What is happening
Eczema can first appear in babies, usually on their face and limbs. It then disappears, and may recur elsewhere on the body later in childhood. Ultimately, most children outgrow eczema. In those adults who do have this disorder, the skin perceives an irritation as a threat, and the immune system mounts a defence reaction. This includes initiating inflammation with a release of chemicals that cause red, itchy blotches. (Eczema means 'to boil out' in Greek.) These lesions usually appear on the scalp, wrists and hands, and at the crease of the elbows, the back of the knees and sometimes elsewhere on the body. Because the discomfort to the skin occurs before the rash appears, eczema has been dubbed 'the itch that rashes' rather than the reverse.
There are several different types of eczema, but most are related to a personal or family history of allergies (see on shortly). If your eczema flares after contact with certain foods, drugs or animal dander, you have atopic dermatitis, which usually goes away once the offensive substance is removed. Emotional stress can also set off eczema (neurodermatitis), as can poor circulation in the legs (statis dermatitis) and extremes in weather and humidity.
- Identify and eliminate eczema triggers.
- Creams and ointments to control eczema.
- Oral medications for hard-to-treat cases.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
- Why does my eczema keep coming back when I stop using a steroid cream?
- Are any of the medications I take for other ailments aggravating my eczema?
- What is the point of me undergoing tests for allergies if my eczema has already been diagnosed?
Treatments
No signal medications will cure eczema. To control it, you need to identify and eliminate all the agents that ring alarm bells in your immune system. You can often deduce your triggers by where your rash occurs. If it appears on your hands, for example, the culprit is likely to be something you're touching. People with eczema tend to have a hypersensitive skin which will react to many allergens, so skin tests are usually not helpful. Blood allergy tests are similarly of little value. Occasionally people react to certain foods, with the common culprits being eggs and nuts. Eczema often responds to soothing creams, but more stubborn outbreaks often require oral medication. Sometimes secondary bacterial infections develop on the already irritated skin. Prescription antibiotics can help when this happens.
Lifestyle changes
No signal medications will cure eczema. To control it, you need to identify and eliminate all the agents that ring alarm bells in your immune system. You can often deduce your triggers by where your rash occurs. If it appears on your hands, for example, the culprit is likely to be something you're touching. People with eczema tend to have a hypersensitive skin which will react to many allergens, so skin tests are usually not helpful. Blood allergy tests are similarly of little value. Occasionally people react to certain foods, with the common culprits being eggs and nuts. Eczema often responds to soothing creams, but more stubborn outbreaks often require oral medication. Sometimes secondary bacterial infections develop on the already irritated skin. Prescription antibiotics can help when this happens.
Lifestyle changes
There are many self-help strategies that will stop your eczema flare-ups or reduce their frequency:
Identify and avoid eczema triggers. Beyond certain foods, you may also have an allergy to moulds, dust mites,
Identify and avoid eczema triggers. Beyond certain foods, you may also have an allergy to moulds, dust mites,
Treatment Options
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Identify triggers Foods, animals dander, chemicals, stress
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Skin care Don't scratch. Use bath oil regularly. Apply moisturiser liberally. Avoid
soap.
MEDICATIONS
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Topical corticosteroids Nonsteroidal; for moderate to severe eczema.
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Oral corticosteroids Only for severe cases.
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Antihistamines To control itching
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Topical immunomodulators Nonsteroidal; for moderate to severe eczema.
NATURAL METHODS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
key nutrients Preventing dryness and boost immunity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camomile Soothing to the skin.
PROCEDURES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phototherapy Ultraviolet light/PUVA therapy.
animal
dander, chemicals, detergents and metals (such as nickel and chrome).
If dust mites aggravate your eczema, replace your bedding with
hypoallergenic materials and do some ruthless housecleaning.LIFESTYLE CHANGES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Identify triggers Foods, animals dander, chemicals, stress
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skin care Don't scratch. Use bath oil regularly. Apply moisturiser liberally. Avoid
soap.
MEDICATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topical corticosteroids Nonsteroidal; for moderate to severe eczema.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oral corticosteroids Only for severe cases.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antihistamines To control itching
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topical immunomodulators Nonsteroidal; for moderate to severe eczema.
NATURAL METHODS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
key nutrients Preventing dryness and boost immunity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camomile Soothing to the skin.
PROCEDURES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phototherapy Ultraviolet light/PUVA therapy.
TAKING CONTROL
- Use gloves. Moisture your hands well and don cotton gloves for any 'dry' work around the house or on the job--especially when working with problematic substances. Wearing loose-fitting vinyl gloves over the cotton gloves will protect your hands when doing dishes and 'wet' work.
- Wash away irritants. Use a liquid rather than a powdered laundry detergent, and wash new clothes before wearing them to rinse out fabric-sizing chemicals. Make sure every trace of soap is purged from your garments by adding an extra rinse cycle, if necessary.
- Don't put up with pain. If any topical treatment you're using stings or is painful, stop gusing it and tell your doctor. You can be switched to a different cream or ointment that doesn't hurt as much.
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