10 things to know about eczema

1. Types of eczema:

    

   • Hand Eczema:

     In this type, you may notice blisters or cracks on your hands that may be caused by chemicals that irritate the skin.

      

   • Contact Eczema:

     In contact eczema, your skin comes in contact with an irritant that can trigger eczema symptoms. There are two types of eczema:

      

     • Allergic Contact Dermatitis: The skin’s irritation to latex or metal
     • Irritant Contact Dermatitis: The skin’s irritation to any other type of chemical

   • Dyshidrotic Eczema:

     Dyshidrotic eczema can cause blisters on the fingers, toes, palms and soles of your feet. These blisters can be painful and itchy. They can lead to cracks or flakes on the skin.

      

   • Stasis Dermatitis:

     In stasis dermatitis, you may notice swelling, itching and redness of the skin. This can be caused by fluid from weak veins.

      

   • Nummular Eczema:

     Nummular eczema can lead to scaling and itching of the skin and form coin-shaped spots.

      

2. Causes of eczema:

   Eczema can be caused due to the combination of a family history of allergies, a weak immune system and environmental triggers. When your immune system reacts to air pollutants, a change in humidity levels and sweat, it can lead to skin eczema.

    

3. Diagnoses:

   There are no specific tests used to diagnose eczema, but there is a patch test that may be performed. During the patch test, an allergen is applied on your skin which may cause an allergic reaction.

   Your dermatologist may also ask you a set of basic questions to understand your symptoms better:

   • Where is it located?
   • How long have you been experiencing the symptoms?
   • Do you come in contact with chemicals regularly?
   • Any other allergies you may have?
   • What triggers your eczema symptoms
   • Do you have trouble sleeping?
   • Do you experience pain or itching on the affected areas?

    

4. What can worsen eczema effects?

   Dry skin can worsen eczema symptoms. Keep your skin moisturized to avoid dry and itchy skin. You can also take a warm water bath to control the spread of infection. The use of chemical based scented soaps, detergents and disinfectants can worsen eczema symptoms.

    

5. Eczema can cause other skin problems:

   Eczema tends to weaken the barrier of your skin which can lead to other skin infections like Eczema herpeticum and furuncles, impetigo and cellulitis. Eczema herpeticum is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), where you may develop cold sores on your skin. This can get serious, if it spreads to larger areas of your body.

   People who suffer from eczema, should protect themselves from the herpes virus, as this can increase your skin infection. Some other conditions you may suffer from, along with eczema include allergies, depression, sleep loss, asthma and anxiety.

6. Eczema treatments:

   Conventional treatments for eczema include wet dressing that helps reduce eczema symptoms; you may also be prescribed calcineurin inhibitors that are used to reduce eczema-caused inflammation. Some oral medications like azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, prednisolne or mycophenolate mofetil may be prescribed to treat eczema. These medications can have side effects like an increase in infection, nausea, kidney or liver damage and high blood pressure.

    

7. Home remedies to reduce eczema symptoms:

    

   • Use coconut oil to moisturize your skin. This will help reduce inflammation and improve skin health.
   • Use tea tree oil to heal areas affected by eczema. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties which can protect your skin from eczema symptoms.
   • Include fish, leafy vegetables, lentils, turmeric and cinnamon in your diet, to help reduce redness and inflammation caused by eczema.
   • Reduce your bathing time to 10-15 minutes a day and avoid rubbing your skin. This will help reduce the effect of eczema.

    

8. Eczema in children and babies:

   According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 28% of children are registered patients for eczema. A child's skin has a protein called ‘filaggrin’ that protects it from environmental allergies and irritants. But, if they have limited filaggrin in their body, it can get difficult for them to fight a skin allergy like eczema.

   Babies and children who have eczema, should be given a warm water bath every day or on alternate days. Their skin needs to be moisturized and covered with a soft fabric regularly. This will help protect their skin from an allergy trigger.

9. Seasonal effects on eczema:

   Change of season can trigger eczema symptoms. Some people may experience increased symptoms during spring and autumn, during summers due to heat and sweat, and during winters due to dryness. Keep your skin covered and moisturized at all times to protect it from seasonal triggers of eczema.

    

10. Homeopathy for eczema:

    To treat Eczema from the root; a homeopathy doctor prescribes a treatment plan on the basis of your medical history, physical, emotional and psychological symptoms. As per a study on NCBI, 60% out of 42 patients with atopic dermatitis showed a positive response to homeopathic medicines.

     

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