Picture Your Eczema Treatment Options

Treatment tips for eczema are like opinions; there are many of them. One obvious tip is to stay away from substances that cause reactions. Keep the skin as healthy as possible. When bathing, use soaps that are not harsh to the skin. Do not use any cortisone products that contain steroids. Steroid-bases products are known to have many side effects and should be avoided.Diet is very important. Some common foods known to contain allergens that can aggravate the body are daily products such as milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Eggs should be avoided. Crustacean meat should be greatly reduced or avoided altogether. Lobster, shrimp, squid, prawns, clams, oysters, and other crustaceans can cause allergic reactions. Salmon should also be avoided along with calcium supplements and color dyes, especially Yellow #5. Additional allergens are products containing NutraSweet. Mushrooms sometime cause reactions for eczema sufferers and should not be eaten. Hot, spicy foods can cause intestinal inflammation which can cause outbreaks of eczema.

The Picture of Eczema Relief

The picture of eczema releif can be as simple as an application of Dermatitis-Ltd III. Dermatitis-Ltd will improve the appearance of eczema. In its many forms, eczmea can be devestating to the sufferer. Dermatitis-Ltd helps to releive the itching, burning and redness of eczema and related skin conditions.

The Eczema Picture Can Encompass Different Phases

A general picture of eczema can encompass different phases. Eczema runs its course through three distinct phases: acute, subacute, and chronic. The usual symptoms associated with the acute stage of eczema include pain, heat, tenderness, and possible itching (Mackie 77). The affected areas are characterized by extreme redness and drainage at the lesion site (Mackie 77). The subacute phase of eczema include symptoms associated with skin redness and crusting; however, there is no extreme swelling. People in the subacute phase tend to complain about the symptom of itching more than the pain (Mackie 77). Individuals with lesions developed over three months are referred to as having chronic eczema. Itching is a predominant symptom in this phase as well and scratching causes the lesion to worsen (Mackie 77).

The Face of Eczema

Lifestyle changes are part of the whole picture in the treatment of eczema. A general picture of eczema can encompass many different stages. With eczema, sometimes the picture tells the whole story as others see you. Even more importantly, your eczema may be the focal point of the picture you have of yourself. Many times we hear people say, "I didn't realize how bad my eczema was till I saw a picture of myself."

Eczema and Sun Care

Some people with eczema find their condition improves in sunny weather; others find that it worsens as the sun makes them feel hot and itchy. In whichever instance, keep the skin well moisturised and wear sun protection specially formulated for sensitive skin, such as a sunscreen in the SPF45 Sun range.
Choose a sunscreen that contains the right SPF level for your skin - Skin Type I (red, blonde, freckled) needs more protection than Type IV (white with medium pigmentation)
Select a sunscreen which offers the maximum protection against UVA rays.
If you have sensitive skin or eczema, look for a sunscreen that won't irritate your skin.

Can Eczema Be Prevented?

Eczema can't be cured, but there are plenty of things you can do to prevent a flare.
For facial eczema, wash gently with a nondrying facial cleanser or soap substitute, use a facial moisturizer that says noncomedogenic/oil-free, and apply only hypoallergenic makeup and sunscreens.
In addition, the following tips may help:
*Avoid triggers and substances that stress skin. Besides your known triggers, some things you may want to avoid include household cleaners, detergents, lotions, and harsh soaps.
*H20 is a no-no. Too much exposure to water can dry out your skin, so take short warm, not hot, showers and baths and wear gloves if your hands will be in water for long periods of time.
*Say yes to cotton. Clothes made of scratchy fabric like wool can irritate your skin. Cotton clothes are a better bet.
*Moisturize! An unfragranced moisturizer such as petroleum jelly will prevent your skin from becoming irritated and cracked.
*Don't scratch that itch. Even though it's difficult to resist, scratching your itch can worsen eczema and make it more difficult for the skin to heal because you can break the skin and bacteria can get in, causing an infection.
*Keep it cool. Sudden changes in temperature, sweating, and becoming overheated may cause your eczema to kick into action.
*Take your meds. Follow your doctor's or dermatologist's directions and take your medication as directed.
*Chill out. Stress can aggravate eczema, so try to relax.

Controlling Palm Itching

Two factors to consider when treating hand eczema are “elimination of the cause and suppression of the dermatitis”. Systematic protection for the hands is necessary and every patient should be given the hand protection instruction sheet on the reverse side.
Topical steroids are often prescribed and may help suppress or clear the dermatitis. To mitigate overuse of these products, recommend a mild cream or petrolatum for in between lubrication.
Dermatologists recommend patients to use a fragrance-free cream liberally in addition to avoiding identified allergens. “Occlusion of the hands is best accomplished by wearing thin, pliable, properly fitting (non-rubber) gloves overnight.” Cleansing of the hands should be minimized.
Instruct patients to wear non-rubber gloves when necessary to protect against irritants and cleanse with a waterless cleanser to avoid water contact. Allerderm® Vinyl Gloves, for example, do not contain the following: carbamate, mercaptobenzothiazole or thiuram.
Since triggers for hand eczema flare-ups include exposure to harsh soaps, creams, cleaning products and stress, advise patients to continue their hand protection regimen and make it their lifestyle. Also stress, “in treating hand dermatitis, therapy does not simply follow diagnosis; there should be continuing interaction, for diagnosis is influenced by the response of the treatment.”