Understanding Eczema

What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition caused by inflammation.Eczema also called dermatitis.Atopic dermatitis is the most common of the many types of eczema. While the word "dermatitis" according to wikipedia means inflammation of the skin, "atopic" is an allergic hypersensitivity,. These eczema sufferers have a higher risk of developing other allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever or chronic uticaria.
Typically, eczema causes skin to become itchy, red, swollen, dry and even cracked. Eczema most frequently appears on the face and extremities, but it can show up in other areas, too.
Eczema is a chronic problem for many people. It is most common among infants, many of whom outgrow it before school age.

What Causes Eczema?
Like asthma, eczema seems to run in families. In 2009 a study carried out by scientists at the University of Edinburgh concluded that the “defects in a particular gene known as the filaggrin gene are linked to a considerably amplified risk of developing allergic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma”. Certain genes make some people have extra-sensitive skin, and the oily barrier of skin is usually reduced in people with atopic eczema, compared to other people. The lipid barrier helps prevent water loss. You will lose water faster if your oily barrier is reduced and in result your skin will be drier. Several studies have been confirming this.
Scientists are sure that genetics are the primary cause, they do not yet know what the exact genetic cause is but studies have shown that children run an 70% risk of developing eczema if both their parents have eczema.
Common triggers of eczema includes the following:

• Soaps
• Detergents
• Weather (hot, cold, humid, or dry)
• Environmental allergens
• Jewelry
• Creams
• Food handling
• Clothing
• Sweating
• Gloves
• Rubbing
• Bacteria
• Emotional or mental stress
• Environmental factors that make eczema worse:

Eczema is also caused or worsened by contact with irritants in common substances such as:

• woolen and synthetic fabrics
• soap and other agents that dry skin
• heat and house dust mites
• Eczema can develop to childrens who are exposed to cat after there birth.

A child with environmental allergies (such as allergies to dust, molds, and pets) is more likely to suffer from eczema and it can worsen when she is exposed to them.

Foods that may make eczema worse:
These are foods that typically cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive immune systems. These include:

• Milk (cow's)
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Soya
• Wheat

Tomatoes, nuts, fish, citrus, and tropical fruits are other foods that have been associated with worsening symptoms. There is no one food or set of foods that makes every child's eczema worse; each child is different. Even though you may notice that one particular food makes your child eczema worse, it is important to speak with your doctor before removing any foods which are necessary for growth and development from your child's diet. It may be difficult to pinpoint the exact food because many prepared foods contain a variety of ingredients.

About 10% of children with atopic eczema are affected by food allergens. Foods rarely affect the symptoms of adults with eczema.

How to determine what make eczema worse?
To determine what is worsening your eczema, observe what you are eating, wearing, and doing during the flare-up. Keep a diary and review it for some consistent pattern. Finding food sensitivities is very difficult but tries it.

Tips to help relive your eczema?

1. Bath with warm -- not hot water -- and avoid excessive scrubbing and toweling.
2. Sure to apply a moisturizer immediately after her bath. However, make sure that the moisturizer you use does not contain alcohol, which can dry skin.
3. If your home is dry, particularly in the winter when the heat is on, consider using a humidifier in the house to moisten the air.
4. Also, try to dress in mostly cotton clothing since it is less irritating to skin.
5. To avoid skin infections, cut nails short so that you does not break the skin while scratching.
6. Mittens or gloves may also prove helpful.
7. Use Herbal Medical “Stop-Eczema” cream which in not harmful for skin and cure eczema without any side effect. They use herbs and homeo substances which are not harmful try it and get rid of eczema.

Understanding Eczema - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Eczema?
Almost always, there's an itch before a rash appears in eczema. Typically, eczema shows itself as:

• Patches of chronically itchy, dry, thickened skin, usually on the hands, neck, face, and legs. In children, the inner creases of the knees and elbows are often involved.
• Scratching can lead to sores with crusts

Risk factors for eczema include the following:

• People with severe eczema usually also have hay fever and asthma.
• Eczema is probably hereditary and often is found in other family members.
• Eczema is not contagious.

Risk factors for an eczema flare include the following:

• Illness
• Physical or mental stress
• Exposure to skin irritants