Some Eczema Facts

What is Eczema? It can be called as a rash like condition on the skin. The skin becomes red and dry, which gives a painful and itching feeling. Though Eczema occurs both in children and adults, it is commonly found in the infants. It has been seen that about 25 per cent of the infants experience Eczema.

Eczema is usually seen in the waists, behind the knees and creases of elbows. This may look different in different persons. However, the most common Eczema characteristic is the dry, red extremely itchy patch on the skin. It fades away when one grows up but there are chances it could flare up in adulthood.

Commonly found in the creases of the elbows, waists and behind the knees, Eczema is not contagious. Different kinds of Eczema are known and the most common one is the Atopic and Contact Eczema.

Atopic Eczemaalso known as Atopic dermatitis has a hereditary component. It is commonly seen on the scalp, face, neck, behind knees and inside of elbows. Then there is the contact Eczema, which occurs when substances/chemicals cause an allergic reaction on the skin. Another Eczema, the Xerotic Eczema is common among older people. It basically appears in limbs and trunk. The there is the Dyshidrosis or housewife's Eczema, which occurs on the toes, soles, palms and fingers. Neurodermatitis and Autoaczematisation are other types of Eczema.

Eczema is easily diagnosed; there is no need for any blood tests or any biopsy. If there is an inflamed skin, which gives you an itchy feeling, then it could be Eczema. The real cause of Eczema is not yet known. However, it has been said that Eczema is caused due to an overactive response by the body's immune system to a bacterium that normally lives on the skin.

When talking about the treatment, the medical world is yet to come out with a finding. However, there are several ways to control Eczema. One of the first things that have to be kept in mind is to avoid certain things that can cause irritation in your skin. May be the detergents, cleansers, certain foods and harsh soaps may irritate the skin. Once you feel itching, better do not to scratch as it can only worsen the situation. Well, you can apply lotions and creams to prevent itching.

Another thing that has to be kept in mind is to keep a tab on the changing weather conditions. It is better to avoid sudden changes in temperature/humidity.