Eczema - A quick read

Back To Quick Reads

Disclaimer:This is a quick read on Eczema - not meant to replace any medical opinion or take place of advise from your healthcare provider. This is for information purposes only - not meant for diagnostic purposes nor meant to replace what your healthcare provider suggests for you.                           (Picture credit: www.healthline.com)

Got red and itchy skin?

Is your skin flaking recently and being more itchy than usual?

What is eczema:

• condition that causes skin to be inflamed, that is becomes red, itchy and flaky.

• There are several different types of eczema that need to be diagnosed by your healthcare provider.

• Only reacting to certain things when they come in contact with the irritants or particular substances is called the contact dermatitis, a type of eczema.

Appearance and symptoms: 

• There may be some tiny blisters or vesicles that would weep or ooze.

• Eventually hardens up and becomes thickened plaques of skin.

• Whatever the appearance that it may have, it would most certainly be mostly always itchy.  

• May also feel like a burning sensation around the affected area.

• Blistering may also be involved.

• sometimes some people also break out in hives.

When does it occur:

• This condition can occur at any age.

•  Affects children much more than adults. 

• Children who are mostly affected by the atopic eczema mostly outgrow it. 

• These same children are more at risk to develop more food sensitivity or allergies along with asthma and or hay fever conditions. 

How does it start:

• The exact cause of this is unknown. 

•  Likely cause of this is both from genetic and environmental factors.

Trigger factors:

• Most people suspect that pollen is most often the trigger reaction that results in eczema.

• Extreme weather temperature changes. 

• Low humidity levels.

•  irritants in soaps and daily use items like perfumes or deodorants

• synthetic clothing materials.

• irritants are found in hair dyes, shampoos and detergents

• allergens might be present in medications

• latex and or rubber products 

• citrus, dairy , some varieties of nuts and spices

Lifestyle Adaptations:

• The trick is to identify the ones causing the reactions and changing it to one that does not cause similar breakouts.

• soaking in a mildly warm bath or taking a shower and them applying your moisturizer liberally immediately within a few minutes.

• Using much more gentler preparations for bathing and using cooler temperature bath.

• Moisturising frequently and wearing breathable clothing.

Treatment Options:                                                                                                                

• Moisturisers and emollients

• steroid-based creams

• anti-histamines

• lifestyle adjustments (as above)

• as recommended by your Pharmacist

Complications:

• infected cases - urgent visit required to your healthcare provider.

Eczema is not contagious so your families and friends can can carry on the normal routines without any extra protective gear or changes to their daily life.

Products that can assist with eczematous conditions: (not limited to these only...talk to your pharmacist for more..)

All these and more are available at Health First pharmacy...visit us for all your health needs first...talk to us first!!!

All these and more are available at Health First pharmacy...visit us for all your eczema needs...talk to us first!!!