Manage Eczema Through Lifestyle Modifications

It is important in the treatment of eczema to treat the cause of eczema and the aggravating factors in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their lifestyles, eating habits and reduce their level of stress often experience a much greater degree of eczema clearing. While you try to treat the symptoms of the skin (eczema) that are most visible and distressing, you should try to treat the cause! If we find and treat the cause, then maybe all the symptoms of eczema need not occur! Good health for your skin as well as your entire body may require a permanent lifestyle change that will reward you with a longer life and more beautiful skin to wear during those extra years. A picture can be worth a thousand words. Before implementing the lifestyle changes, take a picture of your eczema so you can see the cause and effect of each lifestyle change in your eczema skin in 2-3 months by taking an "after" picture.

ECZEMA AND COLD WEATHER

A recent international survey done by the National Eczema Society in London England revealed some shocking statistics about our United States citizens. Of all the countries surveyed, the US had by far the most sufferers of eczema. The research conducted by NOP World Health stated that there were 17.4 million patients in America.

Anyone who has witnessed the degree of discomfort that these 17.4 million people go through when the affliction is at its worst cannot help but empathize with them. The saddest part is that a large proportion of them are children.

Eczema sufferers, or those that care for someone with eczema, know that a flare-up can be anything from dry skin which can be mildly annoying to cracked bleeding skin, which is agonizingly painful. To watch a child go through that is perhaps more difficult for the observer than it is for the victim because there is reputedly no cure for this disease.

Certain times of the year make it even more difficult. In cold weather the skin gets chapped and when we seek refuge in a heated area, the heat dehydrates the skin making it worse. The best thing to do to combat these seasonal flare-ups is to keep the skin moisturized as much as possible but beware!

Did you know that bathing and certain brands of moisturizers actually irritate the condition even more? When bathing one should always use a natural soap without any perfume and add a mild non-perfumed oil. The same applies to moisturizers that have a perfume added, as it is the astringent properties of these products that irritate the condition.

The problem with most of the commercially sold moisturizers whether they be creams, ointments or lotions is that they do not penetrate the skin deeply enough nor stay on the skin long enough to give the skin time to heal naturally

Eczema Facts

Around one in 12 adults and one in five children have eczema.
There are many different types of eczema from mild to severe including Atopic Eczema - the most common form that often runs in families and Contact Eczema which may be caused by irritants such as detergents.
Eczema is a non-contagious inflammatory condition of the skin. The term "eczema" comes from the Greek word ekzein meaning "to boil over". The most common features of eczema are very itchy, dry, red skin. The itching and scratching, commonly known as the "itch-scratch-itch cycle", are seen as the most distressing part of eczema, causing disturbed sleep for the person with eczema.
The itchiness produces an urge to scratch which can be hard to resist - whatever your age. Eczema can make the skin dry, hot and itchy and it can become broken, raw and bleeding.
However certain things such as stress, house dust mites and detergents can make it worse. Conventional treatments include moisturizers and topical steroids. However, everyone's skin is different, what helps one will not always help another.
If not treated appropriately the skin may get more irritated and itchy leading to more scratching and damage to the skin. Emotionally and physically eczema can be devastating.

Living With Eczema In the Winter Time

Take quick, cool showers. You don't want to sit in a bathtub because it will dehydrate your skin more. You want to use a mild soap, preferably a moisturizing soap. There are also body washes now that have petrolatum in them, and when you use a puff to apply the body wash, it will coat you with sort of a lipid barrier, and that may be helpful for a lot of people.
When people come out of the shower, they should pat, not rub themselves dry with a towel, and then they can start out with an over-the-counter moisturizer. I also tell people when they get undressed to go to sleep, put moisturizer on again. And for bad hands, I tell people to keep a tube of moisturizer in their pockets.

People with dry skin should look for moisturizers that contain lactic acid, which is a humectant that draws moisture into the skin. There are over-the-counter products with lower concentrations of glycolic acid, which acts as an exfoliant, and moisturizers that contain urea, another humectant. Urea may help for badly dry skin, especially on cracked heels in the wintertime.

You want to look for ones that say "for heavy use" or "for body use" because the facial moisturizers typically have less petrolatum in them, so that people won't break out on their face. On your body, you care less about breakouts. You want something heavier. The best moisturizer, though we don't like it because it's not very cosmetically appealing, is something like Vaseline (petrolatum). It is very moisturizing, but it's very greasy.

