Eczema.com

Archive for January, 2010

Natural treatment is in vogue. Perhaps some of the hype is just marketing blather or a fad, but there is real benefit in some forms of alternative treatment and natural remedies. If you’ve chosen to go the natural route, here are some of the natural possibilities for moisturizers, lotions, or creams that can help your eczema.

Aloe Vera

The benefits of eczema have been known for a long time. Aloe extract can be found in nearly anything from toothpaste to shampoo. It comes from a short shrub-like succulent plant with pointy and moisture-filled leaves. Using real aloe (not just lotions with aloe extract) directly on the affected areas may improve your eczema.

Bentonite clay

Better than just plan dirt, bentonite clay has the ability to cleanse skin and absorb toxins. In the case of eczema, it even reduces itching, inflammation, the pain. A bentonite mask or compress once weekly can help treat eczema symptoms.

Kelp

Kelp is another word for seaweed. This naturally-occuring plant grows plentifully in our vast oceans, and kelp extracts can be found in natural food stores and health stores. Adding kelp to a warm bath should be very therapeutic for your eczema, and even helps your skin absorb iodine, an important trace mineral in your body.

Castor oil

Most people think of castor oil in relationship to treating another uncomfortable bodily ailment. Some people think of it as an excellent treatment for eczema. Some people declare that it must be taken orally. Fine, if that’s what you want to do. It may be just as effective taken topically, however. Spread a fine layer over the affected area and leave it there for an hour. Repeat twice weekly.

Calendula extract

Calendula, or the marigold, is a flowering herb that is known for its healing properties on small cuts, burns, acne, and other skin conditions. Some even say that it fights tumors. It may help eczema, too.

Shea butter

A popularly touted moisturizer, natural shea butter from the African shea tree, produces a moisturizing salve that is perfect for keeping the skin moist and healthy.  Fans of shea butter use it for scars, burns, rashes, acne, wrinkles, and most importantly, eczema. Its most powerful benefit may be its moisturizing quality.

Various Foods

As usual, there is a whole menu of foods that are claimed to treat eczema. Lemon and limejuice applied to the eczema as well as mashed banana have helped some people who suffer from eczema. If you use lemon or lime, be sure to wash and moisturize the skin, since they have the potential of dehydrating the skin’s surface moisture.

Although it has been mentioned in other articles, it bears repeating—again and again and again. The best way to handle and prevent eczema is with moist skin. Moisturize constantly. Obviously, moist skin will not cure eczema, eliminate it entirely, or even give total relief. But it helps…a lot. Here’s some advice.

Stay away from the strong stuff.

If you’re in the habit of using harsh soaps, alcohol cleansers, astringents, or even strong-scented soaps, it’s time to stop. The harsher the soap, the more it dries out your skin. The drier your skin, the worse your eczema will be. Be gentle. Using hydrating cleansers and even the occasional oatmeal bath (it’s ok for guys, too) will really do a favor to your eczema and the rest of your skin. You should also avoid powders, perfume, deodorants, or body spray that may also dry out the skin.

Put on the good stuff.

The best way to moisturize is by using intensive emollients—a softening agent which slows water loss from the skin, enhances the moisture level of the skin, and increases the softness and pliability of the skin. Not just any lotion will do. Choose a high-quality emollient that is specifically designed for use with eczema. It is important to regularly apply the moisturizer to your skin. Once when you wake up and wash in the morning, once in the middle of the day, and once before you go to bed at night should do the trick. Additionally, you should put a small amount of moisturizer on every time you wash the affected area or take a shower or bath.

Do the Right Stuff

Common, daily practices can help your skin stay moist. Here are some practical daily suggestions that you can do to improve the moisture quality of your skin.

• Using a humidifier. Heaters and air conditioners serve to dry out the air in your home. Combating this effect with a humidifier is a great way to keep your skin moist.
• Drinking water. The amount of water that you drink has a direct effect on the moisture level of your skin. Stay hydrated throughout the day; drink at least eight cups of water (not fruit juice, soft drinks, or coffee) every day.
• Warm showers, not hot ones. A warm shower can get you wet and keep the skin moist for a while. However, hot showers or long hot baths do just the opposite. Be sure to apply an emollient after taking a shower.
• Avoid the sun. While you may love the look of a great tan, your skin may not feel the same way about it. Sun can cause long-term damage to your skin, responding with wrinkles, unsightly spots, and even cancer. Besides, it severely dries out the skin.
• Better diet. A good diet means healthy, moister skin. Getting nutrients like Vitamin A, C, and E, plus antioxidants means improved skin quality.

