The Eczema Self-Help Picture

National Eczema Association for Science and Education
National network. Founded 1988.Provides support for persons with atopic dermatitis (a common, chronic, non-contagious, inflammatory skin condition), as well as other forms of constitutional eczema. Promotes education and research. Offers information and referrals, networking, and newsletter. Donations accepted.WRITE:Nat'l Eczema Assn. for Sci.and Education4460 Redwood Highway, Suite 16-DSan Rafael, CA 94903E-MAIL: info@nationaleczema.orgWEBSITE: http://www.info@nationaleczema.orgVERIFIED: 10/8/2004

The Cold Weather Eczema Picture

The National Eczema Society in London England revealed some shocking statistics about our United States citizens. Of all the countries surveyed, the US had by far the most sufferers of eczema. The research conducted by NOP World Health stated that there were 17.4 million patients in America.

Anyone who has witnessed the degree of discomfort that these 17.4 million people go through when the affliction is at its worst cannot help but empathize with them. The saddest part is that a large proportion of them are children.

Eczema sufferers, or those that care for someone with eczema, know that a flare-up can be anything from dry skin which can be mildly annoying to cracked bleeding skin, which is agonizingly painful. To watch a child go through that is perhaps more difficult for the observer than it is for the victim because there is reputedly no cure for this disease.Certain times of the year make it even more difficult. In cold weather the skin gets chapped and when we seek refuge in a heated area, the heat dehydrates the skin making it worse. The best thing to do to combat these seasonal flare-ups is to keep the skin moisturized as much as possible but beware!

Did you know that bathing and certain brands of moisturizers actually irritate the condition even more? When bathing one should always use a natural soap without any perfume and add a mild non-perfumed oil. The same applies to moisturizers that have a perfume added, as it is the astringent properties of these products that irritate the condition.

Defining the Eczema Picture

Eczema is characterized by a rash, dryness of skin, itching, and redness of skin (Rouse). The symptoms of eczema occur due to the overproduction of damaging inflammatory skin cells and continue to worsen as a result of certain factors in the environment. The cause of eczema can be traced to environmental factors. Foods, shampoos, soaps, laundry detergents, synthetic fabrics, stress, and temperature changes are capable of irritating already existing eczema and may even be the cause of a new eczema condition. Although eczema is a chronic skin condition, there are various forms of treatment and interventions available to help control eczema. Eczema is a hereditary condition and thus is not contagious to others. A general picture of eczema can encompass different stages. Some people may have only a small patch of affected skin while others may have larger patches all over the body. An individual may experience one mild eczema outbreak while others experience chronic severe incidences of eczema. In some cases after an eczema outbreak the skin remains more reactive than it was prior to the outbreak. The eczema-affected skin is very sensitive and the individual must be aware of the trigger factors and try to avoid them.

The Discoid Eczema Picture

Discoid eczema, also called nummular eczema or gravitational eczema is usually found in adults and appears suddenly as a few coin shaped areas of red skin; normally on the trunk or lower legs. It may look similar to ringworm. These areas become itchy and can weep fluid. Usually discoid eczema is treated with emollients (and steroid creams if necessary).It can be considered as an adult form of atopic eczema. It can be complicated by a bacterial infection which causes weeping and crusting.
The word "nummular" comes from the Latin nummus, meaning coin, and is characterized by round plaques of eczema. Eruptions of nummular eczema are often recurrent and chronic and usually appear in people who are in their 60s but can occur at any age. The cause of nummular eczema is not known, but it usually occurs in cold weather and is most common in people who have dry skin. Hot weather and stress can aggravate this condition, as can the following:
Fabric softeners
Allergies
Soaps and detergents
Wool clothing
Bathing more than once a day.
Nummular eczema most commonly appears on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy. Neurodermatitis most commonly appears as scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch that becomes intensely irritated when scratched. Minor skin injury such as an insect bite or a burn may start it off.