Unless you are dehydrated, excessive drinking of water is not going to help dry skin. And unless you are deficient in some sort of essential fatty acid, eating certain types of fats is also not going to moisturize your skin.

One thing that can make a lot of people who have eczema and dry skin itch more in the wintertime is wearing wool or wool-like products. They're better off with cotton and cotton-like products, which breathe more.

Eczema Treatment Will Not Cure Eczema

There is essentially no cure for eczema. It involves a sensitivity of the skin that you are likely to have to some degree from now on. There are, however, a number of approaches which help to minimise your symptoms.
The mainstay of treatment is moisturising the skin. For this we use creams, ointments and shower and bath oils which help to replenish the skin's natural protective oils.
You should discuss these with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Washing tends to dry out the skin and make eczema worse. It helps to use an emollient cream as a substitute for soap, and you can apply it liberally at other times during the day. The special bath oils and shower gels also leave a coating of oils on the skin. Some of the creams and oils contain an antiseptic, as it has been found that eczema often flares up as a result of a germ infecting the skin.
Your doctor may prescribe a cream or ointment containing a steroid (topical steroid). These are very effective at reducing inflammation and itch. Your doctor will want you to use this sparingly, and only while the eczema is bad. There are different strengths of steroid applications, and the tendency is to use the lowest strength that the skin requires at the time, in order to minimise the risk of possible side effects of using steroids.
In moderate to severe atopic eczema, where topical steroid treatment has not worked, your doctor may prescribe a new type of treatment to be applied to the skin (topical treatment). The preparations are made from a type of drug known as immunomodulators (calcineurin inhibitors, eg tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) that are used, when taken internally, for such things as preventing rejection of transplanted organs. They are strong drugs, but given as an ointment they do not affect your general immunity, and the main possible side effect is a burning sensation. They are certainly effective on atopic eczema and, used under the supervision of your doctor, may make a difference where the previous treatments were not doing enough. In England and Wales there are guidelines on their usage from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.
Antihistamines taken by mouth may be helpful in reducing the itch. Your doctor will advise.
If the skin becomes obviously infected, which is more likely as its normal protective surface has been damaged, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
There are a number of older fashioned remedies which are still effective and may be suggested by your doctor or specialist. For example tars, menthol.
Evening primrose oil supplements are used for eczema, and are a safe treatment, but have not consistently proved to be effective in research trials. It would appear that the evidence may not support them being any more effective than capsules or medicine containing no active ingredient (placebo).
If the skin is not responding well, your doctor will probably ask a skin specialist (dermatologist) to see you. There are a number of options that the specialist may use. These may include:
Bandages and wet wraps.
Drugs to suppress the immune system of the body as a whole. These are only used in severe cases, and include Cyclosporin, a drug otherwise mainly used to stop rejection in patients receiving transplants.
Phototherapy. Ultra-violet light treatment (UVB and PUVA) can be used in the treatment of atopic eczema. Ultra-violet therapy potentially increases the risks of skin cancer, so it is only used in severe cases.
Naturally, if your eczema is a result of a specific allergy or sensitivity, then it is wise to avoid the thing which causes it if you can.

Causes of Eczema

Many things cause eczema. The most common cause of eczema is a general allergic over sensitivity (atopy). This sort of eczema is known as atopic eczema, and it is linked with asthma and hayfever. That is, these conditions often run together in a family.

The other possible causes include:

Infantile eczema which often affects young babies. This may lead to a patch below their chins, which gets wettest from dribbling, and may be associated with cradle cap.

Contact with substances which irritate the skin chemically. This is caused by direct contact between the skin and the substance, which might be such things as detergents, soaps, diesel or engine oils, strong chemicals, cleaners etc.

Contact with substances which the body has become allergic to. Commonly this involves nickel, rubbers etc. If a woman was sensitive to nickel in the past it would cause a reaction where the bra hooks and suspenders came near her skin, as these typically contained nickel. Plastics have helped to overcome this risk, but jewellery and watches are still a common cause. Suddenly people need to spend a bit more on their presents to you!

