Asian Skin Care

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a general term for an itchy red rash that initially weeps or oozes serum and may become crusted, thickened or scaly. Causes can vary from habitual scratching to sun exposure. Other causes are allergies, chemicals, drugs or rubbing of the skin. Persistent acute condition can lead to a chronic skin ailment if not properly treated. Other causes may just be from stress and hormonal changes within the body. After the birth of my first child the latter has come to be what I have speculated, or that the disease may be hereditary.

On top of being an expectant mother, I had a manufacturing job dealing with daily quotas and a difficult team member. As part of a relaxing technique when confronting with any stressful situation I found myself scratching, but particularly the left shoulder, behind one ear, and on the elbows of both arms, and sometimes on the back.

The job required the use of hazardous chemicals of lubricants, solvents, and glues. The gloves used were of durable fabric that offered protection from nicks and scratches and possible burn, but not from chemical seepage into the skin, yet my hands did not suffer eczema at all, which pointed out that the culprit to my current eczema problem had been from stress and hormonal changes since the very beginning.

In addition to these causes, I also suspected that I inherited this condition, since my sibling suffers as well. She, however, has really bad eczema on one hand that causes her to scratch uncontrollably. Her hand thickens so that she needs to constantly trim off the top layer. Before finding the right treatment, she suffered from rashes and tiny boils on her hands. Stress, hormonal changes, and soap residues from doing dishes by hand are her causes.

In dealing with these symptoms, I have developed a routine care in maintaining and minimizing my troubled areas. The goal is to feel fewer itches: the fewer the itches the fewer the scratches. I was able to heal three places by just minimizing the scratching in those areas. Currently my focus is on one elbow that is slowly healing due to the techniques below.

Four Skin Care Techniques

Step1. Scrub: In the shower the skin has an opportunity to soften. Scrub off the dead skin gently as part of the renewal process. Step 2. Moisturize: Do it right after the shower while the skin is still soft and absorption is greater at this time for moisturizer application. Step 3. Cortisone Cream: I use Equate brand because it's cheap and works just as well and the result is noticeable when I feel less of the itchiness. Surprisingly this brand does better than the name brand, but don't take my words for it. What works for me might not be effective for you. Step 4. Avoid Scratching. It's impossible to avoid the scratching when the itch is really intense, yet I still do it. On the days that I forget to apply the cream and lotion, the itches consume my emotion thus worsening them all the more. So for the love of your skin, follow the techniques here or develop your own, and you wouldn't have to suffer the agony, but instead help you heal yourself.

Resources: Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 19^th edition