Introduction
General Overview About Eczema
ECZEMA is a dermatological condition that makes the skin have rashes, become dry and itchy. It belongs to a group of conditions that cause skin inflammation, collectively known as dermatitis. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis.
Eczema looks different for every person, and flare-ups do not usually occur at the same spot.
The part affected can be:
- Itchy
- Swollen with a rash
- Red
- Dry and cracked
- Bumpy
- Thick and leathery.
Key Facts & Statistics
What are the factual and statistical information that surrounds Eczema?
- Eczema is a common skin condition.
- It affects more than 31 million persons in the US.
- Almost 20% of infants have eczema.
- Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema.
Risk Factors
What are the risk factors for eczema?
Family history or previous diagnosis dermatitis, asthma and allergies.
Causes & Triggers
What are the causes of eczema?
- Immune system over-reacting to triggers in the environment.
- Genetic predisposition
- Environmental exposure to irritants such as harsh soaps and skin care products.
- Emotional triggers such as stress and anxiety. These can lead to more frequent flare-ups of eczema symptoms.
What triggers eczema?
Some individuals can have flare-ups as a response to:
- Stress
- Pollen
- Cold or heat
- Household items like detergents
- Dust mites
- Fragrances
- Tobacco smoke
- Foods such as eggs and peanuts
- Coarse fabrics such as wool
- Irritating chemicals
- Other skin infections
Signs & Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of eczema?
- Skin rashes
- Dry skin
- Bumps on the skin
- Swelling
- Thick and leathery skin
- Itchy skin
Eczema looks different from person to person.
The rash can be purple, gray or red in persons with darker skin tones.
In persons with light skin tone, it is pink, red or purple.
The following are parts where symptoms of eczema can occur:
- Neck
- Hands
- Ankles
- Elbow
- Face
- Feet
- Ears
- Vulva
- Lips
- Nipples
- Penis
- Breasts
Types
What are the most common types of eczema?
There are various types of eczema. These include:
- Contact dermatitis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Nummular eczema
- Neurodermatitis
- Dyshidrotic eczema
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Stasis dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
Almost every person suffers from this condition at some point in life. It occurs when the skin comes into contact with objects that cause a rash. Triggers are unique to each individual and they vary based on the kind of contact dermatitis. There are two main forms of contact dermatitis. These are:
Irritant dermatitis
Its triggers include skin care products , nickel jewelery and industrial chemicals
Allergic dermatitis
Its common allergens are poison ivy, rubber, latex and nickel.
Atopic dermatitis
This is the most common form of eczema. In fact, most individuals usually mean “atopic dermatitis” when they say “eczema”. More than 7% of American adults are affected by this condition. It begins during childhood, and triggers include allergic disorders such as asthma.
Nummular eczema
It is a coin-shaped eczema. It appears after injury to skin, for example due to insect bites and burns. Risk factors for nummular eczema include diagnosis or family history of atopic dermatitis or asthma.
Neurodermatitis
Risk factors for neurodermatitis include atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. Other risk factors are being assigned female at birth and being in the age bracket of 30-50 years old. It can also be triggred by anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Neurodermatitis causes one or two itchy patches on the back of the neck, the arms or legs.
Dyshidrotic eczema
In spite of being less common form of eczema, it is dyshidrotic eczema is more challenging. It is triggered by sweat and irritants such such metals and is characterized by tiny blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet.
Seborrheic dermatitis
This form occurs in regions of the body that have lots of oil glands. It is referred to as dandruff when it is on the scalp. It is related to other skin conditions such as acne and psoariasis.
Stasis dermatitis
This kind occurs due to poor flow of blood in the lower limbs. Risk factors include being overweight and inadequate physical activity.
Tests for Diagnosis/ Diagnostic Tests
How is eczema diagnosed?
It involves medical practitioners who have specialized in skin conditions- dermatologists.
Eczema does not have a definitive test for diagnosis.
- Physical examination.
- Several tests are conducted to rule out other conditions and confirm suspected diagnosis. These are;
- Allergic test.
- Skin biopsy to distinguish between forms of dermatitis.
- Blood tests. These care carried out to look for causes of rashes that are unrelated to dermatitis.
Treatment and Management
How is eczema treated?
Treatment includes:
- Apply sensitive skin moisturizers if the skin is dry.
- Topical applications such as topical steroids.
- Oral medicines such as antihistamines or corticosteroids to reduces itchiness and swelling.
- Immunosuppressants to aid in controlling functioning of the immune system.
Complications
What are the complications of eczema?
- Infected eczema
- Weeping eczema
Prevention
How do we prevent eczema?
Some of the steps taken to prevent eczema flare-ups and outbreaks are:
- Shower or bathe using warm and not hot water
- Regularly hydrate your body by drinking enough, clean water.
- Put on loose attire made of cotton.
- Moisturize the skin regularly.
- Avoid exposure to irritants and allergens.