Eczema is a skin condition and we are going to explore some of the most common problems associated with it.Eczema, sometimes known as dermatitis, affects both males and females. You may be very young or very old and still have eczema. Results showed that nearly 1/5 of all children suffer from it. Results also show that as many as one in every 12 adults suffer from eczema.
Eczema can be categorized into mild, moderate or severe forms. The skin is red, dry, warm or itchy in milder cases. In moderate to severe cases, it can become very inflamed, itchy, cracked, crusty, scaly, raw or bleeding. If your condition is bleeding and weeping fluid then this is known as wet eczema.
There are many factors that may lead you to getting eczema. It is not caused by any one thing in general. There are basically two forms of eczema, allergenic and non-allergenic . The most common type of eczema is atopic. This type is believed to have a hereditary connection. It is also associated with sensitivity to allergens that generally do not bother people in the main. People with this type of eczema may also suffer from other problems like hay fever or asthma. There are other types of eczema and they are connected to irritants like harsh detergents, chemicals, dust, sand, cigarette smoke etc.
There is also infantile seborrheic eczema known as cradle cap. Dandruff, or adult seborrheic eczema can spread to other areas of the body, and is most commonly noticed in adults between the ages of 20 and 40. There is also a type known as varicose eczema, which is found in elderly people, and a type known as discoid which generally appears in middle age.
So with all these various types of eczema how do you know which one you are suffering from? In order to find this out you will have to visit your doctor. You then may have to undergo a series of tests in order to find out which condition you are suffering from.
At present there is no cure for eczema, and all you can do is find ways to manage or control it. There are a number of ways in which you can help yourself to do this. It depends on the severity of your condition. Your doctor may provide topical steroid creams, oral steroids, topical immunomodulators, antihistamines, ultraviolet light treatment. Or you may investigate alternative health therapies like allergy testing, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and homeopathy.
So even though there is no cure for the condition, there are plenty of options open to you to help heal yourself. As always, consult your doctor to find out the best remedy for you. |
