Do you have Eczema or Dermatitis?

Eczema and dermatitis is one and the same.  About 34 million people show symptoms of eczema be it mild or severe one. The most common form is ectopic eczema, where people whose member of family has asthma or hay fever are usually more prone to suffer from this condition.  This condition is genetic, so if one of your immediate families suffers from some form of allergic, most probably you will also have the same problem although not necessarily severe.

What are the symptoms?

Extreme itchiness is the most recognizable symptom. The more you scratch, the worse the itch, you just could not stop scratching. This leads to infection of the skin which will worsen the eczema itself.  Other symptoms are rash on neck, inside the elbow, behind the knees, buttock, typically areas where one side rub constantly with other side.  The skin appears dry, scaly and sometime redness occurs. When infection presents, blister with oozing and scabbing will follow suit. That is why it is imperative that you don’t scratch raw the affected area to avoid infection.

Expert agreed that eczema caused by combination of genetic and environment factors. If a person has atopic eczema there will usually be another family member with an atopic condition, such as eczema, asthma or hay fever. Some condition and lifestyle will trigger a flare-up, those are:

• Wool clothing that scratches and rubs against the skin
• Taking long hot showers or frequent baths
• Activities that involve dust and soil contact
• Extremes in temperature (both hot and cold)
• Contact with chemicals such as bug spray, paint thinner, air fresheners and even certain scented toilet paper
• Scented soaps, detergents and perfume

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, stress and diet can play a role in activating an eczema flare up or acerbate the present condition.

It seems that stress has a very close relation with eczema; stress and depression need to be avoided if the flare up of eczema is to be kept minimum. Stay calm and practice anger management or yoga is a good measure to keep flare up at bay.

Diet

Certain foods proved to be a trigger for eczema attack. Foods on this list include peanuts, milk and milk products, soy, fish, eggs and wheat. If you happen to have family that suffer from environmental sensitivity such as asthma, hay fever or atopic condition, or you had a history of contacting one of those condition it is good idea to keep notes on what you eat and what its effect on your body. The journal will help you identify and avoid foods that provoke an eczema attack.

What is the cure of eczema?

Sadly up until this moment there is no cure for eczema, but if treated properly occurrence could be limited and severity could be avoided.  To reduce the symptoms you need to consult your doctor. Another option is to use natural remedy using herbs and essential oil. This remedy is really very individual, what works for one person may not so for the other so try several recipe and take notes on how your body reacts to the remedy.

Here are some eczema treatment that you could try:

GLA - Evening primrose oil is a great source of the essential fatty acid known as GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). GLA is hard to come by in the diet so it is best to get thru supplementation. Typical dosage is between 3 and 6 grams daily, taken with food. Studies for Primrose oil have been mixed but some patients do claim that the oil has helped to reduce symptoms of eczema.

Herbs – There are a variety of herbs that have had some success in treating eczema. These include burdock root, red clover, goldenrod, roman chamomile, German chamomile and yarrow. A  recipe that can be applied to the affected area (2x a day) is as follows:

1. German chamomile 12 drops
2. Goldenrod 6 drops
3. Tagetes 6 drops
4. Almond oil 2 tablespoons
5. Jojoba oil 25 drops
6. Evening primrose oil 10 drops

This recipe has proven to great result in some cases. As these are concentrated oil, it is better to apply in small area to insure that your skin is not overly sensitive to the oils.

Ice- placing an ice pack on the aggravated areas can offer a natural way to relieve itching. A good ice pack can be made from a solution of 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will prevent the solution from hardening and allows you to mold the pack to the contours of your body.

Moisturize – It is very important to moisturize every day with a hypoallergenic moisturizer free of perfume. I have found sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil to be excellent moisturizers. Make sure to apply immediately after every bath or shower. When drying, make sure to pat your skin dry and do not rub.