Monday, 24 August 2009

When You Feel The Itch...Unwind!

People who are under emotional stress can be prone to eczema. There is no known cure yet for this condition but a lot can be done to prevent it from acting up. Since stress can trigger eczema, finding time to unwind and relax can help ease the condition.

Increased stress at school, home, and at work can take its toll on your physical, emotional and psychological well-being. It can cause you to feel extremely fatigued and can make your skin act up. Acne breakouts occur when pores become clogged. Still, it is not always acne that we should be worried about. Red, irritated, and itchy skin can be an eczema in the offing.

Eczema is a common skin irritation characterized by reddening of the skin which sometimes appear as small, oozing, fluid-filled bumps. There are many forms of eczema, but atopic eczema is one of the most common and severe. There is no exact known cause for eczema but doctors believe that skin allergies and the way a person's immune system reacts to things may be involved in the formation of eczema.

Eczema is not contagious but scientists believe that some are predisposed to this skin condition if their parents or close family relatives also have eczema and allergies like hay fever or asthma. Some people who develop eczema are also allergic to cow's milk, soy, eggs, fish, or wheat. Allergies to animal dander, rough fabrics, and dust may also trigger the condition in some people.

People who are under severe stress may find it difficult to avoid all the triggers, or irritants, that cause or worsen eczema flare-ups. These itchy patches of eczema may affect any part of the body but are usually seen where the elbow bends, on the backs of the knees, ankles, wrists, face, neck, and upper chest.

Eczema flare-up may feel hot and itchy at first, prompting the person to scratch it. Continuous scratching will eventually make the patch turn red, inflamed, and blistered. When heavily scratched, the skin becomes almost leathery in texture. Others find that their skin becomes extremely dry and scaly.

Atopic eczema can easily be confused with a skin condition called contact dermatitis, which happens when the skin comes in contact with an irritating substance like the perfume in a certain detergent. Dermatologists usually conduct physical examination and inquire about your medical history, your family's health history, and the medications you have been taking in order to make proper diagnosis. Since emotional stress can also lead to eczema flare-ups, your doctor might also inquire about any problems you might be having at school, home, or work.

Treatment can be in the form of creams and ointments that help soothe the redness and irritation. Some anti-eczema medications are taken orally. In cases of severe eczema, ultraviolet light therapy can help clear up the condition.

Eczema cannot be cured but its symptoms can be managed. However, there are many ways to prevent a possible eczema flare up. Use only nondrying facial cleanser or soap substitute for facial eczema. This will keep facial skin from being irritated. A non-comedogenic/oil-free facial moisturizer can also help ease the dryness and itchiness cause by eczema.

Try not to apply make-up or use only hypoallergenic makeup and sunscreens.
Furthermore, try to avoid substances that may stress your skin such as housesehold cleaners, drying soaps, detergents, and fragranced lotions.

It is possible that too much exposure to water can dry out your skin. A brief shower with warm water is advised but it may be advisable to wear gloves if your hands will be in water for long periods of time. Pat your skin dry gently and thoroughly. Do not rub with a coarse towel which can irritate the condition. Remember, it isn't the water that causes your skin to react; it's the water evaporating if not dried soon enough. Wear clothes made from cotton fabrics. Avoid scratchy fabrics like wool which can irritate the skin. Do not scratch no matter how itchy it gets. Scratching can worsen the eczema and cause breaks in the skin which could lead to bacterial infections.

Although there is no cure yet for eczema, it usually clears up by the time you reach the age of 25. In the meantime, learn to manage the condition by avoiding anything that will trigger it. Since stress can trigger eczema, find time to unwind and relax. Engage in different activities that will set your mind off from the itch.


When You Feel The Itch...Unwind!

Friday, 14 August 2009

Cure Eczema For Your Baby

You don’t need me to tell you how painful it is to see your little baby struggling with Eczema.

It’s not only a tough time for the little one, but it can be real hard on the parents too, with them often not knowing where to turn or who to go to for help. I have put together some simple tips here, so that if you find yourself in that situation you may actually be able to help the little one!

