What exactly is Eczema? Is Eczema contagious? How do you treat it? Learn what it is to understand this condition, its symptoms, and what the medication is for it.
What can you read in this article?
- What causes Eczema
- Is Eczema contagious?
- Eczema treatment and care
What is Eczema?
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Eczema is a skin condition that marks red, itchy rashes on the skin. There are several things that can trigger Eczema. From allergies to contact with irritating materials. In addition, the trigger experienced by different people may vary.
Unless you know what will trigger you if you have it, Eczema is difficult to treat. It may take a few months for you to have no symptoms but it will suddenly appear.
What causes Eczema?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition brought on by a combination of immune system activation, genetics, environment, and stress.
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Immune System
Your immune system overreacts to tiny irritants or allergens if you have eczema. Your skin may become inflamed as a result of this overreaction.
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Genetics
If your family has a history of dermatitis, you’re more likely to develop eczema. If you have a history of asthma, hay fever, or allergies, you’re at a higher risk.
Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction, such as pollen, pet hair, or foods. Also, your genes that control a protein that helps your body maintain healthy skin may have changed. Your skin will not be completely healthy unless you have normal levels of that protein.
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Stress
Eczema can be aggravated or caused by your stress levels. There are two types of stress: mental/emotional and physical.
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Environmental factors
Your surroundings can irritate your skin in a variety of ways. Dry air and low humidity can make your skin dry and itchy. Heat and high humidity can cause sweating, which can aggravate the itching.
What causes Eczema in children
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In the outer layer of their skin, many children with eczema have insufficient amounts of a protein called “filaggrin.” Filaggrin aids in the formation of a strong skin barrier between the body and the environment. This protein-deficient skin has a harder time retaining water and keeping bacteria and other irritants out.
Eczema is caused by a person’s genes as well as their surroundings. It is linked to other allergic conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis and usually runs in families (hay fever and seasonal allergies). Food allergies are common in children with eczema, but they are not the cause of the condition.
Is Eczema contagious?
Eczema is not contagious. Although many rashes appear on your body, it is not contagious. It cannot pass this condition on to another person. But Eczema often causes cracks in the skin. That is why the risk of infection is high. The second infection can be contagious but the Eczema itself is not.
Types of Eczema
Many types of Eczema do not mean that some types are contagious and others are not. It is still not contagious. The cause of having Eczema has many reasons and some of them are not fully understood by experts.
Atopic dermatitis in children
It is one of the most common types of Eczema. Atopic dermatitis in children is usually hereditary and often appears during childhood.
Allergic Eczema
This may be hereditary as well. People with this type of Eczema develop rashes after exposure to certain allergens like:
- pet dander
- pollen
- mold
- food
- certain fabrics, such as wool
Contact dermatitis
Another common type of Eczema is contact dermatitis. It usually affects people with sensitive skin. The person with Eczema may experience flare-ups when there has been in contact with irritants. These irritants can vary from person to person.
Some of it are as follows:
- perfume
- hair coloring
- nickel or other metal
- synthetic fabrics
- smoke from cigarettes
Symptoms of Eczema
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The most important thing to remember regarding the symptoms of Eczema is that it varies from person to person. Your symptoms may be different from others. But that doesn’t mean it’s not Eczema. People with Eczema experience different symptoms because there are different types of this condition.
Here are the common symptoms:
- Itching
- Dry and sensitive skin
- Reddened skin
- Rough, or scaly skin
- Peeling
- Inflammation of certain parts of the body affected
You may or may not experience these symptoms with Eczema. Still the best way to find out if you do have Eczema is to consult your doctor. So that professionals can really diagnose your symptom and determine what it really is.
Can you avoid Eczema?
Eczema is not always preventable but there are some steps you can take to lower your chances of getting it.
- Avoid scratching parts affected by Eczema such as cracks in the skin.
- Always apply lotion to your skin to keep it moisturized. This will help to reduce irritation. Only use lotions designed for Eczema-prone skin.
- Check with a dermatologist to determine what type of Eczema you have and find out what triggers you have. For you to avoid it.
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Eczema treatment and care
There is no cure for Eczema but there are treatments for it. The treatments available for the Eczema condition depend on the age of the person. There are over-the-counter remedies, prescription topical medications, phototherapy, immunosuppressants, and biological drugs. Many people with Eczema find success in a trial of natural and alternative treatments.
Here are some techniques to manage Eczema especially when its symptoms show:
- Find out the things that trigger your Eczema so you can avoid exposure to it.
- Implement a daily bathing and moisturizing routine.
- Use over-the-counter and your doctor’s prescription consistently.
5 Ways to Prevent and Manage Eczema
If you or your children suffer from eczema, here are five strategies to maintain healthy skin despite the condition:
1. Moisturize your skin
Moisturizing your skin, especially the outer layer, helps to protect it from eczema. Eczema patients’ skin is fragile or damaged, leaving them more susceptible to irritants and allergens, which can trigger flare-ups.
Avoid this by hydrating on a regular basis with easily absorbed moisturizers. This not only aids in moisture retention but also protects your skin’s barrier.
2. Use mild soap
Irritation can be reduced by using gentle soaps and cleansers. Soaps without harsh cleansers, dyes, or strong scents fall into this category. You can also use a pH-balanced soap to keep the pH of your skin steady.
Alkaline soaps, as well as those containing abrasive substances like pumice or petroleum distillates, should be avoided. Keep in mind that your skin is delicate and that anything rough can cause flare-ups. As a result, unscented moisturizing soaps are advised.
3. No scratching
When you have an itching spot, scratching it can be really gratifying. However, scratching irritates the skin even more. It can also damage the epidermis, or top layer, or cause bleeding if the area is scratched hard enough.
4. Avoid food allergies
Food allergies can sometimes lead to skin allergies, and while no studies have shown that this causes eczema, some people report that it exacerbate symptoms. However, because pinpointing what causes these skin flare-ups can be difficult, it’s best to be cautious than sorry.
5. Apply recommended creams
Eczema commonly affects your skin’s softer creases. The backs of your knees, the junction above your elbow, and even areas of your face are all examples.
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