Eczema symptoms
Eczema treatments & remedies

What is eczema??

Eczema (say: "ex-zuh-mah") which is sometimes spelled eczama or eczma, is an inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. It typically presents itself as an itching, scaling, swelling rash on the skin. Eczema is a persistent skin condition where the upper layers of the skin can turn red and swell (inflame), and form dry or greasy scales (skin flakes).

The most common places for eczema to occur are on the face, chest and other skin crease areas such as elbows, behind knees, buttons, face and even scalp. The diagnosis of eczema is difficult because of the many places it can appear, the triggers that cause it.

These are the more commonly know forms of eczema:

• Atopic eczema - often occurring in families where hay fever and asthma are found. It is thought to be hereditary. It is very common in developed countries and shows as an itchy rash is particularly noticeable on face and scalp, inside of elbows, behind knees and buttocks.
• Contact dermatitis - This is typically triggered by contact or exposure to an agent. In contact is could be brought on by brushing against something while the irritant version to something like a solvent or other inhaled item. Most contact dermatitis is caused by some workplace contact. Contact dermatitis can be successfully controlled by total avoidance of the triggering agent. Some prolonged diary keeping and testing may be required to narrow down the causes.
• Xerotic eczema - If dry winter weather brings out itchiness and scratching that inflames the skin, the most likely diagnosis is Xerotic eczema. Most common on the trunk and the limbs, it is also most common in older people, though it can affect any age person.
• Seborrheic dermatitis - Most mothers will be familiar with this - commonly known as cradle cap in babies. Adults can also suffer from it and in this form it is known as dandruff. Symptoms can range from dry to greasy patches on the scalp as far down as the eyebrows. In more severe cases red patches and scaly pimples are evident.

Less common forms of eczema that include:

• Dyshidrosis - mainly occurring on the hands and feet where small bumps appear - often worse and itchy at night and during warmer weather.
• Discoid eczema - found mainly on the lower legs and is characterised by round spots of oozing or dry rash, with clear boundaries. The condition is sporadic, but often more prevalent in winter.
• Venous eczema typically afflicts people with impaired circulation, varicose veins and edema. It is particularly common in the ankle area of people over 50. Symptoms often include redness, scaling, darkening of the skin and itching. The disorder is said to often predisposes leg ulcers.
• Dermatitis herpetiformis  - causes intense itchy and typically symmetrical rash on arms, thighs, knees, and back. It is directly related to celiac disease, and can often be put into remission with appropriate diet.
• Neurodermatitis - is an itchy area of thickened, pigmented eczema patch that results from habitual rubbing and scratching. Usually there is only one spot. Often curable through behaviour modification and anti-inflammatory medication. Prurigo nodularis is a related disorder showing multiple lumps. 
• Autoeczematization - is an eczematous reaction to an infection with parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses. It is completely curable with the clearance of the original infection that caused it. The appearance varies depending on the cause. It always occurs some distance away from the original infection.

Ecxema treatments and eczema remedies

Eczema diagnosis

If visiting a doctor, he will look at the following aspects to help make a diagnosis of the condition:

• The family history
• Dietary habits
• Lifestyle habits
• Allergic tendencies
• Any prescribed drug intake
• Any chemical or material exposure at home or workplace

These factors can all help to narrow down the influences that are creating the condition. If the cause is undetermined, a blood test can be taken and tested against a range of allergens to determine if it it one of the common contact forms of eczema. In some cases a small biopsy may be taken.

Often however, a definitive cause is not found and the best course of action is to treat the symptoms in order to provide relief during the flare-up.

Eczema treatment

There are a range of things you can do to prevent worsening the flare-up and to minimise the risk of instigating a flare-up.

• Moisturising - this is one of the primary skin care treatments for eczema. Often eczema symptoms become worse in winter because of the dry cold air. This is further exacerbated by the use of soaps that can dry out the skin even further. Combine this with our tendency to have a hot shower during the cooler months which further reduces oils from our skin, and the stage is set for flare-ups of certain types of eczema. Thorough use of a moisturiser after a shower and again during the day can help reduce the incidence and discomfort.

Avoid moisturizers with fragrances (perfume) and a lot of extra ingredients. A good, cheap moisturiser is plain petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Use moisturiser that are more greasy than creamy, because creams usually have more preservatives in them. Regular use of a moisturiser can help prevent the dry skin that is common in winter.

• Avoiding contact - If you suffer from contact dermatitis, avoid contact with agents that you know or suspect causes a reaction by your skin. Many people with sensitive skin can suffer a flare-up as a result of wearing synthetic fibres. Most people with sensitive skin feel better in clothes made of cotton or a cotton blend. You can also wear gloves when washing up to avoid how water and contact with detergents.
• Minimise stress - many people report outbreaks of eczema during stress. Learning stress management techniques including mild daily exercise can help minimise stress related outbreaks.
• Avoid scratching or rubbing the itchy area. Try not to scratch the irritated area on your skin even if it itches. Scratching can break the skin. Bacteria can enter these breaks and cause infection.

Eczema relief products

There is a range of products designed to provide relief from eczema symptoms. Note these products are supplied by various trusted online merchants.