Are you familiar with celiac disease? If you have dermatitis herpetiformis, you would be. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine, and is triggered by an intake of gluten. It’s a very serious condition, which is why you will see many products now marketed as gluten-free. Due to the relatively obscure nature of dermatitis herpetiformis, you may wonder what celiac disease has to due with the subject.

What is Dermatitis Herpetiformis?

To be specific, dermatitis herpetiformis is a symptom of celiac disease, and is classified as a type of eczema.  Dermatitis herpetiformis was first discovered by Dr. Louis Duhring in 1884, which is where the name Duhring’s Disease hails from. Furthermore, a connection between Duhring’s Disease and both gluten intolerance and celiac disease (these terms are not synonymous) was discovered in 1967. Despite the fact that the word “herpe” exists in dermatitis herpetiformis, this is based solely on appearance. Dermatitis herpetiformis is not related to herpes, but the lesions it produces bare a resemblance.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis normally appears in young adults at 20 years to 30 years and older. It may even develop earlier in the teens, and in rare cases, children may show symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis. Using statistics, you can say that dermatitis herpetiformis develops within the first quarter of a persons life.  In the United States, 1 out of every 10,000 people are diagnosed with this condition. Furthermore, dermatitis herpetiformis is a condition that, while found in both men and women alike, appears more often in men and persons that come from a Northern Europe origin. Despite the fact that signs of dermatitis herpetiformis show up in early adulthood, the fact of the matter is that this person has always been intolerant to gluten their entire life. And the only way to combat celiac disease, and in effect, dermatitis herpetiformis, is to cease the consumption of gluten altogether. 

Symptoms of Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Dermatitis herpetiformis is said to be as a result of an immunologic response to a persistent stimulation of the gut mucosa caused by dietary gluten. There are also various different chemicals that have been associated to dermatitis herpetiformis, such as: cleaning solutions and potassium iodide.

Some of the major symptoms of DH are itching and stinging around the elbows, scalp, knees, back, and buttocks, and there is also intense burning in these areas. An eruption occurs on the affected areas, and small blisters will begin to develop. The consumption of gluten may cause the affected areas to become exacerbated. The aforementioned buring sensation may even occur before blisters appear at all. While these are the most common areas affected, there are others that can be affected and the severity of the condition will vary from person to person.

Itching and burning are typically the first symptoms before rashes appear, and may last up to 10 days well after blisters have developed. After this point, the blisters begin crusting. The severity of dermatitis herpetiformis is related to the length of time is has been left untreated. Much like celiac disease, the continued consumption of gluten will ultimately lead to the further deterioration of your body, leaving you open for many other illnesses and diseases.

There are treatments and ointments available for use to help you with dermatitis herpetiformis while you have it, and these may be touched upon later. But we stress that the only way to really be rid of it is to live on a gluten-free diet. It is the only sure treatment for dermatitis herpetiformis, and all it requires is a change of diet. When it comes to your health, that shouldn’t be too much to ask for. And considering many forms of eczema are incurable, we would definately recommend taking the measures necessary to rid yourself of any form of eczema that is curable while you’re fortunate enough to have that opportunity.

Dyshidrosis would be considered quite rare compared to other types of eczema. In fact, it only affects 20 out of every 100,000 people. Therefore, it comes as no surprise when you take into account that dyshidrosis does not get talked about very often. In fact, you know you have to look for information on dyshidrosis specifically, as trying to find information on eczema alone usually yields you results on atopic eczema. Looking for feasible treatment advice is even less intuitive, but fortunately that is what Eczema Treatment Help is for. Since we don’t limit ourselves to atopic eczema, we can provide information and advice for even the most unlikely types of eczema. And that’s what leads us into our topic today, which is on home treatments for dyshidrosis.

Dyshidrosis Treatment: What Can I Do?

If you are in need of dyshidrosis treatment and either do not have access to medication, or have run out, there are alternative measures that you can take. Be mindful that you do not have to use all of these methods. Also, results are not typical. While studies have shown improvement in some people for some treatments, the same treatment could take longer for others. If you don’t see improvement after a few weeks of any one treatment, we would suggest trying a different one.

Baking Soda Scrub

Similarly to treating eczema scars, you can use a baking soda scrub to help with skin peeling. You make the baking soda paste by simply mixing baking soda with water, and you rub the paste into your skin for five minutes. Afterwords, rinse the paste off and pat your hands or feet dry. You will need to do this two to three times daily, and as early as a week to a few weeks later, you should see your dyshidrosis condition improve.

