Eczema Symptoms and Treatment

Answer 1

Eczema is a condition which is fairly common, especially in infants. Approximately 3% of adults suffer from this skin disease while around 10 to 20% of infants have it. Eczema can be quite annoying to deal with but it is not harmful and is generally easy to deal with.

Causes of Eczema

There are two main types of this disease. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema, though many suffer from what is known as contact eczema, which only flares up when the skin comes into contact with certain things. Heredity also plays a big factor in who develops eczema. One's chances of developing the disease are increased if there is a family history of it or if Allergies and Asthma are prevalent.

Sometimes environmental factors will cause an eczema flare-up. Such things as excessive heat or cold and rapid changes in temperature or humidity can be a factor. Things which cause other allergic reactions may also results in eczema, such as certain soaps and detergents or animal dander. Stress has also been linked to symptoms of this skin disease.

Symptoms of Eczema

Symptoms of eczema consist of patches of dry skin which itch. This can also lead to reddish or brownish rashes formed as a result of itching the affected areas. These rashes may eventually develop into dry, thick, scaly spots. In infants, the symptoms may appear worse, turning into oozing, crusty areas, primarily on the face and scalp. The appearance of eczema will differ from person to person, based on the severity of the condition and the person's skin tone.

While symptoms can appear anywhere on the skin, the most common areas to see them are on the hands, face, feet, wrists or the back of the knees. For those who experience contact eczema, any area of the body which comes in contact with an irritant may flare-up.

Alleviating the Symptoms of Eczema

While this condition can not be cured, the symptoms of it can be reduced. For contact eczema this can be as simple as avoiding the offending irritant. For flare-ups, soothing lotions, moisturizing creams and calamine lotion will help with itching. Also, warm baths with oatmeal or baking soda are useful.

In infants, eczema will usually clear up on its own. For those who must live with it into their adult years, recognizing what causes flare-ups and avoiding those causes is the best way to prevent flare-ups and the annoying itching that accompanies them.