A Look at Eczema- “The Itch that Rashes”

Eczema is a skin condition that affects people of all ages and both males and females alike are equally affected by its debilitating symptoms. Many people describe eczema as the “itch that rashes.” The reason for this is that eczema begins with an itch and scratching it leads to more dry skin as well as a red, swollen rash. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately fifteen million people in the United States suffer from eczema in one form or another.

That works out to be one in every twelve adults. An average of ten to twenty percent of all babies born in the United States every year has eczema. The good news is that most babies and young children who suffer with eczema will outgrow it by the time they reach their teenage years, and in some cases adulthood. However some people carry the disease with them their entire lives.

Eczema is defined as “a form of dermatitis (or a skin irritation), that is characterized by red, flaky skin, sometimes with cracks or tiny blisters. The blisters of eczema may also look like bubbles just below the surface of the skin.” Eczema can be acute in some cases or chronic in others but it is not a disease that kills, nor is it contagious. However eczema can cause a fair amount of physical discomfort and psychological problems in relation to school, work and personal relationships. Many people who suffer with eczema are extremely self-conscious about their appearance when their eczema flares up and cruel remarks are often the bane of an eczema patient’s life. While there is no known cure for eczema at present, there are ways to manage the skin condition and live a normal life.

Kinds of Eczema

Eczema is broken down into two distinct categories- allergenic and non-allergenic. As the name implies, the former is believed to be connected to allergies while the cause of the latter is not known, although there is no connection to allergies. The allergenic forms include atopic eczema, allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. The non-allergenic forms include infantile seborrhoeic eczema, adult seborrhoeic eczema, varicose eczema and discoid eczema. It is important to note that doctors use the word “eczema” and “dermatitis” interchangeably.

Atopic eczema, the most common type of eczema, tends to have a hereditary link as opposed to being related to a specific allergen or irritant in the environment. People with atopic eczema also very often have a predisposition to develop Asthma, hay Fever and other respiratory problems. This type of eczema is characterized by red, dry, inflamed skin that is very itchy. Atopic eczema most commonly develops on the face, neck, inside of elbows, knees, ankles and folds of skin.

Allergic contact dermatitis most often develops in relation to close contact with an allergen. The most common allergens include anything that contains the metal salt, nickel, wool, and buttons and rivets that are put on denim jeans and jackets. This type of eczema tends to have a delayed-response reaction causing the eczema to flare up anywhere from forty-eight to seventy-two hours after the contact with the allergen has taken place.

Irritant contact dermatitis is very similar to allergic contact dermatitis although it occurs in relation to contact with an irritant or irritants such as chemicals, solvents (paint strippers or turpentine), harsh detergents, cigarette smoke, cleansers, disinfectants, dust and sand. This type often causes a reaction on the hands or feet of the sufferer.

Infantile seborrhoeic eczema (also known as “Cradle Cap”) is widespread in infants and appears on the scalp as large flakes, very similar to dandruff. It tends to spread to the child’s face. This type is not itchy and often clears up on its own.

Adult seborrhoeic eczema commonly affects adults between the ages of twenty and forty years of age. Its target areas are the scalp, face and chest.

Varicose eczema affects those of an advanced age and affects the ankles making them look red, speckled and swollen. It is believed to be caused by bad Circulation of blood in the legs.

Discoid eczema is common in middle age and looks like small disk shaped spots of red, dry, itchy skin. This type may or may not go away on its own. Often it requires medical treatment.

Prevention of Flare-Ups

Dryness is the enemy of eczema and moisture is the victor. Eczema sufferers must faithfully moisture their skin twice a day, morning and night. Hydration is so important to improving the skin condition and decreasing flare-ups. Take short baths or showers in lukewarm water. Use emollient oil in the bath and then apply a gentle moisturizer afterwards. Good choices for products to use in the bath include Dove, Neutrogena and Cetaphil. One of the best moisturizers is petroleum jelly (Vaseline and other generic brands), but other good choices include Aquaphor, Curel, Alpha Keri and Lubriderm.

Do everything you can to avoid extreme sudden changes in temperature or humidity and do what you can to prevent excessive sweating and/or overheating. For example, it might be best to save a strenuous work out for when your eczema is not flaring up. Stress is a surefire way to cause a breakout so keep yourself as calm and relaxed as you possibly can. Steer clear of irritants such as harsh detergents and soaps, chemicals, dust, wool and other scratchy materials as well as any foods that could trigger a breakout. As well avoid environmental triggers of allergies such as animal fur, mites, molds and pollen. Scratching can lead to broken skin and cracks that cause Bleeding and weeping of fluid (referred to as “wet eczema”). This can leave the door open for secondary infections to enter in, such as fungal, staph and yeast infections. Do what you can to prevent this from happening.

Treatment Options

Eczema can only be managed, not cured and there are a number of ways to do this. Your doctor will assist you in deciding what form or forms of treatment are best for your particular situation. At the present time the treatment options include the use of emollients on the skin that lock in natural moisture and help to rehydrate the skin, topical steroid creams (known as corticosteroids), steroids taken orally, topical immunomodulators such as Elidel and ProTopic, antibiotic creams, antihistamines, ultra violet light therapy, wet wrap therapy and a host of alternative health options. Just to name a few there is allergy testing, chiropractic, massage, hypnotherapy, and Acupuncture. It is important for eczema sufferers to do everything they can to avoid an overload of emotional stress, as too much stress is a known trigger for an eczema flare-up. The worse the stress, the severer the flare-up can be.

