| Eczema | |||||
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Eczema is an inflammation of the skin which causes the skin to get itchy and dry. The skin also has a "red" inflammed appearance where the eczema appears.
Eczema can affect just a small part of the body and cause relatively mild symptoms (mild eczema) or it can be more widespread, causing more severe and debilitating symptoms.
It is important not to scratch the inflammed spots of eczema as this only makes the inflammation and condition worse and it can spread the eczema further.
There are a few different types of eczema which can occur:
- Atopic eczema - the most common type of eczema, esepcially in children which displays all the symptoms of eczema and can appear anywhere on the body
- Dyshidriotic eczema - affects the palms of the hands and soles of the feet which usually produces blisters that contain fluid and are surrounded by a red rash; this condition starts before the age of 40
- Nummular (descoid) eczema - red, itchy and inflammed round-shaped lesions form on the arms and legs; most common in older people or those adults with very dry skin
- Seborrhoeic eczema - this is an eczema of the scalp which can affect both babies and adults
- Adult seborrhoeic eczema - this affects adults and starts with the scalp being affected and then starts to affect the face
- Infant seborrhoeic eczema - this is also known as cradle cap and is a very common condition affecting babies in their first year of life
- Dry, scaly looking skin
- Itchy skin
- Red, inflammed skin
- Skin may split and ooze fluid (if it becomes inflammed enough or is scratched too much)
While scientists do not yet known what causes eczema, they do have a list of risk factors which increases the chance of developing it:
- Allergens - certain substances are known allergens which produce or exacerbate asthma
- Allergic reactions - some severe allergic reactions include an eczema-like reaction of hives and skin irritation
- Changes in temperature - abrupt and extreme changes in temperature can cause eczema; for example, going out of a warm house into cold air outside are known to irritate some people's skin
- Chemicals - some chemicals are known irritants for many people and cause eczema which can be a transient condition or more severe and last longer
- Hayfever, allergies, ashtma - people who get other allergic disorders tend to have a higher risk for developing eczema
- Genetics - people with a family history of eczema will tend to develop this condition
- Stress - strong and persistent emotions (or any type of stress) can trigger eczema and make symptoms worse
- Sweating intensely - sometimes a lot of sweating (usually due to exercising strenuously) can aggravate symptoms from the chemicals released in the sweat
Diagnosis and testing
Eczema is usually diagnosed through a thorough examination by a medical doctor who will also take a detailed history of symptoms.
Sometimes this may not be enough and a referral to a dermatologist will be given, who will also do the following tests:
- Examine the skin and take a detailed history of symptoms and also do the following
- Perform a patch test - to test if certain substances cause an allergic eczema on the skin
- Take a skin biopsy - to rule out other skin disorders (both bengign and malignant)
Conventional treatment
Medication and lifestyle recommendations are advised as conventional treatment for eczema:
- Antihistamine tablets - these stop the allergic reaction to an allergen, which causes the eczema by producing too much histamine (which gets released in allergic reaction and which causes inflammation and itching); there are many types of antihistamines available in pharmacies that do not require a doctor's prescription, although there also are some which do; some types of antihistamines can cause drowsiness, although the more modern classes of atihistamines do not
- Corticosteroid tablets - if the eczema symptoms are really severe, a doctor will prescribe a short course of corticosteroid tablets to reduce acute symptoms and provide some relief; the only problem with this type of treatment is that there may be worsening of symptoms after the course of medication has ended
- Sorbolene (or other moisturing cream) - this is recommended to moisten the skin and prevent it from drying out and becoming inflamed; unscented sorbolene cream is generally advised to be used especially after showering (or bathing) and when in air-conditioned offices or if in windy conditions outside
- Topical corticosteroid creams - these creams are very effective in reducing symptoms ad are available by prescription only and come in a variety of strengths
Alternative / completementary treatment
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
- Diet - dietary changes are required
to help relieve symptoms in the long term
- Fruit - incorporate more fresh fruits in the diet
- Oily fish - such as salmon, mackerel should be eaten at least 3 times per week to reduce inflammation
- Vegetables - eat at least 5-7 servings of vegetables each day, especially dark green leafy vegetables which have lots of vital nutrients
- Wholegrains - eat a variety of wholegrain foods; if gluten intolerant, try non-wheat grains such as kamut and spelt
- Herbs - there are many herbs used either as tablet, tinctures or creams that are effective in
relieving symptoms
- Aloe vera cream - is soothing and cooling, providing instant reduction in inflammation and relief from symptoms; the gel from the aloe vera plant has potent anti-inflammatory and cooling effects
- Calendula cream - is a soothing cream and provides reduction in inflammation symptoms over the longer term, and it moisturises the skin and reduces dryness
- Tea tree oil cream - is a potent anti-fungal and will reduce inflammation, providing relief of symptoms
- Lifestyle - various lifestyle guidelines are used to reduce symptoms
- Apply a cold compress - use plain cotton fabric which has been moistened with cold water to the area which is inflammed, as this can provide immediate (albeit temporary) relief
- Avoid allergens - avoid whatever causes the eczema to flare up, whether it be food, chemicals or other substances
