Most of us have heard our mothers say: “Don’t scratch! It will only make it worse.” Turns out that mother does know best.
Eczema is the name used for a group of skin-related conditions that include dry sensitive skin, red scaly rashes, and a severe itch. The word “eczema” actually comes from Greek and means “to boil over” and likely refers to the characteristic redness of the skin.
While eczema may have a variety of causes, the condition is strongly linked to allergies. In fact, the most common eczema is atopic dermatitis, which plagues both children and adults. It tends to occur where the individual has either a personal or family history of related allergic diseases like hay fever or asthma.
As many as 10 to 20 per cent of children may get eczema, with the condition occurring in 3 to 5 per cent of adults. In up to half of childhood cases, eczema will completely resolve by age three. However, it will recur periodically throughout life in the other half of cases.
Eczema is also on the rise, for reasons unknown.
The eczema rash typically turns up on the face, neck, and insides of elbows, knees and ankles for children and adults. Infants may have a broader affected area with the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp and neck included.
If the eczema is continuously scratched, lichenification can take place. This means that the skin will actually become thickened and leathery and more prone to breakage. When the irritated skin is broken, there is a risk of bacterial, fungal and viral infection to the skin. This can exacerbate the problems associated with eczema and is one of the reasons for concern with the condition.
As a result, all eczema treatments focus on reducing itch. Recommended approaches include:
- Bathing with non-soap cleansers to ensure that the natural oils remain to protect the skin
- Moisturizing creams and lotions to keep skin as healthy as possible and promote healing
- Prescription cortisone cream to reduce inflammation
- Oral antihistamines to reduce immune system reaction and itch
Sources: Baltimore Sun; MedicineNet; NetDoctor
