Warmer weather eczema - poison ivy

With the approach of warmer weather comes another form of eczema - poison ivy.
If you've stumbled on a patch of poison ivy, here are a few tips from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation to help minimize your discomfort:
Try to catch the rash early. If you think you might have poison ivy, wash the area well with soap and cool water.
Over-the-counter creams and antihistamines -- such as Caladryl lotion, hydrocortisone cream, or Benadryl -- can help with symptoms.
Try covering the rash with a mixture of baking soda and cool water.
Poison ivy is not contagious from person to person, but is spread when the oil from the plant is still on your skin and you touch other parts of your body or another person. You should be careful to look out for the plants when out in the woods or your garden, and wash your clothes in warm water when you come in from working outside.
If the rash covers a large portion of your body, or you experience fever, headache, nausea, painful rash or shortness of breath, you should contact your doctor to see if you may be having an allergic reaction to the poison ivy.

Kidney Drug May Be Beneficial In Treating Eczema

Tailoring a powerful, immune-suppressing drug to individual patients may bring safe relief to adults and children afflicted with atopic eczema, British researchers report.
As reported by the BBC, The drug, called azathioprine, was first developed 40 years ago to help suppress organ rejection in kidney transplant recipients.
Docotrs soon realised it might help subdue painful eczema flare-ups, but the drug's effects on the immune system meant that it has only been used as a last resort, and only in adults.
Now, researchers at the University of Newcastle say they have matched doses of azathioprine to levels of a particular enzyme, called TPMT, in patients' blood.
In a study involving 63 patients, this tailored approach gave patients several months of sustained relief, without major side effects.
"We have shown for the first time that, if we can get the dose right, the safety of the drug improves significantly," researcher Dr Simon Meggitt, a consultant dermatologist, told the BBC.

Old Drug Becomes An Effective New Treatment For Eczema

Following news earlier in the week that a British Skin Foundation (BSF) funded project in Dundee had achieved a breakthrough in eczema research, another BSF funded study has developed a new way to use a 40-year-old drug which has been found to be effective in the treatment of the commonest form of eczema.

The drug, called azathioprine, was originally developed in the 1960s for kidney transplant patients. A randomised clinical trial at Newcastle University involving 63 adult eczema patients found that by using a novel dosing technique, the drug worked as an eczema treatment in a significant number of cases when compared to a placebo.

Dr Simon Meggitt, a Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, who conducted the study with Professor Nick Reynolds at Newcastle University, said: "This trial was actually long over-due. Dermatologists had long suspected azathioprine was a useful treatment for atopic eczema, but when we planned the study, no-one had actually done a trial to determine whether or not it worked.

The new dosing technique works by calculating the amount of the drug to give according to how much of a certain enzyme the individual has in their body. Dr Meggitt explained: "What is interesting about azathioprine is that people have a genetically-determined way of eliminating the drug from the body, related to a drug-metabolising enzyme known as TPMT. By tailoring the dosage of the drug dependent upon the level of TPMT in each individual patient, for the first time we were able to minimise the side effects of the treatment, but without compromising its effectiveness."

Matthew Patey, Director of the British Skin Foundation (BSF), the charity that co-funded the research, said: "This is the second really promising breakthrough in eczema research this week – both of which were awarded grants by the British Skin Foundation. This kind of promising development illustrates why at the BSF we are so dedicated to raising funds for research into eczema and related skin disorders that blight so many people's lives. Achieving breakthroughs in the development of cures and treatments for skin disease can only be achieved through high quality research, and we hope to be able to continue funding this kind of valuable work."As many as 20% of children suffer from eczema. The physical and psychological impact that this can have on the sufferer's life cannot be underestimated.

And it isn't just the patients who suffer – the disease also affects their friends and family too. A good example is 18-month-old Josh, who has suffered from eczema for most of his life.