Helpful Herbs

Herbs work by encouraging the immune system to work at its highest level. A strong immune system is less susceptible to viral or Bacterial Infections and can resist eczema flare-ups a great deal easily than a compromised one. Those suffering from eczema already have a weaker immune system than those who do not have eczema therefore anything that can be done to improve the functioning of the immune system is worthwhile. 

Research into Flaxseed (or Flaxseed oil) has shown its effectiveness at kick starting the immune system. Consuming one tablespoon of Flaxseed oil a day is beneficial in reducing the swelling that comes along with this skin disorder. Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of essential fats and can also be purchased in powder form. The powder is very tasty and can be sprinkled on top of cereal, porridge, yogurt, soups, cottage cheese, casseroles, etc.

The herb Burdock root and the Chinese herb bupleurum are very helpful in easing the symptoms of eczema. Milk thistle, which is considered to be an excellent herb for the liver and the Indian plant gotu kola, are both excellent in regards to skin and liver related problems. Keep in mind that a liver that is in superior working order aids the immune system tremendously. Gotu kola is very often used as a topical salve to heal broken and cracked skin and help it heal ten times faster. In this way secondary infections are less likely to result. Also excellent in the treatment of eczema is an “immunity-enhancing herb” known as pau d’arco. This particular herb is taken from the bark of a tree grown in South America. Taking an herb known as Licorice root can reduce breakouts of eczema and the inflammation that accompanies it. Licorice root is long known to keep the liver healthy as well as decrease allergy related symptoms.

Nutritional supplements help to improve your daily diet and keep eczema flare-ups at bay. Evening Primrose oil is a very good choice for an herbal supplement as it contains a high percentage of an omega-6 fatty Acid known as GLA (gamma linolenic Acid). This substance has been shown in research studies to encourage the healing of eczema flare-ups. Europeans in particular are very fond of the use of evening Primrose oil for their eczema breakouts. An average daily dose is two to four grams and must always be taken with food. Be forewarned that evening Primrose oil will not yield immediate results. It may take up to a period of six months to see the results you desire.

Zinc is a mineral supplement that has been shown to improve this uncomfortable skin condition. Unfortunately too much Zinc consumed on a daily basis can be detrimental to one’s health. A deficiency in copper can be the result of too much Zinc. If you decide that you do want to help your eczema symptoms with a Zinc supplement, do not take any more than thirty milligrams per day. Zinc pills can also be applied topically to the skin.

Vitamin E has been shown through many studies to be one of the best vitamins for fighting the itch of eczema and it is very soothing to the skin. Always read the labels on bottles carefully where vitamin E is concerned. Always buy natural vitamin E and not the synthetic kinds, as the body cannot process the type that is not genuine. This is how you can tell the difference between the two- synthetic vitamin E has the letters “dl” before its description whereas the natural type has the letter “d” only (for example, real vitamin E would say “d-alpha tocopherol” while synthetic vitamin E would say “dl-alpha tocopherol”). Shark cartilage capsules or pills can also go a long way in preventing eczema or easing symptoms if you take it on a regular basis.

A very natural tea recipe that can be both cleansing and healing to the system would require the combining of a collection of dry herbs: one part Burdock root, one part red clover and one part yellow dock. All these herbs should readily be found at an alternative health store and in some cases the alternative health section of a grocery store. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Once they are all well combined, add one teaspoon to one cup of warm or hot water and then enjoy the nutritious beverage.

Skin washes are another option for managing the itchiness that accompanies eczema. Mix these ingredients together in a bowl- one-teaspoon of Comfrey root, one-teaspoon of white oak bark, one-teaspoon of slippery elm bark and finally, two cups of water. Once the ingredients are adequately mixed, boil the concoction for a period of thirty-five minutes and then allow it to cool. After this period of time, use it to wash the affected areas of your skin with. This option may not completely make the itchiness go away and it may be only temporary but it will give you some much needed relief for the time being.

An oatmeal bath has long been regarded as a way to soothe and calm red, swollen skin. It helps get the heat out of skin and works very much like an emollient does. You can purchase an oatmeal bath such as Aveeno from the pharmacy or grocery store and then follow the instructions or make your own from regular oats (such as Quaker Oats or Robin Hood Oats) found in the baking section of your local grocery store. Simply add a sufficient amount of oats to a lukewarm or warm bath and then soak away the redness and itchiness! Afterwards apply one of Aveeno’s many excellent natural moisturizers or opt for an herbal lotion made out of blueberry leaves that not only rehydrates the skin and leaves moisture where you want it, but also continues to bring down swelling and decrease itching.   

For more information on eczema visit these websites:

By Anika Logan

Eczema
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergic_contact_dermatitis

Eczema: Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.eczema.org/faqfile.htm

Allergy and the Skin
http://www.medeserv.com/au/ascia/aer/infobulletins/allergy_and_the_skin.htm

All About Atopic Dermatitis
http://www.national eczema.org/lwe/aboutad.html

Eczema Treatment
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/treatment.html

National Eczema Association for Science & Education
http://www.nationaleczema.org/home.html