Eczema: What it is and How to Deal with It

Eczema is the general term referring to a condition of inflamed skin, causing it to become red, irritated, itchy and sometimes develop bumps that ooze. Eczema, is common in up to twenty percent of the world population, and in most cases, the condition is found to affect a person at least at some point in his lifetime. Eczema tends to disappear with age, and most people lose or most of it before they turn.

There are many types of eczema, of which atopic dermatitis, is the most common one, Atopic dermatitis, or also known as 'atopic eczema', is also the most severe form, and even though scientists do not fully understand cause of disease, there is believe that eczema is the bodies' response to how a person immune system reacts to things. Some skin allergies may be involved in the cause of eczema as well, and people who develop it to have asthma and certain allergies such as hay fever. Eczema is not contagious, but scientists believe eczema can be inherited and past down through genes, which is no surprise that people who have eczema also have family members with the same condition.

Eczema affects every individual differently, and can look different from person to person. Many times, it is hard to identify the cause of a flare up in an individual. There have been substances believed to act as an itch 'trigger', and tempt the patient to scratch the itchy area. Constant scratching can cause the skin to thicken, and becomes leathery in texture. This is also referred to as lichenification. Others however find their skin to become very dry and scaly, and sometimes the skin will crack and make it possible for the area to become infected.

Individuals who acquire conditions that affect appearance, such as acne and eczema, may develop psychological instability in a social environment, and generally have a lower self-esteem and confidence level. Some teenagers struggle with peer relations due to their eczema. The may be bullied or teased because of the fact they have a condition and are different from most others. Some teens do not have to endure the actual physical confrontations with bullies, but feel insecure about themselves and exclude themselves purposely from any groups. This is especially true in people with severe cases of facial eczema or acne, where an individual avoids a situation that exposes them to confront the public.

Eczema can be a very frustrating condition for some people, however, there is some good news with dealing with the condition. There are several ways to prevent the outbreaks of eczema, and there are treatments available to reduce the 'itch' associated with eczema and eliminate the temptation to scratch. Precautions you may perform yourself to avoid an outbreak of an eczema attack are moisturizing the affected skin area and avoiding too much exposure to water. Water dries out the skin as it evaporates, so make sure to pat dry with a towel if you must have contact with water. Reducing stress can also help in the treatment process, as stress aggravates eczema. Keeping away from skin irritants, whether it be wool, soaps or detergents, is key to the prevention of itching. Wearing cotton is best for areas affected by eczema. Probably the most crucial part of reducing eczema would be to keep you from scratching, as this will only make things worse and possibly cause the skin to become infected.

In most cases, speaking to a doctor or dermatologist would be beneficial and wise. The professionals may recommend some medication to reduce the inflammation, and stop the itch. Depending on the severity of the condition, the doctor may prescribe an ointment, to apply to the affected area, or when conditions are worse, oral dosages of medication may be offered as an option. Severe itching may be treated with prescription and over the counter sedatives to ease the itch. The medication can cause a person to become drowsy and are usually administered before bed, and patients who are on these drugs should not drive or operate machinery.