Eczema: Risk factors, Diagnosis and Management
Definition
Eczema refers to a chronic inflammatory skin condition, characterized by dry skin, with patches that are red and intensely itchy. These patches of eczema may ooze, become scaly, crusted or hardened. The patients may have times when their skin is obvious and other times once they have rash. it's also called atopic dermatitis
Atopy refers to a hereditary tendency toward eczema, asthma and rhinitis (hay fever). People with eczema may suffer with one among the opposite atopic diseases. Both dermatitis and eczema mean inflammation of the skin
Types of eczema
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is that the commonest sort of eczema. it always starts in childhood, and sometimes gets milder or goes away by adulthood. atopic eczema is a component of what doctors call the atopic triad. “Triad” means three. the opposite two diseases within the triad are asthma and pollinosis . many of us with atopic eczema have all three conditions
Contact dermatitis
If you've got red, irritated skin that’s caused by a reaction to substances you touch, you'll have dermatitis . It comes in two types: Allergic dermatitis is an system reaction to an irritant like latex or metal. Irritant dermatitis starts when a chemical or other substance irritates your skin
Dyshidrotic eczema
Dyshidrotic eczema causes small blisters to make on your hands and feet. It’s more common in women than men
Hand eczema
Eczema that only affects your hands is named hand eczema. you'll get this sort if you're employed during a job like hairdressing or cleaning, where you often use chemicals that irritate the skin
Neuro dermatitis
Neuro dermatitis is analogous to atopic eczema . It causes thick, scaly patches to crop up on your skin
Nummular eczema
This type of eczema causes round, coin-shaped spots to make on your skin. The word “nummular” means coin in Latin. Nummular eczema looks very different from other sorts of eczema, and it can itch tons
Stasis dermatitis
Stasis dermatitis happens when fluid leaks out of weakened veins into your skin. This fluid causes swelling, redness, itching, and pain
What can trigger eczema
Having eczema means when the skin barrier is broken , moisture evaporates and this makes the skin more vulnerable to allergens and irritants. This irritation can trigger the skin to release certain chemicals that make the skin itchy. If you scratch, more chemicals are released and therefore the skin feels even itchier. This “scratch and itch” cycle are often most distressing
Known triggers (or aggravating factors) for eczema in some people include
Dry skin
Scratching (night gloves and clipped fingernails could also be needed in young children)
Viral or bacterial infections
Swimming in chlorinated swimming pools
Playing in sand and particularly sandpits
Sitting directly on carpets or grass
Inhalant allergens – worsening of eczema in spring and summer can also flow from to pollen sensitivity
Food intolerances to artificial colour and preservative in some people
Irritants like perfumes, soap, chemicals, woollen or synthetic fabrics
Temperature changes (such as heat) or overly heated rooms
Stress (this can make it worse but eczema isn't a psychological condition)
Contact with allergens can worsen eczema, and allergen avoidance or minimization often brings about improvement. For example
Close contact with animals can cause itching or hives, as can sitting and playing on the grass
Contact with house dust mite allergen on the skin can increase inflammation
Constant exposure to water, soap, grease, food or chemicals can damage the protective barrier function of the skin. Once the protective barrier of the skin is lost, eczema frequently develops
Risk factors behind Eczema
Many factors during a person’s environment can make eczema worse; these include heat, dust, wool, pets and irritants like soap and detergents
Being unwell, for instance having a standard cold can make eczema flare
Infections with bacteria or viruses can make eczema worse. Bacterial infection (usually with a bug called Staphylococcus) makes the affected skin yellow, crusty and inflamed, and should need specific treatment. An infection with the oral herpes virus (herpes simplex) can cause a sudden painful widespread (and occasionally dangerous) flare of eczema, with weeping small sores and should need treatment with oral antiviral treatment. Topical steroids shouldn't be used if this is often an opportunity
Dryness of the skin
Teething in babies
In some people food allergens may cause flares in eczema
?What are the symptoms of atopic eczema
The skin usually feels dry
Some areas of the skin become red and inflamed. the foremost common areas affected are next to skin creases, like the front of the elbows and wrists, backs of knees and round the neck. However, any areas of skin could also be affected. The face is usually affected in babies with atopic dermatitis
Inflamed skin is itchy. If you scratch tons it's going to cause patches of skin to become thickened
Sometimes the inflamed areas of skin become blistered and weepy
Sometimes inflamed areas of skin become infected
Diagnosis and Test used for Eczema
While the medical history is of paramount importance, additional tests can help support the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis or identify other conditions which can be causing symptoms
a number of these tests are
Blood tests: These require alittle blood sample, typically drawn through a needle within the arm. One such test looks for top levels of eosinophils, cells within the blood that are a part of an immune response . Another looks for top levels of a molecule called IgE antibody. Blood levels of those are elevated in people with atopic diseases, including eczema. Even more useful are allergen-specific IgE tests, which measure levels of the antibody, each of which is related to a special allergen
Skin biopsy: during this procedure a doctor first numbs the skin then removes one or more small pieces of skin, which is used to rule out other skin diseases from atopic dermatitis , sort of a low-grade carcinoma or psoriasis
Allergy skin testing: Prick skin tests are often done to common foods or inhalant allergens to means sensitization or lack of sensitization to specific allergens because of eczema
Patch testing: during this test, small patches covered with allergenic chemicals are placed on the skin for 48 hours, then removed and thus the skin reaction is evaluated at 72-96 hours for atopic dermatitis . It can identify contact allergy to chemical sensitizers like fragrances, metals, lanolin, rubber, etc
Buccal swabs: the within of the cheek are often swabbed with a cotton applicator to urge cells as a source of DNA material to look for mutations within the Filaggrin gene, one of the causes of eczema
Treatment and medicines therapy
Daily “Soak and Seal”
Soak within the bath or shower a day for 15-20 minutes so as that the skin absorbs plenty of water. Use warm water
A gentle skin cleanser should be used without scrubbing
Excess water should be gently pat away and thus the recommended medicine or moisturizer should be immediately applied to moist skin
Try to do this within three minutes. This seals within the water. (If you're applying skin medicine, don't apply moisturizer over it)
A skin cleanser could also be a bar or liquid used to clean the skin. Use products that are authorized to be used on “sensitive skin
Emollients (moisturizers)
Emollients (moisturizers) are a significant a neighborhood of eczema treatment. A moisturizer could also be a skin care product that adds moisture to the skin. Ointments and creams are recommended instead of lotion for people with very dry skin. they're used to replace lost skin moisture, help restore the normal barrier function of the skin, help the skin feel easier and reduce
.Emollients are very safe to use. you'll apply them as often as you'd like or wish
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