Eczema Treatment Questions and Answers

Eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become red and itchy, medically known as atopic dermatitis. While it is common in children, eczema can affect individuals of any age. Eczema is a chronic condition, meaning it is long lasting, and will usually flare up periodically, sometimes in conjunction with hay fever or asthma. Currently there is no cure for it, but sufferers can manage their eczema to help relieve the itching and prevent additional outbreaks from happening. Symptoms of this condition will vary from one individual to the next and range in severity. Some of the symptoms patients can experience include dry skin, mild to severe itching that can be worse at night, red to brownish-gray patches on the skin of the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, upper chest, neck and inside bend of the knees and elbows, raised bumps that can scab over when scratched and may leak fluid, skin that is scaly, thickened and cracked, and skin that has become swollen, raw and sensitive from repeated scratching.

The main cause of eczema is unknown, but it seems to be linked to the body’s immune system having an overactive response. There are several factors that appear to be tied to flare ups of eczema. Some of these are internal factors while others are external factors. The immune system can contribute to eczema if it is weakened or working abnormally. Existing or new health conditions such as hay fever and asthma can cause some instances of eczema, as well as skin conditions such as dry skin or psoriasis. Weakened veins or other disorders of the veins, stress, changes in genetics and damp feet or hands can trigger eczema symptoms. They can also be triggered or made worse by exposure to chemical irritants in certain workplaces such as hair salons, laundry services or dry cleaning and by allergies to metals, chemicals or other substances that are considered allergens. Symptoms will vary from one person to the next, as each individual suffering from eczema is going to have a different reaction to different triggers.

Eczema symptoms are going to vary based on the trigger of the reaction and the response of the individual’s immune system to the exposure of the trigger. Similar to allergies, each individual who suffers from eczema is going to have their own unique reaction and response through a flare up of the condition. While symptoms will be unique to each case, they can include dry, scaly and cracked skin, redness on the affected skin, itching that can range from mild to severe, a change in skin color at the site of the rash, thickened skin at the site of the rash, fluid filled blisters that can become crusty when scratched and lesions that are painful. In most cases of eczema, the symptoms can be managed and relieved with the used of medication and the application of topical creams to the affected area.

There are several different types of eczema that individuals can be diagnosed with, atopic dermatitis being the most common. Atopic dermatitis is commonly accompanied by asthma and hay fever with many patients who have atopic dermatitis having all three conditions, which form the atopic triad. Usually, it starts during childhood when the skin has a weakened natural barrier against the elements and can get milder or even go away completely by adulthood. The second form of eczema is contact dermatitis which is caused by a reaction to touching certain substances. It can be in the form of allergic contact dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis. Dyshidrotic eczema is a form of eczema more commonly found in women than men that causes the hands and feet to form small fluid-filled blisters. Hand eczema is identified by the condition impacting only the skin on the hands and is often the result of a job where the skin is regularly exposed to chemical irritants such as cleaning or hairdressing. Similar to atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis is usually found in people who have psoriasis or another form of eczema. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that stress could be a trigger for this condition that causes thick, scaly patches of skin on the body that can be extremely itchy. Nummular eczema is identified by round, coin-shaped spots on the skin that are very itchy and can be triggered by an insect bite or as an allergic reaction to some metals or chemicals. The last form of eczema is stasis dermatitis which is caused by weakened veins allowing fluid to leak into the skin. It typically happens when people have problems with the blood flow in their lower legs which can cause the legs to swell up and possibly form varicose veins.

Visit The Allergy & Asthma Center and receive eczema treatment today. Feel free to contact us for more information or book an appointment. We serve patients from Lawrenceville GA, Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Suwanee GA, Duluth GA, Grayson GA, Decatur GA, Brookhaven GA, Lithonia GA and Covington GA.