Severe eczema is a really annoying thing. The itch, the pain, the unsightliness, the embarrassment, the inconvenience… Definitely something that you’d rather be without. Here are some top tips for fighting the annoyance factor, and getting relief.

Cool, wet compresses.

When it hits hard, try using the cold compress relief technique. Simply get some soft cloths (cotton works best for its absorption quality and softness) and some cold water. Place the cloths in the water, wring them out, and place on the affected area. Crushed ice in plastic zip-lock bags also work. Applying a bit of pressure may help as well.

Oatmeal bath

If you’ve never done it, you really ought to give this a try. Oatmeal, especially when finely ground serves the skin by enhancing moisture and relieving itching. Oatmeal bath products are available commercially, but your own grocery-store oatmeal bath works as well. Two or three cups of finely ground oatmeal (a coffee grinder or food processor does the trick) dissolved in the bath water should do the trick.

Warm bath

If you can’t take an oatmeal bath, go for a warm bath. The soothing soak can be a relief as well, but two cautions are in order. First, don’t go hot. Hot water can really dry the skin, having the opposite intended effect upon your eczema. Also, don’t soak too long. A long soak can also produce dry skin later on, leaving you in more discomfort than before the bath. After any bath or shower, you need to….you guessed it, apply your moisturizing cream.

Smooth cotton

Certain clothes can give relief, too. Rather than wearing rough denim, scratchy sweaters, or synthetic fibers, wear cotton. Smooth, breathable cotton does wonders for your skin. The lighter weight the cotton and the smoother it is, the better.

One of the most annoying aspects of ordinary eczema is the itch. You know what a mosquito bite is like. Multiply that about ten times, place it in a really annoying spot on your body. Then, cover it with flaky skin, rawness, a burning sensation, and maybe a blister or two. Annoying. One of the most challenging things about eczema is the itching that it produces. Overcoming the itch is one of the best ways to relieve the inconvenience of eczema. Here’s how to do it.

Don’t Scratch

Some people call eczema “the itch that rashes.” It’s an annoying itch that easily breaks out into an ugly rash. One of the best ways to keep eczema from worsening is to avoid itching it. Obviously, that’s easier said than done. Even the most steely resolve and self-discipline can’t help but occasionally claw, scratch, rub, or slap an itchy spot. So, here’s how to minimize the itch and help yourself to keep from scratching.

Moisturize it.

The golden rule of eczema treatment is this: keep it moisturized. The most powerful remedy and preventative for eczema is healthy, fresh, clean, and moist skin. Generously and frequently apply an intense moisturizing cream or lotion to the affected area.

Be Gentle to It.

In addition to keeping from scratching it, you should also treat your eczema with a bit of TLC. Scrubbing it really hard in the shower, using harsh cleaners on it, or trying to scratch of the scaly skin is not going to make your eczema better; it may make it worse. The best thing to do is wash it gently with a mild soap, and gently pat dry. You may even want to wash your clothes in gentler or fragrance-free detergent to keep them from irritating your eczema.

Treat it with Anti-itch medication

As the final and often most helpful step, use anti-itch drugs to fight the itching. Drugstores are full of options for combating itchy spots. Here are a few options.

• Hydrocortisone. This common medicated cream works well on just about any itch. Apply a thin layer over the entire affected area.
• Antihistamine. Though often used for allergies, antihistamine medications are also great for eczema, which is a close relative of many allergies. The sedative affect of medications like Benadryl should reduce itching.

Most forms of eczema can be treated using simple and safe home remedies. While a medical professional should handle any severe cases, there are a variety of things that you can do to try to help your child with his or her eczema.

