Eczema - Symptoms and Treatment

Eczema is a skin disorder that causes areas of the skin to become red, itchy and scaly. It is also considered to be related to malfunctions of the immune system. Eczema primarily affects young children.It may ne caused due to may be caused by allergies, but often occurs for no apparent reason It usually subisdes by age 3 but may flare again at age 10 to 12 and last through puberty.

Eczema is also known as Dermatitis. Eczema is a noncontagious inflammation of the skin, patches of skin become rough and inflamed, sometimes with blisters that cause itching and bleeding .

Causes of Eczema

There are no specific causes of Eczema yet there are something which we know that can flare up this disease these are as follows:

• Changes in temperature or humidity
• Chemical irritants, such as pesticides, paint strippers, alcohol, astringents, perfumes, harsh soaps,
• Detergents, and household cleaners
• Physical irritants, such as clothes made of rough or scratchy fabrics, like wool
• Allergies (to dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, etc.)
• Intense emotion or stress
• Infections of any kind

Symptoms of Eczema

Following are main symptoms of Eczema:

• The skin will be extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly
• The skin may also be wet and weeping and swollen
• There may be infection with bacteria (usually staphylococcus)
• The most common areas affected are the skin creases such as the front of the elbows and wrists, backs of knees and around the neck. (In chronic form). The skin will be dry and thickened and may be scaly or cracked, as a result of continual scratching.

Treatment of Eczema

Eczema can be treated by keeping skin healthy and healing it,and also to prevent flare ups and treat symptoms of disease as they occur. This can be done through these measures:

1) Emollients (moisturisers): covering skin through protective film to reduce water loss from skin.

2) Topical corticosteroid (steroid) reduces inflammation of skin

3) Anti-infective agents

4) Antihistamines Sedative antihistamines

5) Topical immunomodulators

6) Hospital treatments such as 'wet wraps', a tar and/or steroid occlusion bandages, light therapy, and medicines which suppress the immune system such as ciclosporin.