- Avoid over-heated rooms - high temperatures and sweating can cause an aggravation of symptoms in some people
- Avoid scented soaps & detergents - these are known to aggravate existing eczema, use non-scented, organic soaps, dishwashing liquids and laundry detergents which are milder on the easily inflammed skin and are less likely to cause a reaction (experimentation will be necessary to find the right soap and detergent); read labels and avoid any products that have synthetic ingredients, especially perfumes
- Avoid scratching the itch - by scratching the itchy patch(es) of eczema, it only makes it worse and increases the likelihood of developing worse symptoms and spreading the eczema
- Drink more water - drink around 8-10 glasses of water each day as this will help to hydrate the body and tissue and prevent skin from drying out, reducing symptoms
- Reduce stress - any type of meditation or calming therapy that will help to reduce stress and anxiety will reduce symptoms
- Stop smoking - nicotine can aggravate or even initiate some types of eczema, so even second-hand smoke should be avoided
- Sunshine - limited exposure to sunshine is an excellent way to help reduce inflammation and other symptoms
- Minerals - certain minerals are especially required for people with this condition
- Magnesium - this mineral relaxes the body tissues and is helpful in reducing the stress and anxiety associated with inflammation and pain
- Selenium - this potent antioxidant improves tissue elasticity and assist with healing
- Zinc - this antioxidant mineral helps the tissues to heal quicker and reduces recurrence of symptoms; in addition, studies show that people who have eczema have a deficiency of zinc
- Nutrients - there are various nutrients with help to relieve symptoms of eczema
- Coal tar - this is one of the oldest known treatments for eczema, which reduces inflammation symptoms
- Evening primrose oil - the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in evening primrose oil seems to assist with alleviatating symptoms
- Fish oil - the EPA and DHA in fish such as salmon or mackerel (or fish oil capsules) reduces inflammation
- Vitamins - certain vitamins have known properties that assist with reducing incidence of symptoms or preventing eczema from occuring in the first place
- Bioflavonoids - these should be used in conjunction with vitamin C to reduce symptoms
- Vitamin A - is an essential vitamin to ensure healthy skin tissue, studies show
- Vitamin B complex - the B vitamins are beneficial in supporting the nervous system
- Vitamin C - works to relieve symptoms of most types of eczema, especially for dyshidriotic eczema, which responds very well to vitamin C supplementation
- Vitamin D - either as a supplement or as a cream is effective in reducing symptoms
- Vitamin E - a potent antioxidant which works as an anti-inflammatory to relieve symptoms
- Eczema affects men and women equally
- It is not just children who develop eczema, adults can develop it too
- It is important to treat eczema when it first occurs, especially if symptoms are mild, to prevent it from getting any worse
- Eczema is not contagious, no matter how severe it is
- Skin that is affected with eczema may be more susceptible to other types of infections
- Use natural, mild (or hypoallergenic) soaps with as little chemicals as possible to avoid drying out and irritating the skin
- Avoid the allergen triggers that may cause eczema - these may be different for each person, but usually harsh chemicals are a problem for eczema sufferers
- Avoid highly perfumed soaps, lotions and skin products as these may irritate the skin and exacerbate eczema symptoms
- Wear clothes made of natural fibres
- Wear gloves when washing dishes, clothes or cleaning
- Use non-perfumed and natural clothes detergents and fabric softeners, as the chemicals in conventional clothes detergents may irritate the skin and cause an exerbation of symptoms
- Go swimming in the ocean, as seawater, having a high composition of salt is known to alleviate eczema symptoms
- Eczema cannot be cured (in most people), but the symptoms can be greatly reduces if a variety of treatment approaches are used concurrently
Last reviewed: 14 January 2007 || Last updated: 21 August 2007
Related Articles
references
- Andreassi M, Forleo P, Di Lorio A, Masci S, Abate G, Amerio P. Efficacy of gamma-linolenic acid in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. J Int Med Res . 1997;25(5):266-274
- Arck P, Paus R. From the brain-skin connection: the neuroendocrine-immune misalliance of stress and itch. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2006;13(5-6):347-56. Epub 2007 Aug 6
- Carr AC, Frei B. Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans. Am J Clin Nutr . 1999;69(6):1086-1107
- Fujita WH, McCormick CL, Parneix-Spake A. An exploratory study to evaluate the efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% for the treatment of pityriasis alba. Int J Dermatol. 2007 Jul;46(7):700-5
- Gale CR, Robinson SM, Harvey NC, Javaid MK, Jiang B, Martyn CN, Godfrey KM, Cooper C. Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and child outcomes. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb 21
- Morse NL, Clough PM. A meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials of Efamol evening primrose oil in atopic eczema. Where do we go from here in light of more recent discoveries? Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2006 Dec;7(6):503-24
- Roelofzen JH, Aben KK, Van der Valk PG, Van Houtum JL, Van de Kerkhof PC, Kiemeney LA. Coal tar in dermatology. J Dermatolog Treat. 2007 Sep 12;1-6
- Willers SM, Devereux G, Craig LC, McNeill G, Wijga AH, Abou El-Magd W, Turner SW, Helms PJ, Seaton A. Maternal food consumption during pregnancy and asthma, respiratory and atopic symptoms in 5-year-old children. Thorax. 2007 Sep;62(9):772-8. Epub 2007 Mar 27
- Yu RJ, Van Scott EJ. Alpha-hydroxyacids and carboxylic acids. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004 Apr;3(2):76-87
To learn more, go to the Eczema Association of Australasia web site.
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
