Skin conditions are of a variety but usually have some similar characteristics. Determining the exact skin condition you may be suffering from will need you to understand the causes and symptoms. Some skin conditions are chronic, implying that they can begin at childhood and progress to adulthood. Most chronic skin diseases have periodic flares but can be prevented by avoiding the irritant.
Eczema is a collective term for several skin conditions that have the same characteristics. The skin becomes irritated, inflamed, and scaly. The condition usually starts with small red blisters containing clear fluid. After a while, the blisters break, and the clear fluid oozes out. Although it is common among children younger than five years old, it can also affect adults. For most patients, it starts before the age of five and continues until adulthood. Asthma and hay fever are risk factors for infection. The flare-ups are periodic, an irritant mostly causes them and so avoiding the irritant can prevent the flares. Unlike certain skin infections, the condition cannot be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or sharing of personal items like towels.
You need to know the characteristics of the different types of the condition to determine how to manage it and live with it. Seven types of eczema can affect you:
1. Atopic dermatitis
This is the most widespread type that starts in childhood. As you grow older, it becomes milder and can fade away completely. Asthmatics and people with hay fever are more likely to have atopic dermatitis.
2. Stasis dermatitis
Stasis dermatitis is common in people who have poor blood flow. It usually occurs in the legs due to low blood flow to the extremities. It causes your legs to swell and can cause varicose veins. This type is unique to people who have heart or valve problems that cause an insufficient supply of blood to the extremities.
3. Neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is similar to atopic dermatitis and is sometimes confused with it. Unlike atopic dermatitis, however, neurodermatitis is more widespread in the body and can cause scaly patches in your genitals. The patches are also very itchy when you are sleeping or relaxing. It can be triggered by stressful conditions and usually progresses to psoriasis or other types of the condition.
4. Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is eczema that mainly affects the scalp. It is associated with dandruff, redness, thick scales, and a white or yellow scalp. It can also occur in areas such as the eyelids, eyebrows, upper chest, ears, and face.
5. Nummular eczema
Nummular eczema is associated with two unique characteristics that differentiate it from other types: skin spots or patches in the shape of coins and extreme itching. It is usually caused by insect bites, dry skin, chemicals, and metals.
6. Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a result of a reaction to substances you come in contact with. The reaction can be of the allergic type or the immune system type. Any form of contact with an irritant, give you hives, which are specific to this type of eczema. Contact dermatitis has many causes depending on the skin allergy of the patient. It can be caused by items like latex, paint, jewelry, makeup, or poisonous plants.
7. Dyshidrotic dermatitis
Dyshidrotic dermatitis is commonly seen in women. It causes blisters on the feet and hands, unlike atopic dermatitis, which is more spread out in the body. It can be caused by damp feet or hands, stress, metals like cobalt, and allergens.
Patients usually experience different symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The symptoms of a child will be different from that of an adult. Common symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
The causes of the condition are still unknown. However, health experts have linked the disease to genetics. Healthy skin has a natural protective barrier against irritants. A particular gene may lack that weakens your skin making in insufficient in protecting you from irritants and allergens. It can also be caused by:
The doctor will recommend a treatment option based on the type of condition affecting you. Treatments are meant to help you manage your symptoms as there is no cure for the condition.
General treatments doctors use to relieve patients from common symptoms of all types of the condition include:
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamine drugs such as Zyrtec and Allegra can help reduce symptoms such as itching and oozing of fluids from the blisters.
2. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are reserved for infections of blisters that are due to excessive itching.
3. Corticosteroid creams and ointments
Patients frequently use corticosteroid ointments and creams. They reduce redness, itching, and swelling. Oral corticosteroids such as prednisolone can also be prescribed in severe cases of the condition.
4. Phototherapy
Light therapy that involves exposure to ultraviolet rays will help reduce symptoms such as itching, redness, and reduces the frequency of flares.
5. Cyclosporine
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug that acts by suppressing severe responses of the immune system to irritants that cause the condition. Eczema causes a hyper response of the immune system to an irritant or allergen.
6. Topical immunomodulators
Two recently FDA approved drugs can help treat the condition; Protopic and Elidel. The FDA, however, warned that the use of the drug could be associated with cancer. The drugs are safe for use only for a short period and should only be used as an alternative when other treatment options fail. The drugs should not be prescribed to children under two years.
Certain treatment options will be specific to the type of eczema you have. Some of the treatments include:
1. Antifungal drugs such as ciclopirox. These are commonly used in patients with seborrheic dermatitis since it is caused by fungi.
2. Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir for eczema caused by viruses.
You can manage your eczema from home using these few remedies:
1. Use medicated shampoos or soaps during a shower. If you cannot access medicated soaps, you can opt for mild soaps or non-soapy cleansers.
2. Moisturize immediately after a shower or bath. This is particularly effective if your eczema is caused by dry skin.
3. Avoid clothes made of itchy fabrics, or that feel tight on your body as they tend to trigger itching that can cause an infection. Wear only loose and soft fabrics like silk and cotton.
4. Keep fingernails short during a flare to avoid infection during scratching.
5. Avoid sudden changes in temperatures.
6. Avoid using hot water during a bath or shower. Also, make sure that you gently dry yourself using a soft towel or air dry after getting out of the shower.
7. Avoid purchasing laundry products that have strong scents.
8. Thoroughly clean your home to avoid the accumulation of allergens like dust.
9. Avoid stressful situations that trigger eczema flare-ups.
10. Dilute tea tree oil using water and apply it to the affected skin. The oil has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties to relieve your skin from dryness, itching, and infections. You can also add almond and olive oils to the mixture if you wish.
11. Apply honey directly on the affected areas. Honey has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and moisturizing properties to soothe your skin and keep it supple.
12. When used as moisturizers, coconut and sunflower oils can also help relieve symptoms of eczema. Apply the oils immediately after you get out of the shower while your skin is still damp.
13. You can also apply evening primrose oil. The oil soothes inflamed skin because it has omega-6 fatty acids.
14. Add a powder of colloidal oatmeal to a bath. Soak your body in the bath for 10 to 15 minutes, then moisturize.
15. Use witch hazel bark and leaves. The herb is applied to the infected skin to soothe the irritation.
Certain foods have properties that can help combat symptoms of eczema. Some of the foods include:
1. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids such as sardines, tuna, mackerel, herring, and salmon
2. Green leafy vegetables such as kales, broccoli, and spinach
3. Certain fruits such as cherries, apples, peeled pears, and blueberries
4. Probiotics like yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, Gouda, tempeh, miso soup, and sourdough bread
5. Oats
6. Certain spices like saffron, turmeric, and cinnamon
7. Red cabbage and beets
Certain foods may contain irritants such as metals and allergens that can trigger a flare-up of your eczema. It is advisable to avoid including these foods in your diet:
1. Nuts
2. Soy products
3. Eggs
4. Dairy products
5. Foods with high sugars such as cakes and sodas
6. Fast foods like burgers
7. If you suffer from dyshidrotic eczema, avoid foods that are high in metals
like cobalt and nickel such as beans, oats, rye, whole wheat and grain, chickpeas, and cocoa
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.