Causes,symptoms,treatments and Prevention of Eczema..

Eczema is a
general term
for many
types of skin
inflammation
(dermatitis).
The most
common
form of
eczema is
atopic
dermatitis (sometimes these two terms are used
interchangeably). However, there are many
different forms of eczema.
Eczema can affect people of any age, although the
condition is most common in infants, and about
85% of those affected have an onset prior to 5
years of age. Eczema will permanently resolve by
age 3 in about half of affected infants. In others,
the condition tends to recur throughout life. People
with eczema often have a family history of the
condition or a family history of other allergic
conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. Atopic
dermatitis is believed to belong to a group of
related diseases including food allergy, asthma,
and allergic rhinitis that tend to develop in
sequence, suggesting that atopic dermatitis early
in life may lead to or predict later allergic diseases.
The nature of the link between these conditions is
inadequately understood. Up to 20% of children
and 1%-2% of adults are believed to have eczema.
Eczema is slightly more common in girls than in
boys. It occurs in people of all races.
Eczema is not contagious, but since it is believed
to be at least partially inherited, it is not
uncommon to find members of the same family
affected.
What are eczema symptoms and signs in babies,
children, and adults?
Eczema most commonly causes dry, reddened skin
that itches or burns, although the appearance of
eczema varies from person to person and varies
according to the specific type of eczema. Intense
itching (pruritus) is generally the first symptom in
most people with eczema. Sometimes, eczema
may lead to blisters and oozing lesions, but
eczema can also result in dry and scaly skin
(xerosis is the medical term for dry skin). Repeated
scratching may lead to thickened, crusty skin
(lichenification).
While any region of the body may be affected by
eczema, in children and adults, eczema typically
occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the
elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, eczema
typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms,
legs, scalp, and neck.
Eczema can sometimes occur as a brief reaction
that only leads to symptoms for a few hours or
days, but in other cases, the symptoms persist
over a longer time and are referred to as chronic
dermatitis.
Treatment
Use of corticosteroid cream
Use of Ketoconazole drugs
Use of corticosteroid cream
Can eczema be prevented?
While there is no cure for eczema, you can take
steps to manage your symptoms and lessen the
severity of outbreaks. Such measures include
1. avoidance of over-bathing;
2. applying moisturizer frequently, especially after
bathing;
3. bathing in warm, not hot, water and using a mild
soap;
4. limiting or avoiding contact with known irritants
like soaps, perfumes, detergents, jewelry,
environmental irritants, etc.;
5. wearing loose-fitting clothing (cotton clothing
may be less irritating for many people than wool or
synthetic fibers);
6. the use of cool compresses to help control
itching;
7. avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions;
8. exercise, meditation, or other stress-
management techniques can help those for whom
stress is a trigger;
9. wearing protective gloves for activities that
require frequent submersion of the hands in water;
10. avoiding activities that make you hot and
sweaty as well as abrupt changes in temperature
and humidity;
11. using a humidifier in both winter (when the
heating dries the atmosphere) and in the summer
(if air conditioning is used because it depletes the
moisture in the air);
12. maintaining cool temperatures in sleeping
areas, because heat can lead to sweating that
worsens itching and irritation;
13. practising good skin hygiene even when you
are not having symptoms.