Salt

You can use salt, that’s right, common household table salt as a dyshidrosis treatment! Like the baking soda scrub, all you are doing is mixing a 1/4 cup of salt for every 1 cup of water. Pour the solution into a shallow pan or tub, and soak the affected areas (hands, fingers, soles, and toes) for 40 minutes to an hour. What the salt solution will do for you is to dry out your blisters. If soaking soles and toes, be sure not to place the rest of your foot into the solution, as the salt water may severely dry out your feet, leading to irritation. You will want to do this once a day until you see signs of improvement from blisters or peeling.

White Vinegar Soak

This is used as an alternative to the salt soak. Follow the same directions for the salt soak above, but instead of using salt and water, use undiluted white vinegar instead. The benefits of both treatments are similar, but the difference between these two options is that a vinegar soak will stop any additional fungal growth by changing your skin’s pH balance.

Oatmilk Soak

Once again, the method is the same as the previous two treatments. Just replace the solutions with oatmilk instead. You will have the added benefit of pain relief and soothing itching when using an oatmilk soak.

Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Potassium Permanganate

This method is only suggested for use with persistent blisters. Depending on which you use, the result may be painful. However, this treatment is recommended to be used only once a week regardless of the solution you use. With rubbing alcohol or 3% hydrogen peroxide, you will apply directly to the blisters (it is recommended to use a cotton ball to apply the solution). Unfortunately, open sores may heal faster from this method than closed blisters, so if you already have open wounds, you may want to go directly to this treatment. These solutions will help clear your blisters in a few days, and should be replaced by peeling skin.

Potassium permanganate, much like the rubbing alcohol, is a painful solution that you will have to endure. The difference is that you will have to dilute the solution. Potassium permanganate will not only kill bacteria, but it works effectively to dry out blisters, much like a salt or vinegar soak would.

Nickel-Free Diet

This is more of a preventative measure than a treatment, but you can prevent future outbreaks by removing nickel from your diet. Some foods to avoid would include canned vegetables (we recommend switching to fresh or frozen vegetables), shellfish, almonds, and chocolate. Surprisingly, you will want to avoid eating oatmeal as well. Oatmeal is high in nickel, and while it has properties that would be good for you skin for other types of eczema, such as atopic eczema, it serves to work against you when you have dyshidrosis.

These treatments should be fairly easy to try on your own. These aren’t substitutions for medication, however, but they will serve to alleviate annoying blisters or skin peeling when the time calls for it. Also, these treatments are very good on your budget. If you have dyshidrosis, try one of these dyshidrosis treatments for yourself, and if you would like, let us know if you have experienced any positive results.

Sometimes, changing your eczema situation for the better requires little more than changing your own habits. More often than not, outbreaks and aggravations are caused by something in your environment, through deliberation and without. While changing your daily habits will not eliminate your eczema, by taking these few steps, you will notice a general increase in health, and your skin will be better for it. The best thing is that each of these habit changers are relatively simple to do, and require nothing more than diligence on your part to maintain the good habit. So now you may be asking, just what are some habitual changes I can make to improve my eczema problems?

Steps to Take to Improve Eczema Conditions

Moisturization is Key!

I mention this all the time, but one of the most important things you can do is to moisturize your skin, primarily after a shower or a bath. In fact, the suggestion to moisturize your skin has been spoken, written, and rewritten for the benefit of those with eczema so many times, that one would believe that by now, everyone would be doing it. However, you might be surprised how often this step gets overlooked. And that’s why it needs to become a habit. Work moisturization into your daily routine. Your skin will be much better off when it is properly moisturized, and you will reduce the likelyhood of inflammation due to irritants getting into cracked, broken skin. Be sure the moisturizer is free of drying agents. Try all natural creams and products to be certain that the moisturizer is free of synthetic and irritating chemicals.

Changing Your Eating Habits

Another habit to changes lies in your diet. This is usually more prominent in those who already have food allergies, and in that sense, you will already be aware of what you can and cannot eat. But for those of you who may be unaware that some foods may be triggering an outbreak, you will want to keep a daily food journal on the things you eat to narrow down and eliminate food triggers. It’s never an easy thing to cut out favorite meals, snacks and produce, but in order to live without causing your body further harm, it is a sacrifice that you will have to make. Some food triggers include eggs, nuts, seafood and dairy. Sometimes, these can be foods with histamine.

