Eczema is a very common, but little understood disorder. Many of its causes are known, but others are unknown or only partially understood. Health professionals, including conventional medical practitioners and natural health therapists use a variety of techniques and medications to treat eczema and many agree that a holistic approach seems to be the best way to tackle severe cases of the disorder. If you or someone in your family suffers from a form of eczema, the best course of action is to first understand the facts about eczema and then take a step-by-step approach to its treatment.
Eczema Facts
In many countries, eczema and dermatitis are two words that describe the same condition, but in Australia, the term "eczema" often refers to a specific type of dermatitis known as "atopic dermatitis." The word "atopic" is defined as an inherited predisposition to the development of a hypersensitive reaction. Dermatitis is a skin (derma) inflammation (itis). Hence, atopic dermatitis is a skin inflammation or rash that has a hereditary basis.
Eczema is extremely common and affects an estimated one-third of Australians at some time in their lives. The most common symptoms of eczema include red, dry and itchy skin. A more severe outbreak of eczema will include flaking and/or cracking skin and a very severe case may also include "weeping" or even bleeding blisters that eventually dry out and form a crust.
The first outbreak of atopic dermatitis most often appears in infants between 2 and 6 months of age. This form of eczema is usually relatively mild and passes by the time they are 6 years old or even earlier, although occasionally the condition can persist into adulthood. Many individuals who have had infant eczema also have occasional flare-ups as adults.
Some of the symptoms of eczema that differentiate it from other skin rashes include:
- Moderate to severe itching.
- Regular recurrence of dry, red, itchy and/or cracked skin, often in the same area as a previous outbreak.
- "Weeping" of a watery fluid from the affected area.
- The development of tough, leathery skin patches.
- Infected skin lesions.
Causes of Eczema
While the cause of eczema is believed to be hereditary, it is not known precisely what triggers it. It occurs in individuals whose family has a history of eczema, allergy and/or hay fever, though, so it is thought to be related to allergies. Some of the triggers for eczema include:
- Certain foods, including wheat products, dairy products, nuts, seafoods, some fruits and others. One food product may affect one individual but not another. A dietitian may be able formulate a healthy diet that does not include foods that may cause or aggravate eczema.
- Chemical additives in food.
- Air pollutants such as cigarette smoke and chemicals.
- Environmental conditions such as heat and humidity or cold and dry conditions.
- Allergens such as dust mites, grasses, pollens, pet dander or ingredients in shampoos, perfumes and other cosmetics.
How to Control Eczema
The first step in controlling eczema is having it diagnosed. If a persistent itchy rash develops, that is a sign that you may have eczema. Because such a wide variety of conditions and substances can cause an outbreak of eczema, its cause is very difficult to self-diagnose. A qualified health professional will be able to give you a battery of skin tests and may be able to pinpoint the irritant. An example of this is nickel, which is often in jewellery and can cause an outbreak of eczema in some people. If the particular irritant cannot be found or removed (such as an environmental condition), there are many ways to control and minimise the severity of a flare up:
- Application of a moisturiser immediately following bathing will help control the symptoms of eczema. It is important, however, to use a moisturiser that does not contain ingredients that may aggravate the condition.
- Bathing in lukewarm (not hot) water and using a non-soapy cleanser and/or hypo-allergenic bath oil will help prevent stripping the skin of the natural oils that help protect it.
- Wearing soft, natural fibre clothing can help control eczema.
- Removing carpets, stuffed toys and other items that harbour dust mites can help reduce the incidence of eczema.
- If possible, pets should be kept outside.
- If you get eczema on your hands, wear rubber gloves when doing the dishes or any regular activity that may trigger an outbreak of eczema.
- Activities in extreme cold and activities that cause you to sweat can aggravate eczema or cause it to develop. Avoid these activities as much as possible. Also avoid rapid temperature changes, such as moving from a hot outdoor environment into an air-conditioned room.
Stress, too, can cause an outbreak of eczema and an outbreak of eczema can cause even further stress. As part of your treatment program, consider regular meditation or other stress-relieving activity. Because eczema can have so many causes, a holistic approach is the best way to minimise the severity and frequency of outbreaks. While a topical ointment may provide relief, when combined with other strategies such as those outlined above, you may find that you get even greater relief from eczema and less frequent outbreaks.
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