Health and Exercise

Eczema is a skin condition that many people having other types of allergies have. The skin starts to itch then a rash appears. It usually affects the hands, face, neck, arms, and legs including the creases of the knees and elbows. It is hard to avoid itching the rash but scratching can cause sores to erupt that have hard crusts.

Most sufferers do not have the condition all the time. Only when they come in contact with certain substances will the itching start and then the rash appears. It is said that once the rash is in full force it may feel like the skin is actually burning and the only way to get relief is to itch which is also a way to exacerbate the problem.

Eczema affects people of any age but most of the time it starts during infancy. Most people have their first break out before the age of five. People that have the condition usually do pass it on to their children.

Most people that have this type of dermatitis also have other allergies. It is a type of allergic reaction because it can start if someone touches something they might be allergic to. A person allergic to pine sap that puts up a real Christmas Tree might get a flair up because they touched the tree. This is called an external trigger.

There are many external triggers out there in the world. This includes things like laundry detergent, dish washing liquids, soap, the metal in jewelry, hot or dry weather, types of clothing, bacteria, sweating, and stress. These things can make the skin itch and then break out in the rash. Some of the triggers can be taken out of the everyday life of some sufferers but there are other things that cannot be controlled like stress and weather conditions.

If the patches are scratched they could become infected and cause an even bigger problem that requires taking antibiotics. When the condition is scratched it can become crusty and ooze or make the skin get thick underneath. When infected, the area will have blisters that may be yellow or brown. Even if there are no blisters the thickened skin can crack and bleed. It tends to keep the sufferer awake during the night and they may have to wear mittens to bed to keep them from scratching in their sleep.

Watch laundry detergent and try to use one that is proven to by hypoallergenic. Never use hot water in a bath or shower because you will just make your skin dry and cause problems. Soap is often an issue with those that suffer the disease. Never put scented lotions or creams on the skin. Watch the type of material you put next to your skin and make sure it does not give you a reaction.

Hydrocortisone cream will help somewhat and should be applied as often as the directions say is possible without ever skipping a treatment until the rash goes away. Benadryl sometimes helps but it also makes you drowsy. Avoiding stress will calm an episode. It takes a long time for a flair up to calm down so if you have one it will take a week to 2 weeks to get it to go away and sometimes even longer. There are prescription steroid creams and antihistamines that the doctor can give you. Severe cases are sometimes treated with coal tar or ultra violet light treatments.

The best idea is to prevent the condition from ever starting. When you sweat make sure to wipe it from the skin quickly. Towel the body off well after bathing and do not let anything come in contact with it that might cause a reaction. In most cases food allergies are rarely a trigger except in children who have milk, nut, egg and wheat allergies. Polyester and nylon clothing may cause a problem. Avoid rubber or latex in the form of gloves, clothing, or even bandages. When washing clothing and bedding do a double rinse to make sure all of the laundry soap has been taken out. Avoid bubble bath and any creams or lotions that have a fragrance. Prevent the problem before it starts.

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