Sometimes these foods can even seem contradictory, in that they would actually be very beneficial for eczema. For example, acidic fruits, such as oranges are high in vitamin C, which is good for rebuilding new skin cells, but if you have an intolerance for the citric acid, it will cause you to break out instead. In this situation, we would recommend the use of supplements instead. Vitamin C and vitamin E are both ideal, in that they both correspond to improving the health of your skin among other things. If you are taking supplements, follow the directions on the label as to their usage.

The Clothes You Wear

Get into the habit of buying only clothes that are made of materials that will not aggravate your skin. This may mean that you may have to pass on the newest trend if the material does not agree with your skin. On the other side of the spectrum, it means paying attention to what you’re buying, and not simply tossing a package of underwear into your shopping cart. You will know if certain materials cause your skin to break out. For instance, wool tends to be really itchy, and other scratchy materials (wool included) may rub against existing lesions, which may cause inadvertent scratching, leading to more inflammation and broken skin. On the other hand, cotton is the softest material, and will not scratch against the skin.

Also get into the habit of wearing the right type of clothes for the situation, as well. For example, if you know you have an itching rash on your arms or thighs, wear a long sleeve shirt, instead of a short sleeve shirt. As for the legs, wear pants instead of shorts. By doing this, you will be less likely to scratch, and in the event that you do, you will not be making direct contact with the fingers and nails, which are more abrasive and may carry dirt and germs. Just be sure the material is soft on your skin.

Check Your Household Products

You will need to be aware of the products you buy from the store, whether they are cosmetic, cleansing, or serve an additional purpose such as fabric softener. If you have favorite brands, but suspect that they are aggravating eczema, it is time to cut them off and try to find a new brand. It would be even more beneficial to cut out all products with synthetic fragrances, dyes and perfumes. Beware when using cosmetic products. You will know almost instantly when your break out into a rash. This may also include skin cleaners or exfoliation products. These may include alcohol or harsh chemicals that are not good for your skin. If you need to exfoliate (which is ideal for treating eczema scars), you may want to try a natural product instead, of create one yourself.

Smoking, Drinking, and Stress

It goes without saying that smoking and drinking may cause a breakout in eczema. The tar and substances that make up the cigarette smoke are especially bad for those who have atopic diseases, such as atopic eczema, and alcohol is a big no as well. Stress is another thing that can weaken the immune system. If you find yourself to be one who becomes easily stressed, try to find ways to unwind, such as taking a trip to a spa once a month. It does not have to be an expensive, luxurious spa, but something that can help you release tension. Music may also sooth you after a relatively rough day.

Keep Your Cell Phone at Bay!

Finally, and this one may come as a surprise, you’ll want to limit the amount of radiation you come in contact with. This seems impossible, as radiation isn’t exactly something you can see, control, or even manipulate to your will. However, you can induce it. One of the primary sources of radiation that almost everyone has access to is their cell phone. Did you know that even having your cell phone within reach as you sleep at night exposes you to harmful radiation? It’ true, and that’s why you’ll need to make a few changes on how much you need to be connected.

For starters, turn your cell phone off at night. If you need an alarm, it would be preferable to buy an alarm clock instead. And if you must have your cell phone on for important or dire reasons, place it somewhere that’s within walking distance instead of at arms length. You will be exposed to radiation if you live near a high amount of power lines, and you’ll even obtain radiation just by getting x-rays at your doctor or dentist. You can take anti-pollutant supplements to help counter the things that you can’t control. Once again, vitamin C and vitamin E make good supplements, as they will detoxify your body from toxins such as lead and mercury, as well as rejuvenate the skin. Selenium is also a great detoxification supplement.

Just by following each one of these small steps daily, you will improve your own quality of life. Remember, these changes will not cure eczema, nor will they treat it directly. Instead, they act as ways to prevent eczema from flaring up more often than it needs to. The less you have to deal with eczema throughout your life, the better, and the only way to do so (short of outright ignoring it, which we absolutely do not recommend) is to change your way of thinking, and change your way of living.

