Eczema

Eczema is a prevalent skin disease, which denotes red skin with eruptions containing a liquid that oozes out affecting any age person

Classification of eczema

  • Exogenous (from the environment, e.g. irritant contact dermatitis, photodermatitis, infective eczema).
  • Endogenous ( atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczematous drug eruptions) Patients with a family history of allergies like asthma are more prone to atopic eczema.

How does eczema look like?

Mild form: skin looks dry and flaky, and severe forms, the skin is red, with cracks and oozing.

How long does eczema last?

It depends on the variant of eczema and its treatment response by the body. Contact dermatitis responds to the treatment within two to four weeks. Stasis dermatitis on legs takes months to years.

What is the leading cause of eczema?

  1. Atopic Dermatitis – It is a very itchy condition resulting in a low quality of life usually seen in infants and children and sometimes in adults, and it originates from the face and the flexural body area.
  2. Irritant contact Dermatitis – excessive irritant toxic substances.
  3. Allergic Contact Dermatitis – exposure to the allergic substances like vegetables, nickel, detergents and soaps, wool, skin infections, dry skin, low humidity, heat, rubber latex, sweating or stress and allergens such as dust mites, pollen, molds or food items.
  4. Seborrheic Dermatitis – commonly occurs in areas with a high density of oil glands – redness and scaling and itching is frequently seen on the head, eyebrows, eyelashes, around the nose, behind the ears and associated with redness, scaling and dandruff.
Some known triggers for eczema are as follow-
  • Long hot showers or baths
  • Heat
  • Cold, dry weather
  • Soaps, detergents, and cleansers
  • Wool and synthetic fabrics
  • Physical irritants (dirt, sand, and smoke)
  • Allergens (pollen, dust, dander)
  • Strenuous exercise
  • Sweat
  • Stress

What cures eczema fast?

Lifestyle and home remedies
  • Moisturize your skin daily immediately after taking a bath with an emollient like paraffin
  • Apply an anti-itch cream to the area of eczema
  • Oral medication like cetirizine and fexofenadine
  • Don’t scratch
  • Use mild soaps like dove
  • Wear loose soft clothing
  • Use liquid detergents instead of soaps and bars and powder