Eczema
(also called "atopic dermatitis") is a skin disease.
(Say the word this way: ex-em-ah.) Eczema causes dry
skin that can itch, get red and crack. Part of the skin
might break out in a rash, or the rash might be on the
whole body.
In
adults, eczema usually develops on the insides of the
elbows, the backs of the knees, the hands and the backs
of the elbows. In young children, the rash is most often
on the face.
Eczema
is most common in people whose relatives have allergic
conditions like asthma or hay fever. Up to 10 percent of
children get eczema.
The exact cause
of eczema isn't known. It may be caused or made worse by these
things:
Soaps, laundry detergents and perfumes.
Scratchy clothes (like wool) can also irritate the skin.
Allergens like pollens, pet hair or dander
(dried bits of skin), food, feathers and dust mites. (Dust mites
are very tiny, spider-like creatures. They make their homes in
mattresses, pillows and rugs. They can only be seen under a
microscope.)
Low humidity. During cold weather, the heated
air inside homes and other buildings can make skin dry and
itchy.
Heat, high humidity and sweating. These can
make the itching worse.
Some foods cause eczema. Emotional stress.
Feeling upset can cause the face and body to get itchy, red and
hot.
Your doctor can
help you find out what makes your eczema worse so you can avoid
those things. No one treatment is best for all people with
eczema.
Shower in warm water instead of hot water
only once a day for less than 10 minutes. A baby or small child
may have a short bath.
Wash with a mild soap like. If you're not too
dirty or sweaty, use soap only on the genital area, the armpits,
hands and feet.
Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
Moisturizers work well to treat dry skin.
Choose a moisturizer that is hypoallergenic (it should say so on
the label). The best moisturizers are also the thickest and have
a very rich emollient level such as shea butter. You may need to
use it several times a day.
Be sure to drink lots of water. Water helps
keep the skin moist.
Because laundry soaps can irritate your skin,
you might try running your clothes through two rinse cycles. You
may also want to try using a milder laundry soap.
Wear gloves when you work with cleaning
products that might irritate your skin.
Wash your sheets in hot water (and often) to
get rid of dust mites. Use dust-proof covers on pillows, box
springs and mattresses.
Soak in the bathtub with oatmeal to help
make your skin less itchy.
Wear loose clothes made of cotton and other
natural materials that "breathe." This includes underwear. Wash
new clothing before wearing it.
Start by
dropping a certain food from your diet for a while. This way you
can find out if this food makes your eczema worse. If no
difference is noticed, resume that food again and drop a
different food from your diet for a while. One to two weeks
should tell if you are allergic to that particular food. Be
sure to keep a daily journal of your skin's activity.
First, learn
what causes you (or your child) to feel stressed. Then use
exercise, hobbies and meditation to control your stress
reactions.
When therapeutic
moisturizers fail to give relief in extreme cases, there are
medicines you can put on your skin called topical steroids. They
may help keep down the itching, swelling and redness.
If you must resort to using a steroid cream for itching such as
1 percent hydrocortisone steroid skin cream,
you should not use the medicine for longer than
one to two weeks.
Be very careful when you put a steroid cream on your face or
genital area. Steroid creams may make your skin get
very thin and may cause
other skin problems.
Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are using a steroid
cream or ointment to treat your itching.
Topical steroids come in creams, ointments,
lotions and sprays. Sprays and lotions are best on the scalp and
other hairy areas.
If your eczema gets infected, you may use an anti-bacterial or
anti-fungal cream; an excellent choice is one which has the
organic compound urea in
it.
Medicines called antihistamines may also help
alleviate rash symptoms.
Until you find
the right product for you, it is a good idea to try not to
scratch your itchy rash, because scratching might give you an
infection. Here are some things that help:
Cut your fingernails short, and wear cotton
gloves during the night. For children, knee-high socks work
better than gloves because they're harder to pull off during
sleep.
During the day, keep your hands busy. Many
people scratch more when they have nothing else to do with their
hands.
An antihistamine may help with the itching.
Ask your doctor about this.
For
information and support, call the National Eczema
Association for Science and Education at 1-800-818-7546.
The Web address is: www.eczema-assn.org.