People who have had a lifelong struggle with eczema tend to find it frustrating when eczema lesions appear on the face, scalp, hands and arms. After all, these are often open areas that people can see in public (and we wouldn’t recommend covering your face out in public). This tends to make the same people self conscious about their appearance, and in more extreme cases, bitter or paranoid. And if lesions appearing in the most unwanted of places isn’t bad enough, sometimes eczema scars are left behind as an annoying reminder. Having a lot of unwanted scars can be just as bad as lesions, and the number one question people ask when it comes to eczema scars is “how do I get rid of them?”.

Well, there’s good news tonight, as we will offer some advice as to how to treat and heal your eczema scars, as well as how to prevent them from occurring outright.

What Causes Eczema Scars?

Let’s start with the why and how of eczema scars. Regardless of the type of eczema (atopic, contact, seborrhoeic, etc), many of the symptoms are common, such as red or brown colored inflamed rashes that tend to be itchy, scaly, cracked, blistered, or oozing. Scarring occurs when an inflammation becomes so intense that it breaks the surface of your skin. This is usually brought on by continuous scratching of lesions (the itch-scratch cycle), but can also occur by severely cracked skin and untreated blisters. A lack of treatment or care for your eczema in and of itself will lead to worsened conditions and consequences, which include scarring. Eczema scars will appear to have different properties such as the shape, size and color depending on the severity of the eczema. For example, surface scars caused by scratching may appear white to a light pink, while deep scars caused by blister may appear red or a brownish color.

How to Prevent Eczema Scars

The absolute best way to deal with eczema scars is to prevent them from ever occurring, By using the following methods of preventions, you will reduce the probability of developing scars, if you don’t already have any, and obtaining any more if you do.

Keep your skin clean. As eczema weakens and breaks the top layer of skin, it allows airborne infections to set in. And once you have an infection, your wounds will stay open for a longer period of time. When wounds are open for a long period of time, your body will begin to rush to close it. This sounds like a good thing, except that when you body closes open wounds in a rush, it produces thick, rubbery collagen filled skin as opposed to the your soft, natural skin.

Another thing you’ll want to do is to avoid scratching at all costs. This sounds like a very hard thing to do at times, as scratching an itch can be so relieving at times, but in truth, what you are really doing is tearing your skin, and any dirt and germs found underneath your fingernails, or on your fingers and hands will be forced into the wounds when you rub into them via scratching. It is even more imperative to keep a close eye on your children if they have eczema, as they will be more prone to scratching without fully realizing the long term effects.

How to Treat Eczema Scars

In the event that scars are already left behind on your body, the thing you’ll most likely want to do is to find a way to reduce them, or to remove them altogether. If that person is you, than this section of the article is for you. Before we list treatment methods, we would suggest that you consult your dermatologist first, and ask him or her what to do about your scars, as they will have better knowledge about your skin personally.

Using Topical Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps you body to create new skin cells, as well as increase skin cell turnover. Vitamin C also brightens skin tones, which means your scars will blend in with the rest of your natural complexion. You can find vitamin C body creams and lotions at beauty and cosmetic stores. Alternatively, you can create a vitamin C compress yourself to apply over scarred skin. You should soak a washcloth in concentrated lemon juice, then apply the washcloth to the scar(s). This method is more effective if the skin has been exfoliated prior to application (see below). You should do this three times a week.

As an added note, vitamin E creams and lotions are also good for many of the same reasons as vitamin C products.

Shea Butter

Simply put, shea butter works wonders on your skin. Shea butter works to deeply hydrate the skin, and by applying shea butter to your scars once a day, your skin will work actively to rejuvenate and rebuild your skin.

Baking Soda Scrub

By using a baking soda scrub to exfoliate your skin, you are helping to remove dead and scarred skin cells. It is also ideal to exfoliate the skin before applying topical vitamins to the skin. You can create a baking soda scrub by mixing 3 tbsp. of baking soda with 1 tbsp. of water. The baking soda mixture should have a pasty texture. Rub the baking soda paste onto the scarred area (which can be loosened prior to this method by applying olive oil directly to the scars, then in five minutes, covering the skin with a hot washcloth until it cools). When rubbing, use deep, circular movements. In two to three minutes, rinse the baking soda paste off with water.

Skin Massage

If you should have one of the rubbery, collagen filled scars, be mindful that your body is looking to replace that skin with your normal skin just as much as you would like it gone. Your bloodstream is what sends nutrients and protein to the scarred tissue in order to begin restoration. Therefore, when you massage your scars, you increase blood flow to the affected area, and in effect expedite the process.

