Written by: Angyelisa Hernandez
What you should know about Eczema:
What is Eczema?
Eczema is widely known as an inflammatory skin condition that causes
“itchiness, dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, and skin infections.” About “31
million Americans” are diagnosed with the skin condition Eczema. However,
“eczema is not contagious.” Hence, you can not get this skin condition by having
skin-to-skin contact with someone with eczema. Researchers currently do not
know what causes eczema, but researchers do know that people develop eczema
due to “genes and their environmental triggers.”
Eczema is common in people of all ages ranging from childhood,
adolescence, or adulthood. Eczema can occur in newborns as young as the “first
weeks and months after birth.”
Symptoms that children with eczema have are dry patches of skin, skin
blisters, and skin infections due to frequent scratching. Eczema flare-ups are used
to describe when someone is experiencing “one or more acute symptoms or side
effects from prolonged itchiness” which can last for several days or several weeks.
Other symptoms that people with eczema have are “hay fever, allergic
asthma, and food allergies.”
Treatments
Some treatments recommended by dermatologists and other health care physicians to treat eczema are “moisturizers, antihistamines, topical steroid creams,
and corticosteroids.”
The Causes of Eczema
Factors that contribute to the cause of eczema are one’s “environment and genes.” An “irritant or allergen” causes the immune system to “produce
inflammation, or a flare-up, on the surface of the skin.”
Some environmental irritants and allergic reactions can cause eczema
flare-ups such as household items. These household items include soaps,
shampoos, facial cleaners, laundry detergents, fabrics, etc.
Symptoms of Eczema
It is essential to be aware that the symptoms of eczema are different for each
individual. Some of the symptoms of eczema include:
● Itchiness
● Dryness
● Inflammed skin
● Scaly skin
● Swelling, oozing skin
It is also important to know the difference in appearance eczema can appear
in dark-colored and lighted-colored skin tones. For instance, individuals with
darker skin tones may “experience eczema as ashen skin, grey skin, darker brown
or purple in color.” While eczema can appear “red in lighter skin.”
Please consult with your doctor or dermatologist to find out if you have
eczema or how to treat your eczema.
Sources:
Image Source: Verywell Health
National Eczema Association. (2022, April 29). Eczema Causes, Triggers &
Symptoms. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/
Disclaimer: This organization's content is not intended to provide diagnosis,
treatment, or medical advice. Content provided on this website is for informational
and educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare
professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment
options. Information on this website should not be considered as a substitute for
advice from a healthcare professional.
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