Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Eczema

Eczema, according to English dictionary is an acute or chronic inflammation of the skin, characterized by redness, itching and the outbreak of oozing vesicular lesions which becomes encrusted and scaly. It is noncontagious. Eczema is a term used for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. The type of eczema found on the body of human is called atopic dermatitis. Some medical professionals refer to atopic as a group of diseases with an often-inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions.

Eczema affects close to 10% or 20% of infant and affect about 3% of adult and children all over the world. Most infant who is infected by such disease outgrows it by their tenth birthday while some continue to have symptoms of it on and off throughout life and with proper medication it could be controlled.

Symptoms

·         Eczema is always itchy no matter what part of the skin is affected

·         Affected area appear very dry, thickened or scaly but appears differently based on the pigmentation of the skin

Causes

                Eczema is mostly found in families with history of allergies or asthma but the exact cause of eczema hasn’t been found or confirmed by any medical professional but it is connected to a response by the body ‘s immune system to an irritant.

Treatment

                Treatment for eczema is to relieve and prevent itching which can lead to infection. It makes skin dry and itchy; lotions and creams are recommended to keep the skin moist and these products are usually applied when the skin is damp especially after bathing to help the skin retain moisture. Cold compress may be used to relieve itching

Note: Eczema outbreak could be prevented by following these simple tips –

·         Moisturize frequently

·         Avoid harsh soaps, solvents and detergents

·         Use a humidifier in the room where you sleep

·         Reduce stress

·         Avoid sweating or overheating

·         Avoid scratchy materials

·         Avoid sudden change in temperature or humidity