Get New Bedding-
Just like with an adult Eczema sufferer, the wrong fabrics in any circumstance can really make things worse, but imagine how it would feel if you were a baby and swaddled head to in fabric for most of the day, and yet were unable to tell people how bad it made you feel?
To prevent poor baby having to go through this, there are a few things you can do you. Firstly, make sure all bedding is 100% very soft cotton, and also cleaned regularly. If it’s not cleaned very very regularly, tiny bacteria will build up, and it’s these bacteria which will cause the itching in baby’s skin. Also, make sure that the detergents used are perfume free-the perfuming agents can wreak havoc with skin, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Bathe Baby Regularly-
This is the most common cure for Eczema in babies. It’s been suggested that baby should be bathed at least once per day, twice if at all possible. Obviously the temperature of the water needs to be correct to prevent baby getting a chill. The bathing will help reduce the amount of bacteria and microbes attacking baby’s skin, which should in turn reduce the Eczema symptoms.

Keep Baby’s skin Moisturized-
Most adult Eczema sufferers will tell you that keeping their skin moisturized brings them great relief. Well, then it follows that this is also a good idea for baby right? The problem with Eczema in babies is that Eczema is worsened when the sufferer experiences stress. As the baby doesn’t know what the itch is or why it’s happening, it is a truly stressful time, which in turn makes the itch worse, which increases the stress, and so on. It’s a vicious cycle for your poor little one.
You can relief much of this stress by moisturizing baby directly after bathing. Supple skin is less prone to itching, and the more moisture content in the skin, the suppler it is. It’s best dab baby dry with a very soft towel, and apply a suitable moisturizer directly to the damp skin. This will help lock the moisture from the bath into the skin, increasing the effect.

It’s truly difficult to find a reliable cure for baby eczema, but hopefully these tips will help you give some relief to your little one.


Cure Eczema For Your Baby

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Care For Your Eczema Better With These Skin Care Tips

Many Eczema sufferers are unaware that sometimes good skin care regimes are all that stands between endless suffering and an improved quality of life. The simplest of changes and techniques can make all the difference, so I have put together a few tips to hopefully help you out.

Many Eczema sufferers are unaware that sometimes good skin care regimes are all that stands between endless suffering and an improved quality of life. The simplest of changes and techniques can make all the difference, so I have put together a few tips to hopefully help you out.

Fix Your Diet-
There’s a whole lot more to skincare than just fancy creams and lotions. Real skin care starts on the inside-if you give your body the tools it needs to fix the Eczema damaged skin, you will have a definite advantage. Continuing to eat the wrong foods while trying to clear up your Eczema is like trying to run your car without gasoline! It just can’t get going! Scientists have found that foods with high acidity are linked to increased Eczema symptoms. For some reason high acid content makes the skin more prone to irritation, which of course brings on the Eczema. You can avoid this by obviously steering clear of acidy foods, which is easier than it sounds. A dietician should be able to steer you the right way though. Fear not though, there is a much simpler way to improve this too-kelp supplements. Kelp is very high in alkali, which will neutralize the acid it finds in your system, so you may find relief there.

Moisturize Regularly-
You need to get into a habit of moisturizing your skin at least twice a day, preferably after taking a bath or shower. This is great for your skin because the more moisture there is inside it, the suppler it will be, and obviously soft supple skin is far less likely to crack and itch than dry flaky skin. The reason you need to apply the moisturizer after bathing or showering is because this will help lock in the moisture from the bath. You should pat yourself almost dry with a very soft towel, and then apply the moisturizer to damp skin. It’s a little harder to rub in, but it’s worth it in the long run!

Protect Yourself-
Be aware of all the things than can trigger your Eczema, and do your best to avoid them. As a general rule, avoid wearing any kind of perfume or scent, as well as all scented soaps or toiletries. You will also probably find a little relief if you can get rid of all the perfumed detergents in your home. If you can wash your clothing in unscented natural detergents you will probably find that your clothing is suddenly not so itchy!

As I’ve tried to illustrate here, you don’t have to go to huge lengths to get some control in the battle against your eczema. In most cases all you need is common sense and some consistency. I hope these tips bring you some relief, but remember to be consistent!

Care For Your Eczema Better With These Skin Care Tips