Eczema
DESCRIPTION A chronic allergic skin disorder It affects the skin, especially of the hands, scalp, face, back of the neck or skin creases of elbows and knees. May begin between ages 1 month and 1 year. It usually subsides somewhat by age 3, but it may flare again at any age.
Types: Atopic eczema, occurs in people who have a tendency toward allergy and is common in babies; nummular eczema occurs in adults and the cause is unknown; hand eczema usually results from irritation by a substance.
FREQUENT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Skin affected by eczema has the following characteristics:
Itching (sometimes severe).
Small blisters with oozing.
Thickening and scaling from chronic inflammation.
CAUSES
Often occurs for no known reason.
An allergic reaction to a wide variety of things, including:
Foods, such as eggs, wheat, milk or seafood.
Wool clothing.
Skin lotions and ointments.
Soaps, detergents, cleansers.
Plants, tanning agents used for shoe leather.
Dyes.
topical medications.
RISK INCREASES WITH
Stress.
Medical history of other allergic conditions, such as hay fever.
Sensitivity to certain drugs.
Clothing made of synthetic fabric, which traps perspiration.
Weather extremes, including humidity, severe cold and severe heat (especially with increased sweating).
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Avoiding risk factors.
Wearing rubber gloves for household tasks.
Avoid excessive hand washing as water dries out skin.
Avoid prolonged bathing.
If not sensitive or allergic, skin lotions may be helpful.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Variable.
Some children outgrow eczema. Others are resistant to treatment, and eczema may persist through puberty.
Symptoms can usually be controlled with treatment.
Skin irritation from any other cause can trigger a flare-up or aggravate existing eczema.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Bacterial infections caused by injury to the skin.
TREATMENT
GENERAL MEASURES
Treatment involves relieving the symptoms and identifying and eliminating the cause.
Wear loose, cotton clothing to help absorb perspiration.
Minimize stress whenever possible.
Keep fingernails short and put soft gloves on at night to minimize scratching.
Scratching worsens eczema.
Bathe less frequently to avoid excessive skin dryness. Soap and water may trigger flare-ups. When bathing, use special non-fat soaps and tepid water. Use no soap on inflamed areas.
Lubricate the skin after bathing.
Avoid extreme temperature changes.
Avoid anything that has previously worsened the condition.
MEDICATION
Ointments containing coal tar or cortisone drugs to decrease inflammation.
These may help more if used at night under occlusive plastic wrap.
Antihistamines to decrease itching.
Antibiotics for complicating infections, if they occur.).
NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF
You or a family member has symptoms of eczema.
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