FAQs about Eczema and Treatment Options
Asking questions is an important part of learning everything you can about the skin condition eczema, whether you are a patient of it or have a family member or friend who is. There are certain FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) that are common to most eczema sufferers. Let’s take a look at what some of those are.
What exactly is eczema?
Eczema (sometimes referred to as dermatitis) is a skin condition that can affect both males and females and sufferers can range from the very young to the elderly. Approximately one fifth of all children suffer from eczema as well as one in every twelve adults. Eczema can be mild, moderate or severe. In the mildest case the skin is red, warm, dry and itchy. In moderate to severe cases it can be very inflamed, incredibly itchy, cracked, crusty, scaly, raw, bleeding and weeping fluid (known as wet eczema).
What are the causes of eczema?
Eczema is not caused by any one thing. The causes are many and it is not the same for all individuals. There are allergenic forms of eczema and non-allergenic forms. The most widespread form of eczema is atopic eczema and this type is believed to have a hereditary condition and to be connected with sensitivity to allergens that don’t bother people in the general population. Plenty of people with atopic dermatitis also suffer from other allergy related problems such as hay fever and asthma. Other types of eczema are believed to be connected to irritants such as harsh detergents, chemicals, dust, sand, cigarette smoke, scratchy natural material such as wool, nickel, etc.
What are the different kinds of eczema?
There are a number of types of eczema. There is atopic eczema (the most common type), allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, infantile seborrhoeic eczema (cradle cap), adult seborrhoeic eczema (such as dandruff that can spread to other areas of the body, most commonly seen in adults between the age of twenty and forty), varicose eczema (found in elderly people) and discoid eczema (tends to appear in middle age).
What type of eczema am I suffering from?
It is necessary to visit your doctor in order for him or her to come up with a proper diagnosis of your condition. This might you to have to undergo a series of tests.
Is there a cure for this skin condition?
Presently there is no cure for eczema. Instead the focus is on finding ways to manage or control how often the eczema flares up.
What are the treatment options for my eczema?
There are a variety of ways that eczema can be kept under control. Your doctor will help you determine based on the severity of your condition which type of treatment is best for you. Currently the treatment options include emollients to help lock in moisture to the skin, topical steroid creams, oral steroids (these are not the kind that athletes take), topical immunomodulators, antihistamines, ultraviolet light treatment and a variety of alternative health therapies such as allergy testing, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), chiropractic and homeopathy.
Cosmetic Challenges for Women with Eczema
Cosmetics are a staple of many women’s lives but for those suffering from eczema on their faces, whether it be mild, moderate or severe, it can be a very challenging situation. Women with eczema need to find skincare and cosmetic products that are both hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. Let’s take a closer look at this situation.
Hypoallergenic is a word that describes products that will not encourage allergic reactions to take place in the skin. For example, many types of cosmetics as well as skin creams contain fragrances and ingredients that can cause itchy, dry skin and mild to severe eczema rashes. Many eye shadow manufacturers include metallic compounds in their products and this is not good for most women but especially for those who suffer from any kind of allergy, including eczema.
Finding hypoallergenic cosmetics can sometimes be difficult as all stores do not carry these kinds of makeup lines although some popular brands are finally getting the message that women with sensitive allergy prone skin like to wear makeup as much as other women do. When hypoallergenic makeup products can be found, they are often extremely pricey. However many organic markets or stores carry specialty lines of hypoallergenic cosmetics and these very likely are more cost efficient than more well known brand products.
Noncomedogenic is a word used to describe creams, oils, lotions, sunscreens and cosmetics that do not serve to block or plug up pores. Sometimes noncomedogenic is known as “non-occlusive.” While this term is usually meant for those who have problems with acne, noncomedogenic products often contain less harsh ingredients than products that are not labeled as such. If you have a flair for making your own skincare or cosmetic products then choose the noncomedogenic oils to make them with. These oils include almond oil, evening primrose oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil.
Some of the worst synthetic ingredients that are often included in skincare products, cosmetics and hair care products include butyl, ethyl parabens, methyl and propyl. These ingredients are well known to cause allergies and/or reactions in the skin and to be extremely toxic. Read product labels carefully and speak to the cosmetician for more information if you are unsure as to what products would be best for your ultra sensitive skin.
Take time to acquaint yourself with the cosmetic companies that you like and feel you can trust. Do your research and learn all you can about the company or companies in question. Find a mailing address or e-mail address for the cosmetic company and make contact with them. Tell them that you would like to be sent information regarding the ingredients they use in their products. Tell them that you are particularly concerned because of the allergy you suffer from. It is important to make cosmetic companies aware of your specific needs in order to help them serve you, their customer, and all of their other many customers, as best as they can. Remember that many women are “cosmetically challenged” due to skin problems so become a spokesperson for others by making your voice heard with cosmetic manufacturers.
A Womans Hormonal Changes How Does that Affect Eczema?
