What is Eczema?
Eczema is a condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, flaking and burning. Eczema can range from mild to severe. In children, eczema often appears on the scalp, forehead and face, but it may also occur on the arms or legs. Eczema usually occurs in babies and small children, but can occur at any age.
What Causes Eczema?
There are many different factors that can cause eczema flare-ups. These factors can include detergents, soaps, smoke and pollen. Food allergies such as milk or eggs can cause it as well. When you come into contact with something that causes your skin to flare up, it is called contact dermatitis. The main symptoms of contact dermatitis include redness, swelling and itching of the skin where you came into contact with whatever caused the problem.
How do You Treat Eczema?
There are several treatment options for eczema, but each one depends on what type you have. For example:
Atopic Dermatitis – This is the most common form of eczema in children and infants. It may be hereditary and more likely to occur if there is a family history of asthma
There are many different kinds of eczema, but they all have similar symptoms. Eczema causes a very itchy rash in people who have a genetic tendency to get the disease.
The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis, which usually starts early in life in people who have a personal or family history of allergies such as asthma and hay fever. An estimated 20% of children have atopic dermatitis, and it affects adults as well. Other types of eczema include:
Contact dermatitis – This is caused by direct contact with an irritant (should be called irritant contact dermatitis) or with an allergen (allergic contact dermatitis). Common causes include soaps, detergents, solvents and metals. Irritant contact dermatitis tends to affect the hands more often than other parts of the body. Allergic contact dermatitis is usually found on areas that come into direct contact with the substance being allergic to (like poison ivy).
Seborrheic dermatitis – Seborrheic dermatitis affects areas of the skin that contain many oil glands, such as the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids and creases beside the nose and mouth.
Stasis dermatitis –
What are the symptoms of eczema?
Eczema causes a dry, itchy rash. Sometimes, small bumps may leak fluid and crust over when scratched. In adults, eczema is most likely to appear on the hands. In babies and children, eczema is most common on the scalp, elbows, knees and the face.
The symptoms of eczema vary from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms that last for a few days. Others have severe symptoms that last for years. A cycle of dry skin followed by intense itching and scratching is common. Breaking this “itch-scratch cycle” is often the key to treating eczema successfully.
What causes eczema?
The exact cause of eczema is unknown. It runs in families and often occurs with other conditions such as asthma or hay fever (allergic rhinitis). There are several different types of eczema.
Eczema is a general term for a skin condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed patches to appear on the skin. There are many different types of eczema, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Eczema can be present at birth or develop later in life. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis.
Eczema affects both children and adults and varies in severity from person to person. Although there is no cure for eczema, there are plenty of ways to control and treat the symptoms.
What Causes Eczema?
The exact cause of eczema remains unknown, however it is believed to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors. The condition runs in families and is more common in children with a family history of allergies, asthma or hay fever. Eczema flare-ups often occur when skin comes into contact with irritating substances (soaps, detergents etc.) or allergens (dust mites, pollen etc.).
Eczema is a skin condition that is marked by itching and inflammation. There are many different types of eczema, and each type has different causes, symptoms, and treatments. Eczema can be a mild skin disorder or it can develop into a chronic disease. The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. This type of eczema is more common in children than adults, although it can occur at any age.
Another common type of eczema is dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema usually affects the hands and feet only. It begins as small blisters that are filled with fluid, which then begin to itch.
A third form of eczema is contact dermatitis. This type of eczema appears as a rash in the area where you have come in contact with an irritating substance such as poison ivy or nickel. Allergies can also cause contact dermatitis to appear on the skin.
Nummular eczema is another form of this skin condition that appears as itchy, coin-shaped patches on the skin’s surface. It is not known what causes this type of eczema to appear.
Eczema is a common skin condition in the UK, affecting about one in every five children and one in 12 adults.
The symptoms of eczema include an itchy, red, dry and cracked skin. The main types are: atopic, contact and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Read more about the symptoms of eczema.
Causes of eczema
The exact cause of eczema is not known, but it often runs in families whose members also suffer from asthma or hay fever – conditions that are also linked to allergies.
Contact with certain substances such as soaps, detergents, jewellery and clothing can trigger an outbreak of eczema or make it worse.
It is unclear whether food allergy causes or worsens eczema; however, if you feel there is a link between your diet and your symptoms, you should speak to your GP.
Treating eczema
Eczema cannot be cured but there are treatments available to control the condition and ease your symptoms. Treatments include emollients (moisturisers) and mild to moderate steroid creams. Severe cases may need stronger steroids or ultraviolet light therapy (phototherapy).
Eczema is an itchy skin condition that occurs in about 10% to 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults. There are many different types of dermatitis, but the most common type is atopic dermatitis (AD).
AD usually begins in infancy and can continue into adulthood. The disease is characterized by intensely itchy patches of inflamed skin, which are often covered with small bumps that ooze a clear fluid when scratched. The most commonly affected areas are the folds of the elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, face and neck. Most people do not experience symptoms during the summer months.
The exact cause of AD is unknown. However, it is recognized as an inherited condition that runs in families with allergies or asthma. Scratching can make the itching worse and cause additional inflammation and even infection; therefore, eczema is considered a chronic condition that requires ongoing management.
Eczema Symptoms
Eczema symptoms include extremely dry skin, as well as red patches and small bumps on the skin that may ooze clear fluid when scratched. The itching can be intense and may lead to thickened skin or infection if left uncontrolled. The skin may also become discolored in some areas.
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