Varicose veins can lead to a form of eczema affecting the lower legs. This is known as varicose or gravitational eczema. As well as treatment of the skin, it is important to improve the blood circulation in the legs, and for most people this includes wearing support stockings and staying active on your feet. Your doctor will discuss the options

Living With Excema: Use Moisturizers

Moisturizers help keep your skin soft and flexible. They prevent skin cracks. A plain moisturizer is best. Avoid moisturizers with fragrances (perfume) and a lot of extra ingredients. A good, cheap moisturizer is plain jojoba oil.

The benefit of jojoba oil comes from its similarity to the natural restorative oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the demal layers of the skin. Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores.

Use moisturizers that are more greasy than creamy, because creams usually have more preservatives in them.
Regular use of a moisturizer can help prevent the dry skin that is common in winter.

Controlling Eczema: Avoid Irritants

Limit your contact with things that can irritate your skin.
Some of the things that may irritate your skin include household cleansers, detergents, aftershave lotions, soap, gasoline, turpentine and other solvents. Try to avoid contact with things that make you break out with eczema. Because soaps and wetness can cause skin irritation, wash your hands only when necessary, especially if you have eczema on your hands. Be sure to dry your hands completely after you wash them.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral dermatitis is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth. Most often it is red and slightly scaly or bumpy. Any itching or burning is mild. It may spread up around the nose, and occasionally the eyes while avoiding the skin adjacent to the lips.

Perioral dermatitis is more common in women.

Perioral dermatitis may come and go for months or years.

There may be more than one cause of perioral dermatitis. One of the most common factors is prolonged use of topical steroid creams and inhaled prescription steroid sprays used in the nose and the mouth. Overuse of heavy face creams and moisturizers are another common cause. Other causes include skin irritations, fluorinated toothpastes, and rosacea.

A mild soap or soap substitute, such as Dove or Cetaphil should be used for washing. Scrubbing should be avoided. Try stopping fluorinated toothpaste for stubborn cases. Non-fluorinated toothpaste is available at a health food store. The most reliably effective treatment is oral antibiotics. These are taken in decreasing doses for three to twelve weeks. Topical antibacterial creams and lotions may also be used for faster relief. These can be continued for several months in order to prevent recurrences.

Even after successful treatment, perioral dermatitis sometimes comes back later. Usually, the same type treatment will again be effective. Many cases that come back eventually turn into rosacea. Perioral dermatitis is a common skin problem, but fortunately most people do very well with proper treatment.

Distinguishing Lupus From Eczema

The following types of lupus along with their characteristic descriptions can help you to distinguish between lupus and eczema.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the form of the disease that most people are referring to when they say "lupus." The word "systemic" means the disease can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms of SLE may be mild or serious. Although SLE usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well. This booklet focuses on SLE.

Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic skin disorder in which a red, raised rash appears on the face, scalp, or elsewhere. The raised areas may become thick and scaly and may cause scarring. The rash may last for days or years and may recur. A small percentage of people with discoid lupus have or develop SLE later.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body exposed to sun. The lesions do not cause scarring.
Drug-induced lupus is a form of lupus caused by medications. Many different drugs can cause drug-induced lupus. Symptoms are similar to those of SLE (arthritis, rash, fever, and chest pain) and they typically go away completely when the drug is stopped. The kidneys and brain are rarely involved.

Neonatal lupus is a rare disease that can occur in newborn babies of women with SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, or no disease at all. Scientists suspect that neonatal lupus is caused by autoantibodies in the mother's blood called anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB). Autoantibodies ("auto" means self) are blood proteins that act against the body's own parts. At birth, the babies have a skin rash, liver problems, and low blood counts. These symptoms gradually go away over several months. In rare instances, babies with neonatal lupus may have a serious heart problem that slows down the natural rhythm of the heart. Neonatal lupus is rare, and most infants of mothers with SLE are entirely healthy.
All women who are pregnant and known to have anti-Ro (SSA) or anti-La (SSB) antibodies should be monitored by echocardiograms (a test that monitors the heart and surrounding blood vessels) during the 16th and 30th weeks of pregnancy.It is important for women with SLE or other related autoimmune disorders to be under a doctor's care during pregnancy. Physicians can now identify mothers at highest risk for complications, allowing for prompt treatment of the infant at or before birth. SLE can also flare during pregnancy, and prompt treatment can keep the mother healthier longer.