Eczema.com

Archive for January, 2010

Babies comprise the largest group of individuals who suffer from eczema. As a daddy of two little girls, I know that it can be heart breaking to see babies with an unsightly medical problem, especially when they can’t do anything about it. The fact that eczema is often itchy simply complicates the problem. As a parent, you are naturally concerned about baby eczema, and understanding it is the first step in accurately handling it.

What is Baby Eczema?

Also known as infantile eczema, baby eczema is the outbreak of dry skin, with itchiness, redness, and often peeling or oozing pustules.

How is it Caused?

Like other forms of eczema, baby eczema is prompted by genetic factors. If any other members of the family have experienced eczema, any of the children will be at increased risk of having it. Eczema is genetically related to other hereditary conditions, which means that those who experience baby eczema may also develop asthma, allergies, or hay fever later in life. Dry skin aggravates the problem, and sometimes allergens in the baby’s diet, excessive heat on a particular area, or irritating soaps or detergents may also prompt the outbreak of eczema.

What will happen?

Most incidents of baby eczema are handled by using skin softeners and lotions. Any drugstore carries plenty of baby lotions and emollients that will help alleviate baby eczema. If the condition worsens, a doctor may prescribe a topical steroid cream, antibacterial medication, or an immunomodulatory drug. Thankfully, 85% of babies outgrow their eczema.

Is there anything to be worried about?

Baby eczema is a common condition, and most cases are very mild. However, if the baby develops pus-oozing blisters, it’s time to call a doctor. The outbreak of pus indicates a skin infection, which can worsen over time.

Most eczema tends to be localized—it affects the hands, the feet, maybe the scalp or face, and sometimes areas of the abdomen. However, some conditions of eczema spread across vast areas of the body. This condition, and the process of its spread, is known as autoeczematization. It is also known as autosensitization dermatitis or id reaction. Autoeczematization is caused by the presence of other infections or occurrences of eczema elsewhere on the body.

Symptoms

Just as any form of eczema exhibits a variety of symptoms—blisters, rashes, itching, pustules, etc.—autoeczematization is the same way. The symptoms affect nearly any area of the body, but often start on the forearms and legs. The head and extremities are usually last to be infected by autoeczematization.

Causes

One of the most identifiable aspects of autoeczematization is its cause. In each case, it comes from the skin’s reaction to the infection of a virus, fungi, bacteria, or parasites. When the body is infected like that, the skin reacts in such a way that its immune properties are lowered. In addition, the skin’s ability to withstand disease and irritation is also lowered, allowing the onset of similar symptoms in other areas of the skin. The spread of a secondary infectious antigen and harmful cytokines produces the symptoms of autoeczematization.

Treatment

In order to treat autoeczematization, one must also treat the original cause—the fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infection that produced the condition in the first place. Treatment of the widespread eczema is also recommended, using typical eczema medications such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

One medical condition closely related to eczema, and exhibiting eczema as part of its symptoms is a condition known as dermatitis herpetiformis. It is closely related to Celiac disease, and is at its root, a digestive condition. Those who suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis experience an immune reaction to gluten, a common protein found in nearly any bread item, or foods containing wheat, barley, or rye.

Symptoms

Those who suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis develop small oozing papules on their skin. The blisters are extremely itchy, creating complication when they are scratched to the point of the skin breaking. Although the name herpetiformis makes it sound as if the disease is related to herpes, there is no connection. The word simply means that it looks like the skin lesions produced by herpes simplex.

Causes

Dermatitis herpetiformis, as mentioned, is closely related to the gluten intolerance of Celiac disease. Symptoms are usually aggravated by consumption of foods containing gluten, which includes nearly any bread product and products containing rye, wheat, and barley.

Treatment

The best form of treatment is an intense diet modification, which means eliminating any consumption of foods containing gluten. Diet modification treatment may be combined with a variety of medications.

Complications

Dermatitis herpetiformis affects the immune system. Those who suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis may also develop problems with the lymph system (intestinal lymphoma) or any variety of thyroid conditions. Untreated skin lesions developing from the blisters can produce infections.

