Living With Nummular Eczema

 The word "nummular" comes from the Latin nummus, meaning coin, and is characterized by round plaques of eczema. The cause of nummular eczema is not known, although minor skin injury such as an insect bite or a burn may be reported prior to the onset of the condition.

Nummular eczema also called Discoid eczema, or gravitational eczema is usually found in adults and appears suddenly. It can be complicated by a bacterial infection, which results in these areas becoming itchy with possible weeping fluid and crusting. Eruptions of nummular eczema are often recurrent and chronic and usually appear in people who are in their 60s but can occur at any age. Dry skin is brittle. Moist skin is more supple.

Other factors that can aggravate this condition include:

1) Hot weather causes sweating.

2) Stress - Emotional stress comes from many situations.

3) Fabric softeners - fabric softener is the most toxic product produced for daily household use. Fabric softeners have been found to be associated with numerous illnesses and chronic conditions. The effects of its toxicity are insidious; a user becomes "chronically mal-adapted" to it. The exposure is so constant that it can be difficult to connect the product with the signs of reactivity it causes. The toxins used in fabric softeners are known to produce an addictive-type response. Regular users of fabric softeners (and perfumes) also often claim they "can hardly smell it". This is a direct effect of chemical ingredients on neural receptors. Listed here are the toxic ingredients and it’s effect on the skin; Alpha-Terpineol causes edema or redness of the skin. Limonene is a skin and eye irritant, sensitizer, and carcinogenic. Always wash hands thoroughly after contact, especially before eating, drinking, applying cosmetics. Do not inhale. Prevent contact with skin or eyes. Contact with Pentane can cause eye or skin irritation."

4) Allergens do not irritate, but may trigger a flare-up in those who have become allergic to it from prior exposure. When exposed to an irritant or allergen to which they are sensitive, inflammation-producing cells come into the skin. There, they release chemicals that cause itching and redness. Further damage occurs when the person scratches and rubs the affected area.

5) Soaps and detergents- Many laundry soaps contain chemical additives which are the actual irritants (e.g., sodium silicate, sodium phosphate, sodium carbonate). Hand cleaner soaps contain small harsh particles to assist in grease removal, such as pumice, talc, borax, corn meal or wood flour. These are sometimes irritating. Some yellow laundry soaps contain "rosin" to make the bar more soluble, which is also a sensitizers.

6) Wool clothing – Natural fiber clothing, made from wool or mohair, been shown to be sensitizers. Dermatitis may occur more frequently from the use of dark clothing. Heavy perspiration causes more bleeding of the dye (e.g., widow's dermatitis). Fabric finishes which are used to increase durability, to soften of stiffen a fabric, or to impart waterproofing, crease resistance or other properties to the fabric. Stoddard solvent or other dry-cleaning solutions will occasionally produce a clothing-oriented dermatitis, as will moth crystals. Airing the clothes for a few days before wearing them will usually prevent this.

7) Bathing more than once a day - Take short baths or showers with warm water. Hot water can make you itch more. Ask your doctor about the use of oatmeal soaking products in your bath to help control the itching. After bathing, don't rub your skin dry with a rough towel. That just irritates your skin more. Gently pat it dry to get the water off. Then put on some jojoba oil to help keep your skin from getting too dry. You can spread the jojoba oil on several times a day.