Isolating The Cause of Eczema

Eczema in many people is an adverse reaction to specific substances. If those substances are environmental, a good moisturizer such as jojoba oil should be used to protect your skin and help it heal.
But if the culprits are food, you have to eliminate the offenders – something that is easier said than done, but vital if you want to handle your eczema. The most common offending foods are eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, cows’ milk and fish. Corn is also high on the list.
If you suspect your eczema is caused by a food allergy, you need to eliminate one food at a time. If you eliminate more than one, and your eczema gets better, you won’t be able to tell which food was causing it. Start with one of the foods on the list above, since these are the usual suspects, and stop eating it for at least a week to allow enough time for change in your eczema to occur.
You have to be careful that you eliminate all sources of the food since many prepared foods, including soups, sauces, and so on, also contain the offending food. Corn is found in some of the last places you would expect – like frozen orange juice and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Wheat is probably in half of the boxes and cans in your cupboard. In fact, many people are convinced that wheat, for example, can’t possibly be the problem because they gave up bread and pasta long ago. But, they haven’t looked at the ingredients of the food in their cupboards.
Also, when testing children, remember that their digestive systems are still developing and, consequently, they may have reactions to any new food you introduce. If the reaction is severe, you should of course eliminate it immediately. But if it is minor, wait for a few weeks to see if the reaction stops.
Remember, too, that other factors such as stress can also exacerbate the condition. If you eliminate eggs at the same time as quitting a stressful job, the improvement may be because of the stress factor, not the eggs.
The best thing to do is to keep other things constant while you’re testing the foods – don’t introduce brand new foods, don’t make any big changes in your life that affect you emotionally – try to keep everything the same except the food you’re eliminating.
It’s also important to make sure you don’t start using new cleaning products or other chemicals that may stir things up. As it’s sometimes difficult to know what chemicals or environmental toxins you’re going to come in contact with, the best thing to do is use a moisturizer. A moisturizer bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective barrier that prevents chemicals from irritating the skin. So it’s the perfect topical eczema treatment for those who react to those substances, and it ensures that environmental toxins don’t enter into the mix when doing the food testing. Apply it every day, and start a week or so before the food testing.If you can’t find which of the foods is the culprit on your own, find a doctor or nutritionist who can help you do the testing.

Combining Eczema Medication And Concealer

An Eczema Treatment Controversy

An article entitled “Eczema Uncomfortable But Not Dangerous” was recently published on a popular medical site. It presents a light-hearted view of the condition, stating that most kids gets rashes at some time or other, and if they get eczema (as do one in ten), it’s simply solved by giving them steroids.
Eczema can have serious underlying causes that are going to be ignored if this light-hearted advice is followed.Let’s have a look at just a few of the most common underlying causes of eczema and their true significance.
High pH factor: When the level of acid gets so high that normal function fails to neutralize it, the body starts to take unusual measures in an attempt to keep the acid from invading the blood and vital organs. These include encasing the acid in fat tissue, and creating more fat tissue if there’s not enough, and leaching acid-neutralizing minerals like calcium from teeth and bones. If these actions fail, the acid starts to penetrate and corrode the vital organs. Much of the above has already occurred by the time the acid erupts through the skin, starting the eczema.
Dehydration: The brain is 80 percent water, and the blood is 92 percent. It’s important to keep these levels constant, as going below optimum by just 1 percent starts to cause problems. First we get thirsty, then our mental acuity starts breaking down, our metabolism slows, and our circulatory and digestive systems start to malfunction and the rest of the body starts to deteriorate. These processes have already begun when our skin becomes dry and itchy, and we get eczema.
Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency: EFA deficiency can cause growth retardation, inhibit development, and compromise the immune system. EFAs are vital for prevention of chronic diseases including coronary artery disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, arthritis and other immune/inflammatory disorders, and cancer. By the time the eczema shows up, you already have an internal situation.
Eczema, like most skin problems and many other conditions and disorders, is a symptom of something else going on. It’s a visible warning sign – designed to alert the owner that the body is not doing well. Failure to find out what’s behind it could have serious consequences.