Bleach Bath

Bleach may sound like a scary chemical to soak your kid in (and it is), but studies have shown that a very mild bleach bath can help reduce eczema. The best way to use this home remedy is to fill a standard bathtub with warm water (not hot). Then, thoroughly mix a half-cup of bleach in the tub water. Allow your child to soak in the tub for five or ten minutes two times a week.

Rinse Carefully

After every bath, be sure to carefully rinse your child’s skin. Allowing soap or shampoo residue to remain on the skin may cause irritation.

Wash Gently

The best types of soaps and shampoos to use are those that are natural, fragrance free, or designed for sensitive skin. You should also use baby detergent or fragrance-free detergent to wash your baby’s bedding and clothing in.

Moisture, moisture, moisture

The best way to fight eczema and keep your child’s skin healthy is by keeping it moist. A high-quality moisturizing cream, applied often will keep the skin fresh and moist, helping to fight the dryness that contributes to and is caused by eczema.

Cool compresses

For particularly intense eczema flare-ups, try to keep your child from scratching affected areas. Instead, apply a cool damp cloth to the affected areas.

The most common and recognizable form of baby eczema is called cradle cap. Many infants have a bout with this form of eczema at some point during their lives. It is characterized by dry, flaky, or oily, patches of skin on the head. It is not caused by anything that the parents are doing wrong. It’s a simple, non-serious condition that will soon go away.

Understanding Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is actually a nickname for a specific form of eczema called seborrheic eczema. It is caused by overproduction from the baby’s sebaceous glands (oil glands). When the cells produce excess oil, they prevent dead skin cells from shedding, instead creating a buildup of skin cells, which turns into the familiar crusty patches on the baby’s head.

Treating Cradle Cap

Do not try to pick at the patches on your baby’s head. While gentle brushing after a bath may help, actually removing the patches can prevent worse problems. Softening the scalp with vegetable oil, mineral oil, or petroleum jelly is another way to prepare the head to shed the excess skin cells. It is fine to use shampoo on a baby who has cradle cap, but make sure that you are using a fragrance-free, gentle formula baby shampoo. Stay away from medicated shampoos or dandruff shampoos.

Beyond Cradle Cap

Most babies outgrow cradle cap within the first year of their life. If you notice that cradle cap is increasing, affecting the eyes, face, and even the chest and arms, it may be that your baby has atopic eczema. This is not a life-threatening condition, but should be closely monitored and treated using home remedies or medicine in severe cases.

There’s no such thing as a cure for eczema. Unfortunately. All we can do at this point is try to prevent it, try to minimize its effects, and try to fight the symptoms. Thankfully, there are some things that have proved to be a great help. However, it’s impossible to prescribe a one-size-fits-all recommendation for eczema treatments.

Too many types of eczema

Other articles contained here explain in detail some of the forms of eczema. There are more forms of eczema than just the ones described in the articles. Because of the disparity of types of eczema, and the variety of symptoms, no one solution is right for any person.

Too many kinds of people

The human body is unbelievably complex. Despite the generations that we have been studying it, learning about it, and researching it, we have not yet discovered all the details that there are to know about it. One of the most fascinating things about the human body is that each one is unique. Different people respond in different ways to different things. One person may wear a nickel earring and have a serious form of eczema within hours. Another person may not have a problem. In the same way, different types of treatments that work well for one person may have no effect on another person.

Medications

Despite the differences in the types of eczema, and the uniqueness of each human being, there are some relatively common methods of eczema treatment that seem to work for most people. Serious forms of eczema are treated with powerful steroid creams, corticosteroids, antihistamines, immunomodulators, and antibiotics. Milder forms of eczema can be handled with over the counter anti-itch drugs and lotions.

Home Treatments

In addition to the drug-store variety treatments, there are a wide variety of home remedies that seem to be effective, too. Basic skin care and maintenance provides the best relief and prevention of eczema, but there are things beyond the basics, that anyone can try.

The good news about baby eczema is, first, that it will most likely go away sooner or later, and second, that there are things you can do to treat it. Usually, simple home remedies can treat eczema. In more serious conditions, doctors will prescribe medications.

Topical steroid creams.