The type of eczema known as stasis eczema occurs in the leg (very rarely does it occur on other areas of the body). The word stasis means the cessation or slowing of regular blood flow. That indicates the type of eczema that stasis eczema is. It is also known as gravitational, varicose, or congestion eczema. Each of the titles is a description of what happens. In the lower appendages, blood builds up and pools in the veins and capillaries due to lack of venous return. Resultantly, the skin suffers. Often, stasis eczema occurs with the condition of varicose veins.

Symptoms

Because regular blood flow is a normal part of healthy skin, skin with stasis eczema appears weakened. It may become brownish, bruised, contain red spots, and be ulcerated, and swollen. In more severe cases, the skin develops open sores, blisters, itching, thickening of skin, and painful patches. More serious stasis eczema results in oozing skin, crusty areas, and skin ulcers. Because the skin can develop sores and cracks, there is an increased risk of infection.

Causes

Usually, the major cause of stasis eczema is vein valve malfunction, meaning that the circulation in the extremities is not able to transmit the blood at optimal levels. Heart failure can also be a cause of stasis eczema. The condition affects mostly individuals over the age of 50, with more women exhibiting symptoms than men.

Treatment

Stasis eczema is a symptom of a more serious problem with the circulatory system. It is important to focus on a healthy heart and not merely concentrate on eliminating the skin condition. However, to reverse symptoms, it may help to wear elastic support hose to reduce the swelling and improve circulation. Staying off one’s feet or occasionally elevating the feet also reduces swelling. Cortisone and moisturizing creams will help to reduce the itchiness and irritation of the affected areas. Health professionals may recommend compression stockings or corticosteroid treatments for serious cases.

Complications

Because the skin can develop sores and cracks in stasis eczema, the condition can increase the risk of bacterial infection, cellulitis, and even venous ulcers.

Thankfully, it is a rare form of eczema. Eczema vaccinatum occurs when the body reacts violently and severely to the smallpox vaccination. There are cases of the condition being fatal, and survivors usually have severe scarring.

Symptoms

Eczema vaccinatum usually occurs in individuals, even infants, who have a history of eczema in any form (especially atopic dermatitis). The symptoms are readily identifiable—severe and widespread infection of the skin characterized by crusting, intense rashes, swelling, blistering, and rashes. Usually, the infection of vaccinia is accompanied by fever and widespread edema.

Causes

Those who are at increased risk are individuals with any skin disease. Since vaccinia can be transferred from one non-infected individual to an at-risk individual, those who have vaccinia or have recently received smallpox vaccination should avoid all contact with those who have a history of eczema. Tragic incidents have occurred in which a family member, after receiving a vaccination against smallpox, have inadvertently affected members of their family.

Treatment

In order to be successful, treatment must be immediate and professionally administered. An intensive care regiment of antibiotics, fluid replacement, powerful painkillers, and fever-reducing medications are administered at high levels. In some cases, antiviral drugs, and Vaccinia Immune Globulin could be an effective form of treatment.  Individuals who have a history of eczema should never receive the smallpox vaccination.

Complications

As mentioned, sometimes eczema vaccinatum results in death, especially among infants and the elderly. Because of the severe damage inflicted upon the skin, scarring and painful lesions develop, which could result in infection.

One of the rare forms of eczema is known as eczema herpeticum. It is related to herpes simplex, a viral disease affecting the genital and mouth areas. It can be prompted by the skin damage caused by herpes, thus the name eczema herpeticum. However, it is not always linked directly to herpes. Eczema herpeticum can spread rapidly across the body, affecting not only the skin, but also the brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

Symptoms

Usually, symptoms do not occur until a week or more after the time of the infection. Blisters around the site of the infection are the first sign, followed by fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. Crusting, swelling, oozing, and deterioration of the skin continue to affect the skin beyond the area of original infection. As the disease continues to spread across the body, bacterial infection may occur in unprotected skin lesions produced by the blisters, and the skin begins to erode.

Causes

Skin damage from herpes is not the only means of getting eczema herpeticum. Other skin damage can prompt the outbreak of eczema herpeticum, including severe forms of atopic eczema, burns, coxsackievirus, and vaccinia. The disease occurs when an existing skin lesion is infected with a virus (often the herpes simplex virus).

