What Does Eczema Look Like
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, can appear on any part of the body, but there some places it will show up most often. Places you are likely to find eczema are on the face, neck, and in the fold of your knees and elbows.
The word eczema is used to describe a number of persistent skin conditions.
These skin conditions includes dry and recurring skin rashes that are distinguished by one or more of these symptoms: redness of the skin, an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin, skin flaking or cracking, areas of skin discoloration, and sometimes bleeding.
The Most Common Types of Eczema
Atopic dermatitis – Most common in babies and children is an allergic disease believed to be hereditary. An itchy rash is most often found on the head, neck, scalp, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks.
Contact dermatitis – Brought on by an allergic or irritant reaction. An allergic reaction can be due to things such as poison ivy or oak, and the irritant reaction can result from contact with detergent or other chemicals.
Xerotic eczema – Seriously dry, itchy, and tender skin that eventually turns into eczema. This condition is common among older people.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis – A form of eczema that is closely related to dandruff. Symptoms include dry or peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, face, and body.
According to the National Institutes of Health a specific cause for eczema is not known. It is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic (runs in the family) and environmental factors. Allergies, stress, and immune system disorders appear to be associated with eczema, and may cause outbreaks in people with an inherit tendency for the skin condition. Irritants in the environment that can cause eczema outbreaks are wool and other clothing fibers, dust, cigarette smoke, soap, household chemicals, and cosmetics. Eczema is not contagious.
Infantile Eczema – Babies with Eczema
It is estimated that 65% of the babies that develop eczema, do so within the first year of life, and that 90% do so before the age of five. And of those, 60% continue to have symptoms until adulthood.
Treatments for Eczema
Medications being used as an eczema treatment are antihistamines, immunnosuppressants, and antibiotics (treatment of skin infections). The most commonly prescribed are corticosteroids in a cream or pill form. While the use of these medications may prove to be effective, the long-term use can have serious and life-threatening side effects.
All Natural Eczema Treatments
There many all natural eczema treatments on the market that can stop the itching, re-hydrate the skin, and promote healing. One example is eczema bath salt, it contains natural essential oils that help heal and condition the skin as well as soothe itching.
