Living With Eczema
Author: John Vanse

Eczema is one of the most widespread skin disorders in the
world. As such it is a part of life for many people. Although
there is at present no cure for this skin condition the symptoms
can be controlled reasonably well if care is taken. Eczema
affects people of all ages and does not discriminate on the
basis of sex as statistics show it is equally common among
females as it is in males.

Eczema symptoms can range from mild to moderate and, at times,
to severe. The most common kind of eczema is atopic eczema (or
atopic dermatitis) and this kind affects approximately one in
every eight children under the age of five in the United States
every year.

It is estimated that at least 30% of babies are very likely to
develop atopic eczema although many eventually grow out of this
skin problem. For some children the condition disappears by the
time they are two or three years old, while for others it may
not decline until they enter school. Unfortunately however there
are still some children who continue to suffer the symptoms of
eczema into their teenage years and some carry it into their
adult life. For those child sufferers who still have eczema in
their adult life, the symptoms are often only mild or moderate
rather than being severe. Eczema is usually much worse in the
early years of a child's life than it will be later in
adulthood.

There are a number of types of eczema and they are usually
categorized into two major groups - allergenic eczema and
non-allergenic eczema.

Allergenic eczema results, as the name suggests, from allergies
and medical research suggests that it has a genetic connection,
similar to other disorders such as hay fever and asthma. Often
people prone to eczema are more likely to have these other
disorders as well. It is also believed that eczema can, in some
instances, be caused by sensitivity to certain kinds of foods or
to contact allergens such as for example, dust or mold. Also
allergenic forms of eczema can be made worse by sweating or
overheating as well as exposure to the extremes of hot or cold
temperatures. Allergic forms of eczema include atopic eczema,
which is the most common type, allergic contact eczema, and
irritant contact eczema.

Non-allergenic forms of eczema include:

• infantile seborrhoeic eczema, also known as cradle cap;
• adult seborrhoeic eczema, of which dandruff is one of the
milder forms;
• varicose eczema, which generally affects older individuals,
particularly on the lower legs and around the ankles; and
• discoid eczema – roundish patches which can appear on many
different parts of the body.

A number of factors which induce flare-ups of existing eczema
conditions have been identified. These include:

• high levels of stress;

• fluctuating hormone levels in women such as those that occur
naturally during the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and
during menopause; and

• low humidity is also sometimes a factor when it comes to
eczema flare-ups.

Eczema affected skin is dry, itchy, red, swollen and very
sensitive. The best methods of managing these symptoms are by:

• applying moisturizing cream several times a day using
emollient creams and lotions that do not contain perfume or
alcohol;

• avoiding letting irritants such as harsh detergents and
cleaning chemicals from touching bare skin;

• avoiding contact with some materials such as nickel;

• not allowing yourself to become overheated or too stressed;
and

• wearing clothes that are made of predominantly cotton fabric.


About The Author: Author: John Vanse For more information about
eczema see: http://www.eczema-solution.info For information
about establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle see:
http://www.thebetterhealthguide.com