Treatment

The only form of treatment is by way of antiviral drugs. The two drugs most commonly used to prevent the dissemination are acyclovir and valaciclovir. It is important that someone who suspects eczema herpeticum be admitted to a professional healthcare provider as soon as possible. The condition has been known to be fatal, and because the disease spreads so quickly and affects the vital organs, speed and immediate care are absolutely necessary.

Complications

Eczema herpeticum is a dermatological emergency, requiring sustained intensive care. The risks of serious and life-threatening disease are only secondary to the severe risk of infection from eczema herpeticum itself.

Seborrheic eczema is one of the most common types of eczema, afflicting everyone from newborns (usually in the form of “cradle cap”) to adults. It also operates under other monikers—seborrheic dermatitis, dyssebacia, and pityriasis alba, but the problem is just the same: dry, flaky, or oily, patches of skin mostly occuring on the face and head.

Symptoms

Most forms of seborrheic eczema are not a severe health threat. In fact, some people with mild forms of seborrheic eczema may not even realize that they have eczema, as was the case with me for many months. The name, “seborrheic” tips you off to the fact that this form of eczema tends to occur around the sebum glands—the skin’s oil-producing glands. The oil-rich areas of the face are on the side of the nose or between the eyebrows. Other common spots for the breakout of adult seborrheic eczema are the armpits, groin area, and breastbone. Infants usually develop crusty, red, patches on their scalp in a condition known as cradle cap. The severity of seborrheic eczema varies from mere redness to intense itching with soreness, greasy skin, and patchy scaling. Symptoms may also improve or increase from time to time. Some forms of scalp seborrheic eczema becomes crusty and difficult to manage.

Causes

Seborrheic eczema is related to an over-production of oil from the sebaceous glands, although there can be other factors, too. One of the other suspects for the cause of seborrheic eczema is a yeast fungus known as malassezia. The fungus can develop in the oily secretions of the skin. Stress, fatigue, and anxiety also play a role in the development of seborrheic eczema. Like most forms of eczema, the dry winter months may cause seborrheic eczema to worsen. Interestingly, this form of eczema is more common in those who have Parkinson’s disease and HIV/AIDS.

Treatment

The best forms of treatment are antifungal medications or anti-itch creams. For scalp infections, antifungal shampoos may also reduce the symptoms. Be sure that the shampoo you select has an ingredient such as salicylic acid, ketoconazole, ciclipirox, or pyrithione zinc. For other occurrences of seborrheic eczema, antifungal medications should help treat mild to medium forms of the eczema. More serious and persistent seborrheic eczema may require stronger forms of medication such as ketoconazole and desonide.

Complications

In its most serious forms, seborrheic eczema causes interruption of normal activities due to pain or intense itching. Some people have described loss of sleep and abnormally high stress levels as a result of their seborrheic eczema. Additionally, infection may set in.

Nummular Eczema is one of the many forms of eczema that can affect people of any age. The word nummular has a Latin etymology that means something like “round coin,” and that is an apt description for what nummular dermatitis looks like—round, scaly patches on the skin.

Symptoms

Like other forms of eczema, nummular eczema has the same type of red, itchy, scaly, and blistery, outbreaks. The obvious feature that makes nummular eczema different is its round or oval-shaped pattern. They can occur anywhere on the body, but most people seem to develop them on their legs. Many times, the scaly patches develop severe itching.

Causes

Since it is a milder form of eczema, nummular eczema is more closely linked to dryness of the skin that it is to contact by irritants or allergic reactions. Ultimately genetic triggers cause nummular eczema, but there are other factors which produce flare-ups in people who are already more susceptible to it. Those factors include high levels of stress or anxiety, and increased caffeine intake. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning that it causes the body to rapidly eliminate liquids. When the body expels liquid, it means the loss of an important moisture supply for the skin. Dry skin means increased possibility of eczema. Stress, always a major contributor to eczema of any kind, can also cause nummular eczema. Because stress elevates the rate and activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, it too causes the body to eliminate (or conserve) moisture supply, which also leads to dry skin…and nummular eczema. Many people complain of the outbreak of nummular eczema during dry winter months.