What it appears to come down to is that everyone has their own agenda and everyone is trying to sell their own cure.

Keeping Eczema Skin Clean And Moisturized

When it comes to treating atopic dermatitis, dermatologists consider moisturizing and gentle cleansing to be indispensable. Yet, a recent survey revealed that 23% of adults living with atopic dermatitis say they do not do not apply moisturizer and 29% do not use a cleanser. The researchers also found that most of the people who participated in the survey wanted more information about moisturizers and cleansers.
Why is Moisturizing So Important?
Our skin is our barrier. It protects us from unseen invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms and toxins. Our skin also prevents us from losing large amounts of water. The outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, serves as our first line of defense. Some dermatologists call this our “bricks and mortar.”When atopic dermatitis develops, the stratum corneum breaks down. With gaps in our bricks and mortar, the skin is more easily irritated. These gaps also make it easier for bacteria and viruses to enter the body. Easier access and the weakened immune system of atopic dermatitis make people more susceptible to infection. The skin also loses moisture more readily, causing dry skin. Studies have shown that when patients with atopic dermatitis properly use a recommended moisturizer, it can help:
Alleviate dry skin. Moisturizer forms a protective coating that reduces the amount of water lost through the skin. This, in turn, decreases dryness, itch, and cracking skin. Depending on the patient’s signs and symptoms, it may be necessary to apply moisturizer 4 or more times per day. Moisturizer should always be applied after a shower or bath while the skin is still damp. This locks in moisture.
Boost the skin’s protective abilities.
Moisturizer forms a protective membrane on the skin. One type of product called a barrier-repair emollient may provide the skin with essential components that can actually repair the damaged stratum corneum. Two small studies showed that a barrier-repair emollient produced dramatic improvement. In one of these studies, 24 children with stubborn to recalcitrant (not responding to treatment) atopic dermatitis were treated with a barrier-repair emollient containing ceramide (a molecule that helps regulate our skin cells and an effective emollient). Fifteen of the children were previously treated with other emollients.
The emollient containing ceramide was applied twice a day for 12 weeks. All 24 children showed improvement within 3 weeks. By the end of 12 weeks, there was such significant improvement in all children that the researchers asked for the emollient be applied once a day. With regular once-a-day use, the skin continued to improve. Larger studies are needed to determine if a barrier-repair emollient actually repairs the skin. Research, to date, has not shown whether or not barrier-repair emollients offer any benefit not provided by other emollients.
Increase the effectiveness of topical corticosteroids, and possibly reduce the need for long-term corticosteroid treatment. Researchers have found that using both a topical corticosteroid and a moisturizer decreases the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis better than use of a topical corticosteroid alone. Studies also have found that proper use of a moisturizer along with a topical corticosteroid can reduce the amount of corticosteroid needed. This suggests that using an appropriate moisturizer may reduce the need for long-term corticosteroids.
Reduce skin irritation. One study found that pre-treating skin affected by atopic dermatits with moisturizer before exposing it to dust mite or grass pollen significantly reduced patients’ reactions to these substances. More than half of the patients said they would continue using the moisturizer after the study ended. The researchers concluded that moisturizer may help prevent exacerbation in patients with atopic dermatitis; however, more research is needed.
Improve the skin’s appearance. A large-scale study found that applying certain lipid-rich moisturizers significantly improved the condition of skin affected by atopic dermatis. During this study, patients either applied a lipid-rich moisturizer alone or the lipid-rich moisturizer and a topical corticosteroid. In many cases, the moisturizer alone was as effective as the moisturizer plus corticosteroid in relieving dryness and scaling in patients. However, when it came to reducing the redness and itch, the corticosteroid plus moisturizer was more effective. This finding suggests that once the atopic dermatitis is under control, a moisturizer alone may be all that is needed.
Gentle Cleansing Essential
Cleansing the skin helps keep it healthy. Washing removes oils, dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, and a number of other substances. The key to cleansing skin affected by atopic dermatitis is to be gentle because the outer layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is damaged and fragile. Rubbing, scrubbing, peeling, microdermabrasion, and exfoliating can cause more damage as can harsh soaps. Soap can dry the skin and worsen itching. Mesh sponges, abrasive scrubs, and woven face cloths should not be used as they also can further damage the skin. Anything that increases damage to the skin can cause a flare-up and block the effects of treatment. When washing, be sure to use a mild cleanser and to gently apply it with your fingertips. Cleanser should be rinsed off with lukewarm water. Dermatologists recommend that cleanser never be applied to skin that has flared. Even the mildest cleanser can be quite irritating when skin has flared.
Ask a Dermatologist for Product Recommendations
With the number of moisturizers, emollients, and cleansers on the market, trying to choose suitable products can boggle the mind. Typing the word “moisturizer” in a popular Internet search engine yields more than 2 million results. If that is not challenge enough, certain ingredients in these products can cause folliculitis (a type of skin inflammation that may resemble acne) or prickly heat in people living with atopic dermatitis. And, did you know that products containing glycerin and rose water — ingredients used to effectively moisturize skin — can increase dryness in skin affected by atopic dermatitis? To help sort through the options, you may want to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. After considering a number of factors, such as the severity of your atopic dermatitis and overall health, the dermatologist can recommend suitable products. This can save you time and money. During this appointment, the dermatologist also can show you how to apply cleanser and moisturizer to get optimal results.
References:Berson D. “Recommendation of Moisturizers and Cleansers: A Study of Unmet Needs Among Dermatology Patients.” Cutis. 2005 December;76(6S):3-6.Chamlin SL et al. “Ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids alleviate childhood atopic dermatitis: Changes in barrier function provide a sensitive indicator of disease activity.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2002 August; 47(2):198-208.Draelos, ZD. “Concepts in Skin Care Maintenance.” Cutis. 2005 December;76(6S):19-25.Eichenfield LF et at. “Consensus conference on pediatric atopic dermatitis.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2003 December; 49(6)1088-95.Ghali FE. “Improved Clinical Outcomes with Moisturization in Dermatologic Disease.” Cutis. 2005 December;76(6S):13-18.Lebwohl M et al. “Impaired Skin Barrier Function in Dermatologic Disease and Repair with Moisturization.” Cutis. 2005 December;76(6S):7-12

