Eczema Skin Symptoms

Eczema is a skin disorder that can affect just about anyone; from an infant to the elderly. Eczema is also just as common in males as it is in females. Eczema attacks come and go. There may be long periods of blemish free skin before an attack happens. Eczema Skin Symptoms

Eczema Skin Symptoms?

Eczema is an overall medical term used to describe conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated.

Eczema skin symptoms are characterized by red, itchy, scaly and inflamed skin.

Eczema can affect any age group. Everyone from infants to adults are suseptable to this disease.

The primary Eczema Skin Symptoms are that the skin is always itchy. In very fair skinned people the skin will turn red and then subsequently turn brown.

The affected parts of the body will be rough and dry.  Sometimes the itching will start before the rash appears, but when it does the rash most commonly occurs on the face, knees, hands, or feet.

The most common forms of eczema are: atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, xerotic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis.

Atopic eczema is the most common type of Eczema and is sometimes linked to allergic disease believed to have a hereditary component. Patients will complain a rash on the  scalp, neck, inside of the elbows and behind the knees.

Doctors estimate that about three quarters of the time contact dermatitis or contact eczema is a results of an irritant and not an allergen.  Contact Eczema is different from atopic eczema because it is  curable by removing and avoiding the offending substance from the environment.

Atopic eczema is unusual in that the symptoms will come and go based on external factors. The primary condition appears to be an abnormal response in the body’s immune system to environmental stimuli.  Like many diseases it cannot be cured but with current medical treatments it can be well managed.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and infectious disease AtopicECzema is growing in our country and affects about 10-30% of the population.

Patients who have  eczema should moisturize their skin frequently. They should avoid sweating and overheating as much as possible. They should also avoid harsh soaps and detergents as well as scratchy articles of clothing.

The primary goal in the treating eczema is to prevent scratching and long-term changes to the skin. Doctors will often prescribe lotions or creams. They typically should be applied soon after the patient takes a shower.

Applying cold compresses directly to the skin will help relieve the itching as well.

Skin affected by eczema is at a higher risk for infection.  Any infection must be treated immediately by your physician and not treated at home.  For severe itching doctors may recommend antihistamines to decrease the histaminic response in the body and therefore the itching.

There are very effective prescription medications that your doctor may recommend. Two new topical medications, tacrolimus and pimecromlimus, have recently been approved by the FDA to treat atopic dermatitis.  They belong to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors which work by changing the immune response in the body.

You should always consult with your doctor before taking any medicines or lotions.

If you would like additional information about other major illnesses and medicines, visit our previous post.