Treatment

Since dry skin is the primary culprit of nummular eczema, moist skin is the best defense. Ensuring that the skin stays properly hydrated will go a long way in preventing and treating nummular eczema. Regularly applying medicated or high-quality moisturizing lotions and creams is one of the best treatments. Severe nummular eczema may require topical application of corticosteroids or oral antihistamines.

Everyone knows what an itch feels like. Some people know what an itch that won’t quit feels like. An itch that requires scratching and scratching and scratching—scratching that develops a habit, destroys, the skin, and creates a problem. That problem is known as neurodermatitis. In layman’s term, it’s called scratch dermatitis. Others call it lichen simplex chronicus. Whatever you call it, neurodermatitis is annoying, although it is not serious.

Symptoms

It’s relatively easy to identify neurodermatitis. Got a patch of itchy skin? Won’t stop itching? Or maybe it just regularly recurs? Chances are, it’s a spot of neurodermatitis. Often, the skin becomes scaly, leathery, or thickened, usually after prolonged scratching. Some people develop a habit of scratching the area, even after the itchy sensation subsides. The frustrating thing about neurodermatitis is that the more you scratch it, the more it itches. It may occur anywhere on the body, but tends to mostly occur on the extremities (especially wrists and ankles), on the neck, thigh, or genital areas.

Causes

External factors may be a cause—environmental irritants such as certain chemicals, fabrics, or foods. However, other factors are primarily to blame. Dry skin, other forms of eczema, and even psoriasis may set off an occurrence of neurodermatitis. High stress levels also cause neurodermatitis. Those who have a family history of eczema are at a higher risk, as are women between the age of 30 and 50.

Treatment

The best form of treatment is die-hard self-control. Forcing yourself to stop scratching the infected area will allow the spot to heal on its own. You may wish to put a patch over the area to prevent yourself from scratching it, or place a small amount of ointment such as Vaseline over it to sooth the irritation and remind yourself not to scratch it. Like other serious skin conditions, neurodermatitis can be treated using oral corticosteroids or antihistamines, or topical antibiotics. Anti-itching creams provide some relief, as do cool wet compresses.

Complications

As the skin weakens and breaks open due to prolonged scratching, bacterial infection may set it. Others may experience scars or a permanent whitening of the skin.

It goes by other names like Dyshidrosis, Pompholyx, Acute vesiculobullous, and Dyshidrotic Dermatitis. You’ll probably be able to identify it if I say “hand eczema.” Besides, that’s easier to spell.

Symptoms

Like the name suggests (the easy name, that is—“hand eczema”) this type of eczema affects only the hands or feet. It is characterized by an outbreak of small blisters, which can develop into lesions, and may harden, ooze, and become crusty or scaly. Often, hand eczema is a recurring condition that comes and goes at random times. It is easy to identify due to the unsightly proliferation of the eczema all over the fingers—usually on the tips or the sides. The blisters are usually accompanied by itching, pain, with increasing irritation if they are washed with soap or come in contact with water.

Causes

It’s hard to tell what causes hand eczema. Many times, there is a direct link between high stress levels and hand eczema. Others conjecture that excessive sun exposure, chlorinated water sources, nickel-containing substances, latex gloves, or the ingestion or contact with allergens may cause the condition. Those who experience hand eczema often experience other forms of eczema, including atopic eczema or seborrheic dermatitis.

Treatment

Besides avoiding the eczema-causing conditions (which could be just about anything), the most common form of treatment is the application of topical steroid medications. Unfortunately, these can result in weakening of the skin over extended use. Other topical cleansing treatments may attempt to dry out the area in order to eliminate the damaged vesicles. Other forms of treatment attempt to do the opposite—moisturize and protect the affected areas.

Complications

With the onset of hand eczema sometimes comes the occurrence of fungal infections, especially tinea pedis (or athlete’s foot). Exercising careful hygiene and protection of the infected area will prevent the onset of fungal complications.