Eczema cause...
What Causes Eczema: Eczema is a medical term for dry, sensitive skin that gets easily inflamed and irritated. Sometimes, small fluid filled bumps also appear on the skin. It is among the most common skin diseases in small children.
Eczema has several forms, but probably the most common and distressing one is atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. Atopy means extra sensitivity to allergies. Approximately 1 in 10 people are affected by eczema, the world over. However, it is not a communicable disease.
Even though the causes of eczema are unknown, medical researchers have observed that it is more commonly found in people who have a family history of skin diseases or asthma and hay fever, hence it is considered a genetic disease.
However, substances that cause irritation to the skin can trigger it. Any of the following can cause an eczema attack:
- Substances that cause eczema on contact are detergents, strong chemicals, tobacco smoke, soaps, diesel or engine oil, cleaners and fragrant lotions.
- Rough or coarse materials are abrasive and may cause the skin to itch.
- Extreme variations in temperature and humidity levels.
- Eczema can also be caused by an allergy to nickel, poison ivy, cosmetics and rubber products.
- Animal dander may also cause eczema.
- Upper respiratory infections or colds can also be triggers.
- Stress may cause the condition to worsen.
Which foods cause eczema: Sometimes eczema can also be triggered by allergic reactions to food. Hence, it is necessary to find out which foods cause eczema. Eggs, cow’s milk, chemical food additives, preservatives and colorings, citrus fruits, dairy, wheat and peanut products aggravate eczema conditions. You can carry out food allergy testing to see which foods cause eczema to activate in your body. Once you know which foods cause it, you can remove them from your diet, which usually results in the improvement of the condition. In infants, breast milk greatly reduces the chances of eczema.
Cure for eczema: There is no guaranteed cure for eczema. Effective management and treatment of the disease can reduce and even eradicate it. To cure eczema, you need to first identify its causes. Once that is done, try as much as possible to stay away from those irritants. Your eczema attacks will certainly decrease and become less intense.
Since eczema is caused by dryness of the skin, you can take the following steps to prevent that from occurring:
- Moisturize your skin regularly with a gentle fragrance-free moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature or humidity
- Avoid excessive sweating or overheating
- Reduce stress levels
- Avoid abrasive materials, such as wool. Instead, switch to soft cotton clothes.
- Avoid harsh soaps, detergents and chemicals
- Stay away from pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander.
- Avoid intake of foods that may cause an outbreak
- In the case of facial eczema, it is necessary to wash with a non-drying cleanser. Always use a moisturizer that is noncomedogenic or oil-free.
- Take short showers with lukewarm water instead of long hot showers, as they dry your skin. Pat your skin gently with a soft towel after you are done.
- Avoid scratching your eczema flare-ups too much, as this aggravates the situation further, and can even cause an infection
Treatment for eczema causes: Once your doctor identifies the cause of your eczema, he will prescribe a medical treatment regimen for it. Treatment for eczema causes include:
- Lotions and creams containing corticosteroids are recommended to keep the skin moist. These have to be applied when the skin is moist, such as after bathing, to help the skin retain moisture.
- Other treatments include antihistamines that counter allergies, tar treatments (chemicals designed to reduce itching), phototherapy (therapy using ultraviolet light applied on the skin).
- The FDA has recently approved two drugs, Elidel and Protopic, to treat eczema.
Having the right treatment information is essential. You must use the correct drugs in the right amounts to control your eczema, or you could aggravate the condition.