Living With Eczema

'ECZEMA affects one in five children. It causes patches of dry, itchy red and flaking skin which can flare up and affect large areas of the body.
The condition hits each sufferer differently, but the key to success in all treatment is vigorous skin care.
The first step is to reduce contact with irritants.
Avoid soaps, including bubble bath and shampoos even if they say "baby, simple or low-allergen" on the label.
Anything can be an irritant so test new products on a clear bit of skin before using regularly.
Use cotton clothes and bedding that have been well rinsed after washing.
Moisturising is extremely important to restore the skin barrier. Find a moisturiser you are happy with and use it many times a day.
Scratching and rubbing releases an irritant chemical called histamine under the skin which makes the eczema much worse.
Keep nails short and put on long sleeves and mitts or medicated bandages to reduce the damage from scratching.
Steroid ointments are used on the worst patches to counteract inflammation.
Your doctor will choose a strength of cream, depending on the severity and where it is to be applied.
Antihistamines like Piriton reduce the itch and cause drowsiness to help your child sleep at night without scratching.
Antibiotics are used on weepy, infected skin.
Specialist clinics may treat severe cases with ultraviolet light, steroid tablets and immuno-suppressant medicines.
Thankfully, two thirds of children will grow out of the problem by their teens.
There is no cure for eczema yet, but scientists at Dundee University have recently discovered a malfunctioning gene present in many sufferers that causes a breakdown of the normal skin barrier.