"His itchy and flaky skin keeps him awake and crying every night. His parents can't sleep either because they are desperately trying to ease his symptoms. The emolient creams they use while bathing Josh help, but the grease and mess have ruined his baby clothes and bed linen. This is exactly the kind of case that shows why the work of the BSF is so important in being able to fund vital research that can help eliminate patients' suffering."

"By dosing patients according to the levels of TPMT in their bodies, we didn't run into any major problems with side-effects, but the drug still worked even at a lower doses. So far, no other clinical trials have used TPMT levels in this way to individualise treatment", added Dr Meggitt. "We have shown for the first time that if we can get the dose right, the safety of the drug increases significantly.

"Azathioprine has applications in a number of diseases, including lupus and Crohn's disease, but the advantage of using a skin disease to assess the usefulness of tailored dosing, is that it is very easy to actually see the results, which are more difficult to measure in the case of other internal diseases", said Dr Meggitt.

All of the patients who took part in the three-month trial had previously had a number of different treatments, including ultraviolet radiation therapy. The results of the study showed a reduction in the expected side-effects of the drug, while at the same time maintaining its effectiveness. The study also suggested that the effects of treatment with azathioprine were relatively long-lasting, giving patients several months' reprieve from the symptoms of their condition.

The study was carried out by scientists at Newcastle University and funded by the British Skin Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

SOURCE: British Skin Foundation

Eczema Caused By A Defective Gene

SCIENTISTS have hailed as a major breakthrough the discovery of a defective gene that causes eczema and asthma.
An international team of researchers led by experts from Dundee University found that the gene is responsible for producing a protein that makes skin waterproof and keeps out infections.
In an Irish study, about two-thirds of children with eczema were found to have a defect in the gene and a study of Danish children found that more than 60 per cent with the mutated gene acquired the disease in the first few years of life.
A third study of children in Scotland found a "very strong association" between the gene and eczema and asthma.
The news, revealed in two academic papers today and next month in the journal Nature Genetics, was hailed as a "real step forward", by the National Eczema Society, which added: "Above all, it answers the age-old question asked by most eczema sufferers - 'why?'"
Another group said it held out the prospect of a treatment - or even a cure - with "truly life-changing possibilities" for people with the diseases. More than five million people in Britain suffer from asthma, and six million from eczema.
Until now, doctors could only treat the symptoms of eczema and the related dry skin condition ichthyosis vulgaris using ointments or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Now the gene defect that underlies most cases is known, scientists have a target and the Dundee team is already looking for drugs that will stimulate production of the protein, called filaggrin.
About five million people in the UK alone make only 50 per cent of the normal amount of filaggrin protein and have dry and flaky skin.
But one in 500 people, or about 120,000 in the UK, have both their copies of the filaggrin gene knocked out by mutations and have no filaggrin protein in the skin. They suffer a severe and persistent form of eczema, where the skin becomes infected and inflamed, causing terrible itching and flaking. Professor Irwin McLean, one of the lead scientists on the work at Dundee, along with Dr Frances Smith, told The Scotsman he was already in contact with a drug screening programme being set up at the university in the hope of finding a radical new treatment.
"Finding this major gene for atopic dermatitis [eczema] and asthma allows us for the first time to understand what goes wrong in the skin of these patients and paves the way for development of treatments or preventive measures," he said.
If too little or no filaggrin is produced, the skin is not an effective barrier, allowing moisture to escape from the body and foreign substances to get in.
Eczema is caused when foreign bodies enter the skin and are attacked by the immune system, causing inflammation of the skin.
It is thought the immune system can become primed to attack normally harmless material - usually kept out by the skin barrier - and that this causes asthma when foreign substances enter the lungs.
Prof McLean said analysing the filaggrin gene was "one of the toughest things we have ever done", a task that several top genetic laboratories around the world had given up on.
Matthew Patey, director of the British Skin Foundation, said: "It is extremely encouraging to see the ongoing results of this research, which indicate positive steps towards eliminating the suffering of eczema and related skin disorders."
'It really affects my everyday life. When it's bad I end up in hospital'
UP UNTIL she was ten, Jade Williamson spent her life wrapped head-to-toe in bandages with daily trips to hospital.
She was diagnosed with eczema when she was only six-months-old, and then at the age of six developed asthma. However, the 22-year-old from Rosyth has refused to let either condition get the better of her, and is studying at Lauder College to become a personal exercise trainer.
"It really affects everyday life - your life revolves around having it. If your eczema is bad and your asthma is bad, then you get depressed," she said.
"When it is bad I usually end up in hospital. My skin gets really infected and if you scratch it, it falls off. I've been hospitalised quite a few times. Nine weeks was the longest time."
The discovery of a gene that causes both asthma and eczema raises the prospect of a breakthrough new treatment, and she can hardly wait for the day when her life no longer revolves around either condition.