Sometimes, doctors prescribe steroid creams to eliminate the inflammation caused by eczema. Some mild steroid creams can be purchased over the counter, but you should not use these on your child without first asking your doctor. Sustained use of steroid-containing medications may over time weaken the skin and cause other harmful side effects.

Antibacterial medication

Serious eczema is complicated by bacterial infection. In cases where the eczema develops pus-filled blisters or oozing lesions, an antibacterial medication can fight the infection. This type of treatment may use either an oral antibiotic or a topical cream.

Immunomodulatory drugs

Some new medications actually impact the body’s immune system, allowing the body to reduce the inflammation produced by eczema. The most common form of immunomodulatory medicine is called Elldel, and is applied in a white cream on the affected area. Only in rare cases is it used on children under two.

If your baby has eczema, you’re not alone. In fact, one out of every five babies has eczema to some extent at some point in their infancy or childhood. Of those who do experience eczema, over half of them will experience it within the first twelve months. If someone develops a form of eczema later in life, there is a 90% likelihood that they had it as an infant.

Some Complicating Factors

Scientific research informs us that the major reason for eczema is hereditary. Families who have a history of eczema will probably continue to have a history of eczema. Interestingly enough, eczema seems to be a phenomenon in industrialized countries, particularly Western nations. While that raises yet-unanswered questions, there are some things that parents can do as precautions to protect their children against eczema, and if their children do have eczema, to prevent it from becoming worse.

Things to Watch For

• If the mother is breastfeeding her baby, she should make sure that she avoids allergen-causing foods. Sometimes it is possible to identify certain foods that may irritate the baby or cause a fresh outbreak of eczema.

• The right kind of fabric. Wool, nylon, or other synthetic or rough fabrics should not be used as the baby’s clothing or bedding. The constant contact and friction with these and other materials can cause or worsen eczema. The best option for both bedding and clothing is high-quality cotton that is soft and breathable.

• Plenty of moisture. One of the best things you can do for your baby is keep his or her skin moist hydrated. A proper diet is the best way to keep the skin moisturized, but occasional application of baby oil or moisturizing cream will help as well. Dry skin is a major cause of eczema and baby discomfort.

• Watch the chemicals. Some chemicals can cause eczema. If you notice an outbreak of eczema after using a particular soap, detergent, or lotion, try to avoid it. It may be a factor in your baby’s eczema.

• Stressed out. Believe it or not, babies can get stressed out. Obviously, they don’t experience stress for the same reasons or in the same way as adults do, but sometimes their bodies may react to stressful situations. Eczema may result from stressful conditions. Stress may be caused by tension or conflict in the home, a constantly disrupted schedule, and any form of physical or emotional abuse.

Some Hope

By the time a child reaches the age of two, his or her eczema may clear up. This is the case for well over half of all children who have eczema.  Although it’s an inconvenient and sometimes distressing condition for a baby to have, it doesn’t have to interfere with their having a normal life.

Although nobody remembers it happening to him or her, birth is a traumatic experience! Regardless of how one comes into the world, it is a big change from the warm, cozy, home where life began. When a baby is born, hundreds of changes take place nearly instantly. With all the changes, it’s no wonder that babies develop various skin problems like baby acne and baby eczema. As a parent, it’s important to know if your baby has eczema. Here are the symptoms of baby eczema.

Location

Baby eczema most commonly occurs on the face and head. Eczema that concentrates on the scalp is called “cradle cap.” Often, eczema can spread over the baby’s torso, the buttocks, and even the arms or legs. In older babies and toddlers, eczema usually occurs in the inner joint of the arm, leg, and wrists, and may also include the neck.

A red rash

Babies will develop rashes, but a persistant red rash on the cheeks, spreading to the forehead, and aggravating the scalp is one of the major signs of eczema.

Itching

Often, the eczema is accompanied by itching. The symptoms of eczema tend to worsen when the baby is tired, and may cause irritation or crying especially at night.

Dry skin

If the baby has particularly dry skin, especially patches of crusty or flaking skin, it is also a possible sign of eczema.

Blisters

Many times, eczema appears as red blisters on the skin. This is usually in more severe or advanced cases of eczema. If these blisters begin to fill with pus, it is a sign that the eczema has developed an infection (impetiginized eczema), and should be treated by a doctor.