Hormones play a role in a woman’s life and the hormones are working to full capacity when a girl begins menstruating, every time she menstruates, during pregnancy and when a woman is going through menopause. It is unclear while some women report that pregnancy causes their eczema to flare-up worse while other women see a great deal of improvement.
The endocrine system of the human body consists of both tissues and organs that manufacture hormones. Hormones are “natural chemicals produced in one location, secreted into the bloodstream, then used by certain other target organs and systems.” It is the hormones that allow the target organs to do their job. Some of the organ systems have hormones as well as their “own internal control systems.” Aging and changes in the body occur in the way the systems are managed. Some tissues have a habit of developing less sensitivity to the individual hormone that controls them.
As time passes and a woman ages and goes through different stages in her life the blood levels of a variety of hormones changes. Some increase while other decrease and still other remain the same. Hormones have a tendency to metabolize at a very slow rate. The organs of the body that manufacture hormones are in many cases controlled by yet other hormones. Aging and changes in a woman’s reproductive cycle play a role in all of this. To use an example, endocrine tissues very often produce a lesser amount of hormone in middle age than it did when the individual was younger, but in other incidences it might produce the same quantity over the years but do so at a much slower speed.
For those suffering from eczema a good rule of thumb is to not begin any new types of treatments for your condition while you are going through a hormonal change. For example do not start ultraviolet therapy, topical immunomodulators or steroid creams when you are getting ready for your period to begin because hormonal changes could wreak havoc with the results you hope to achieve. Instead begin a few weeks before or a few weeks after menstruation is passed.
Pregnancy in particular causes hormones to go crazy. The volume of blood a woman’s heart pumps increases a great deal when she is pregnant and this increase in both hormone production and blood can bring about changes in a woman’s skin. These changes are not the same for every woman. Some women’s eczema skin becomes drier, flakier and itchier while other find that their level of natural oils is plentiful. It is extremely important to schedule regular visits to your doctor or dermatologist during pregnancy to keep abreast of all of the changes in your skin, whether it be improvements or increased incidences of breakouts.
Menopause causes a shake up of hormones and requires that eczema prone skin needs some extra tender loving care. However in a great deal of cases eczema is not as common for women of menopausal age. Atopic eczema is very rare in menopausal individuals whereas varicose and discoid eczema are more common among this age group of women. After menopause has ended many women have lesser amounts of the hormones estrogen, estradiol and prolactin.
A Hand Up Caring for Eczema Hands
The best advice for those with eczema on their hands is to keep your hands well moisturized and do your best to avoid anything that could irritate your skin. This is not always a simple task but avoiding irritants to the best of your ability will keep keep red, swollen, itchy and cracked skin at bay.
Many things around your home and workplace could serve to bother the sensitive skin on your hands. Some of these could include, but not be limited to detergents, household cleaners, air fresheners or sprays, soap, cosmetic products, perfume, aftershave lotion, turpentine, gasoline, pain stripper and other solvents and a variety of chemicals. Skin is likely to break out the more often you find yourself in close proximity to any of these substances. Having your hands in and out of water too much and washing them excessively with soap is a no no as it can serve to dry your skin out ten times faster. However when you do wash your hands, always dry them thoroughly and that includes between the fingers as well. Also make sure all soap residue has been rinsed away before you dry your hands off.
Wear a pair of vinyl or plastic gloves that fit properly at work or at home whenever it is absolutely necessary for you to have your hands in and out of water. If you suspect but don’t know for sure that a substance will irritate your skin then wear gloves to prevent anything bad from happening. The more you protect your hands the better. It is a good idea to wear a pair of thin cotton gloves under a pair of plastic gloves in order for the cotton gloves to soak up the sweating you are bound to do because you are wearing gloves in the first place. Always take breaks from the task at hand and when you do so, take off both pairs of gloves and give your hands some air. This prevents too much sweat from building up in the gloves, which can trigger a flare-up of eczema. Wear a pair of regular gloves whenever you step outside during the winter months. The cold air, blustery wind and low humidity of the winter season can dry the hands out tremendously, even on days when the temperature is moderate and there is no wind.
Moisturize your skin every day without fail, in the morning and before you go to bed, regardless of what time of day you bathe. That includes your hands as well. Moisturizers keep the skin supple and hydrated and prevent skin from cracking, as well as keeping flare-ups at bay. Well-moisturized skin does not age as quickly either. A very basis “no frill” kind of moisturizer is best. Avoid anything with alcohol or fragrance in it and choose one that is more on the greasy side as opposed to the creamy side. Regular petroleum jelly is an excellent choice for hands, whether it is a brand name like Vaseline or a generic form. Another excellent hand cream for eczema skin is Eucerin 5% Urea Hand Cream which has a light texture and is both free of fragrance and color. This moisturizer is suitable for everyday use and cuts down on the tightness of skin that plagues some eczema sufferers.