Factors That Can Affect Eczema

Although the exact cause of eczema is unknown, it appears to be linked to the following internal and external factors:
Internal factors
A family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever (the strongest predictor) - if both parents have eczema, there is an 80 per cent chance that their children will too.
Particular food and alcohol (dairy and wheat products, citrus fruits, eggs, nuts, seafood, chemical food additives, preservatives and colourings).
Stress.
External factors
Irritants - tobacco smoke, chemicals, weather (hot and humid or cold and dry conditions) and air conditioning or overheating
Allergens - house dust mites, moulds, grasses, plant pollens, foods, pets and clothing, soaps, shampoos and washing powders, cosmetics and toiletries.

Current Clinical Trials for Eczema

Clinical Trials: Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Alabama
Birmingham; Radiant Research - BirminghamEczema Clinical Research Study
California
Los Angeles; Impact Clinical TrialsHave you spotted a red, itchy rash on your scalp, arms or legs? It could be...Eczema.
Colorado
Denver; Weinberg Clinical Research Center at National Jewish Medical CenterDoes Your Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Interfere With Your Sleep?
New Jersey
New Brunswick; Clinical Research CenterIs your skin itchy and red? Are you searching for relief?
Ohio
Columbus; Radiant Research - ColumbusAtopic Dermatitis (Dry, itchy inflamed skin) rough on you?
Toledo; Toledo Center for Clinical Research (TCCR)Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema Research Study
Virginia
Charlottesville; University of VirginiaDiagnosed with ECZEMA?
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Eczema Tip: Stay Well Hydrated

Dehydration is far more common and detrimental than most people think. Although many have heard of the extremes – the conditions that result in hospital visits – dehydration occurs on a gradient scale. Any departure from the ideal affects your general health and, therefore, the condition of your skin. Along with using a good shielding lotion to protect against environmental toxins and lock in your natural moisture, achieving and maintaining adequate hydration is vital to preventing or healing eczema.How does hydration work? The body overall is about 75 percent water, but the percentage in some parts of the body is higher – for example, the brain is 80 percent, and the blood is 92 percent. These percentages are the levels required for optimal functionality, and decreasing the percentages even in small increments causes symptoms. One study found that we begin to feel thirst when we are dehydrated by just one percent. At two percent we have trouble working, and at four percent lethargy sets in and we start to lose mental clarity. Even in the early stages, dehydration slows down the metabolism and causes problems with the digestive and circulatory systems, body and muscle aches and pains, weight gain, food cravings, and dry, itchy skin or eczema. Although the necessity of hydration is generally recognized in the medical community, some doctors tell patients that eight glasses per day of any type of liquid will suffice. Not true. Some fluids, such as alcohol, tea and coffee, are known to dehydrate – so drinking eight cups of coffee every day leaves you in a worse condition than if you had had nothing to drink at all. Another problem not well recognized or understood is how to get the water to the cells instead of simply being absorbed by the blood or eliminated. According to the latest research, this is a function of the cells themselves - they need to be able to absorb or ‘pull in’ the water. To do that, they need to have adequate amounts of organic minerals.Food is your best source of these minerals – specifically raw food, like the ingredients one would include in a salad. Fresh, organically grown food is best, since it is higher in nutrient content and is grown without pesticides and other harmful substances.So, if you’re suffering from eczema, here are your marching orders: drink eight glasses of water every day, eat plenty of raw vegetables, some raw fruit, and take an organic mineral supplement. That will hydrate your cells. Next, use a shielding lotion to keep the moisture locked in and the environmental toxins out, allowing your eczema to heal.