The Picture of Infantile Eczema

Infantile seborrheic eczema is a common condition affecting babies under one year old, the exact cause of which is unknown. Also referred to as cradle cap, it usually starts on the scalp or the diaper area and quickly spreads. Although this type of eczema looks unpleasant, it is not sore or itchy and does not cause the baby to feel uncomfortable or unwell. Normally this type of eczema will clear in just a few months.
The greasy yellow scales look unpleasant but they are not uncomfortable or itchy and will resolve in a number of months. The reason for this is the continuing secretion of the greases seen on a baby right after birth. When this dries up, the scalp will clear. In the meantime, gentle shampooing and massage with warm olive oil will help.

The Light Sensitive Eczema Picture

Eczema that is caused by sunlight is rare. If it happens it is likely to occur on the face, hands and arms. Using high factor sun creams can treat it. Sometimes this eczema can be caused when people are taking medication that reacts to sunlight e.g. antihistamines and arthritis medications. Ingredients in soaps and cosmetics may also cause this.

Understanding the Varicose Eczema Picture

Varicose eczema or stasis dermatitis occurs in the middle to late years of life and appears on the lower legs. It is caused by poor circulation. It is also called stasis eczema. It affects the ankles, which become speckled, itchy and inflamed. It is frequently treated with emollients and steroid creams. If untreated, an ulcer may develop.
A common problem that is associated with varicose ulcers is contact allergic eczema caused by medications applied to the skin such as steroids, topical antibiotics, lanolin and also preservatives in various preparations. If this is suspected, skin patch testing may help to identify the problematic substance.
For more information see stasis dermatitis at http://www.internationaleczema-psoriasisfoundation.org/stasis_dermatitis.php4

The Eczema Craquele Picture

Eczema Craquele also known as asteatotic eczema occurs in older people who have thinner and dryer skin. Large dry scales may form on the skin giving a "crazy-paving" appearance to the skin. It is extremely common in communities of elderly people and may be triggered by soap remaining on the skin after a bed bath. Using a good moisturizing routine and switching from soap to a cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin (such as Cetaphil “moisturizing gentle cleansing bar or Dove) can alleviate it. Steroid creams are generally best avoided because the underlying skin is already very thin and delicate.

Fair-skinned, sensitive or elderly people who bathe a lot in hot showers or tubs can develop an asteatotic eczema that can be extremely intractable. Remembering that the skin's pH is acidic, around 5.0, and all water is slightly alkaline, especially if there are many calcium and magnesium salts in it, it is easy to see how this happens. Cessation of bathing and showering for a while may be necessary to clear the skin of these unfortunate patients. An alkaline skin is increasingly susceptible to the irritant effects of water alone, and the hyper-irritability of the skin can be prolonged; it takes 3 months for a fracture to heal, similarly with the skin. The skin must be put at rest and allowed lubrication for that length of time before it recovers.

The Atopic Eczema Picture

Atopic eczema is the commonest form of eczema and is closely linked with asthma and hay fever. It can affect both children and adults, usually running in families. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition. You do not inherit eczema as such – you inherit a predisposition to it. If there is anyone in the family who has an atopic condition, there is a chance that a new member of the family will have it too.

It is estimated that one in three people are affected by atopy. However, the development of atopic eczema in a person who has a predisposition to it is likely to be greatly influenced by the environment.

One of the most common symptoms of atopic eczema is its itchiness which can be almost unbearable. Other symptoms include overall dryness of the skin, redness and inflammation. Constant scratching can also cause the skin to split, leaving it prone to infection. In infected eczema the skin may crack and weep (‘wet’ eczema).

It is thought that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopy there is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by a blood circulatory problem in the legs. The causes of certain types of eczema remain to be explained, though links with environmental factors and stress are being explored.

The Cradle Cap Picture

Cradle cap is a crusting and scaling rash found on the scalps of many healthy babies. The sebaceous glands in their skin are hyper-activated often because of mom’s hormones that crossed the placenta just before birth. These glands pump out a greasy substance that keeps the old skin cells attached as it dries. Cradle cap can occur in any baby, and most commonly begins sometime in the first 3 months. The baby develops patchy scales and redness on the scalp, even though the early baby pictures showed beautiful baby skin. The scales may appear cracked, greasy, or even weeping. The same rash is often prominent around the ear or the eyebrows. It may appear in other locations as well, where it is called seborrheic dermatitis rather than cradle cap.