Eczema

1. A medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed with blisters which cause itching and bleeding.

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What Is Eczema

1. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis , or atopic eczema. Atopic refers to a group of diseases with an often inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.
2. "Dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin.
3. Some people outgrow the condition while some people will continue to have it into adulthood.
4. Causes
5. Doctors don't know exactly what causes eczema. Eczema is commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma .The current thinking is that eczema is caused by a combination of factors that include:
6. .   Genetics
7. .    Abnormal function of the immune system
8. .   Environment
9. .   Activities that may cause skin to be more sensitive
10. .   Defects in the skin barrier that allows moisture out and germ in
11. .   Stress
12. Types
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    There are at  different types of skin condition that produce eczema. In order to develop a rational treatment plan, it is important to distinguish them. This is often not easy.
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15. Atopic dermatitis: This health condition has a genetic basis and produces a common type of eczema.Characteristically,rashes occur on the cheeks,neck,elbow and knee creases and ankles.
16. Allergic contact eczema(dermatitis): A skin reaction following contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign.
17. Irritant dermatitis: This occurs when the skin is repeatedly exposed to excessive washing or toxic substances.
18. Contact eczema: A localized reaction where the skin has come into contact with an allergen.
19. Neurodermatitis: Scaly patches of skin on head,wrist caused itchy  such as an insect bite.
20. Stasis  dermatitis: Skin irritation on swollen lower legs,usually people related who have poor circulation in the veins of the legs. 
21. Nummular eczema:This is a nonspecific term for coin-shaped plaques that can be crusted,scaling and itching.
22. Seborrheic eczema:Oily,scaly yellowish patches of skin usually on scalp and face.
23. Fungal infections: This can produce a pattern identical to many other types of eczema, but the fungus can be visualized with a scraping under the microscope or grown in culture.
24. Xerotic (dry skin) eczema: The skin will crack and ooze if dryness becomes excessive.
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1. Symptoms
2. Almost all patients with eczema complain of itching. No matter which part of the skin is affected, eczema is almost always itchy. Sometimes the itching will start before the rash appears, but when it does, the rash most commonly appears on the face, back of the knees, wrists, hands, or feet. It may also affect other areas as well.
3. Over time, the following symptoms can manifest:
   • Rashes can become bumpy, like goosebumps
   • Rashes can lighten or darken in color
   • Rashes can thicken (also known as lichenification) and then develop knots and a permanent itch.
   Test And Diagnosis
4. It can be hard to tell for sure if you have eczema. You’ll want to see a dermatologist or other doctor to find out.

   Your doctor will check your skin and talk about your symptoms, your health history , and any rashes or allergies that run in your family.

   Based on that information, doctor will decide if it’s eczema or something else.
5. They may also attempt to rule out other conditions that can cause skin irritations. This can involve the following tests:
   • Patch testing - substances are placed onto the surface of the skin to test for skin allergies
   • Skin prick testing - a needle containing a small amount of a suspected allergen pricks the skin to test for allergies that do not necessarily occur on the skin, such as pollen or food
   • Supervised food challenges - foods are eliminated and then introduced into the diet to determine whether a food allergy is present
6. Treatments
7.  Treatment for the condition aims to heal the affected skin and prevent flaring of the symptoms. Doctors will suggest a plan of treatment based around a patient's age, symptoms, and current state of health.
8. For some people, eczema goes away over time, and for others, it remains a lifelong condition.
9. If your doctor decides you need medicines to treat your eczema, those may include:
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11. • Antibiotics if there is an overlying bacterial skin infection.
    • Ultraviolet light therapy. This may help if your skin condition is severe.
    • Medications to treat fungal and viral infections.
    • Topical corticosteroid creams and ointments - these are a type of anti-inflammatory medication and should relieve skin inflammation and itchiness.
12.  Home Remedies

1. If your eczema is mild, that might be all you need, along with some changes in your daily habits.
   If you have severe eczema, you may need to take medicine for it, too.
2. There are several things that people with eczema can do to support skin health,such as:
3. . Moisturizing every day
4. . Take short,warm shower
5. . Wearing cotton and soft fabrics, avoiding rough, scratchy fibers, and tight-     fitting clothing
6. . Using mild soaps
7. . Air drying or gently patting skin dry with a towel, rather than rubbing skin
8. . Keeping fingernails short to prevent scratching from breaking skin
9. . Get a humidifier
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13. Posted by:Aleena Atif
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