Milk May Trigger Eczema Flares

Most North Americans grew up being told that milk builds healthy bones and teeth, but scientists have questioned the validity of this dictum for years. There is evidence that milk not only fails to live up to this promise, but it can even cause a host of medical conditions, including eczema.
In fact, eliminating milk and dairy from your diet, along with the use of a topical eczema treatment to alleviate the dry, itchy condition of the skin, is often just what the doctor orders. Although most of the studies have been done on children, from 1988 to 1993, over 1500 articles were published about milk in medical journals.
Dr. Robert M. Kradjian of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine culled these articles to omit inconclusive and irrelevant subjects and did a thorough study of the 500 articles remaining. Not one article referenced milk as the excellent food we have been led to believe.


In fact, highlighted in the reports were conditions that are known to cause and be indications of eczema - intestinal colic, intestinal irritation and bleeding, allergic reactions, and asthma. Many eczema sufferers also have these conditions, and elimination of their causes often handles the eczema.
According to Dr. Frank Oski, chief of pediatrics at John Hopkins School of Medicine, it is possible that 50 percent of all schoolchildren are allergic to milk. Other researchers think this estimate is too conservative. A study published in the Journal of Investigative Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that the frequency and severity of eczema and allergies are reduced for as long as five years when breast feeding mothers stop drinking cow’s milk for at least three months.
Even the late Dr. Benjamin Spock, guru of children’s health and long-time milk advocate, withdrew his support of cow’s milk for children in his 1998 edition of "Baby and Child Care." More recent studies are also finding that the promise of healthy bones and teeth, the main reasons we’ve been told we need milk, doesn’t have any basis in science.


In March 2005, Pediatrics published a review article stating that "scant evidence" has been found that milk and dairy products promote child and adolescent bone health. Eczema is caused by a combination of external and internal elements. A healthy gut is a major influence, as is the presence of allergies. Both are indicators of an overload of toxic substances.
In the gut, the ‘bad’ and ‘good’ bacteria are out of balance, and in the case of allergies, the body is telling you that whatever you’re having the reaction to needs to get out. Skin problems like eczema result from the body trying to expel these toxins. The results can be unsightly, and very uncomfortable – especially for a child – as anyone who has seen a child with red, sore rashes can attest.
Eliminating milk and other products that are known to cause intenstinal stress and allergic reactions is definitely called for. In addition to dietary changes, thousands of doctors are now recommending the use of a shielding lotion to relieve the symptoms and help the eczema heal quickly. The lotion provides a protective layer on the skin that keeps the moisture in, and protects the body from external eczema triggers.

Fish Eggs May Improve Eczema

Salmon eggs and beauty care: who would ever think the two would meet?
Well, they have. It's a new health care product called Intra Fish.
Salmon workers found that enzymes in salmon eggs can help cure skin disorders like eczema. They also found that if has a beautifying affect that supposedly makes the skin look younger.
Intrafish is sold under the Meridian beauty label.

Clinical Trials Indicate In Eczema Treatment - Less Is Best

Drug developer Corgentech Inc. said Monday that the lowest dose of its Avrina eczema treatment proved to be the most effective in an early- to mid-stage clinical trial.
The company achieved the major aim of the trial, which was to show if Avrina was safe and well-tolerated in a range of doses.
However, the company found that the lowest of three tested doses was the most effective in reducing combined eczema symptom scores after 22 days, even though the results were just shy of being statistically significant given the low number of patients observed.