Scar Treatment Cream

There are indeed creams that you can purchase to help with the removal of scars. The ingredients found within are usually the same that you would find in the above and similar methods, such as lemon juice. You want to be sure that they are made using natural ingredients, as rubbing chemicals into broken or infected skin may only cause an aggravation. You can find these creams in many drug stores, but it will require a few applications a day for several weeks (about 8 to 12) before you will see results.

Atopic eczema typically develops during early childhood, so it’s easy to see why a parent would show concerns about what they can do to help their children take control of their eczema. And as any parent will tell you, it’s not always an easy road. Eczema is not fun at all, and for your child, it may be more than just the visible lesions you have to worry about, but the well being and emotional stability of your child as well. Today, we’re here to offer help and advice to parents about what they can do about eczema in children.

Children with Eczema

Let’s start at the beginning. If your child has developed eczema from what seems to be out of the blue (that is, good hygiene is maintained, that has been no contact with allergens or irritants, indoor air is clean, and the child is healthy, but still seems to contract a skin rash) chances are that your child has either atopic dermatitis or seborrhoeic dermatitis. For the purpose of this article, we will assume that we are dealing with atopic dermatitis, the leading type of eczema found in children and adults.

Specifically with atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema, children may develop it sometime before the age of five. Atopic eczema is characterized by a red or brownish grey itchy rash that may also show signs of scaling, cracking, crusting and oozing. Now the good news is that most children, up to 75% of children in the world, will “grow out” of eczema. That is to say, when you child reaches the adolescent years, the rash may disappear, or show signs of aggravation in very rare cases. If rashes should persist, they are usually very small. However, there is a chance that your child may not be a part of this group, and many children are not. If this is the case, your child will have to deal with eczema, perhaps chronically, for the rest of their life. Either way, taking responsible care of your child’s eczema is mandatory to assure that best possible health and wellness for all of your children.

How Can I Treat My Child’s Eczema?

When it comes to finding ways to handle eczema in children, the methods used are not unlike those used for adults. Meaning, that the best treatment is usually the one that your doctor prescribes. This is usually a medication of a corticosteroid cream. This is often the best method to use for treating eczema in children.

When you start to notice severe breakouts of rashes on the skin, apply the cream directly to the lesions. Your child should begin feel relief from itching, and the inflammation will begin to die down. However, nervous parents may reach for the cream every time their kid begins to scratch, and for the long term health of your children*, we would recommend trying a few alternatives for mild itching.

Giving your children regular baths is one suggestion to help sooth eczema. This is, of course, followed by moisturizing soon afterword. You can also try a specialty bath such as oatmeal, sea salt, and medicated bath oils. We do not recommend the use of harsh soaps and other emulsifying agents. Use low-Ph or Ph-neutral soaps. When moisturizing after a bath, we would recommend an ointment like Vaseline or Aquaphor, but creams work just as well.

Make sure you know what your childrens allergies are, or if they have allergies. Symptoms of an allergic reaction often include breaking out in rashes and inflammation, which if your child has eczema, will only serve to aggravate it and cause lesions to spread. By knowing what your child is allergic to, you can take precaution as to how to eliminate triggers from your household. This would include the elimination of triggers in diet, airborne artifacts (pet dander and pollen, for example), fabrics, and chemicals such as fabric softener.

A fast acting method to help relief itching is to use antihistamines or histamine blockers such as Benadryl. This is especially useful for scratching at night, or when itching keeps your children from getting a good night’s rest. If this still persists, you may have to have your children wear soft gloves at bedtime. A cold compress may work just as well, too.

Is There Any More I Can Do?

Talk to your children about their eczema. If the doctor doesn’t explain it to them directly, or in a way that the child will understand, than you will have to. Let them know that their eczema is not contagious, which is also good information to give to fretful parents. As will many other disorders or diseases, your children will be able to continue to live their life just as the other children without eczema would. If your child is being teased, it is up to you comfort your child and make sure he or she understands what is going on with their body. You may also want to seek parental advice, a pediatrician or a therapist if your child starts to show signs of depression.

*Medications use mild steroids that, in many cases, will not show a negative effect in patients. However, we must report that there have been cases of patients who have suffered from ill effect from long term overuse of creams. As always, cases are not typical and different from person to person.

For this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions dermatologists receive about eczema. You may also find this article handy for giving you a quick answer, or links to more detailed information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is eczema?
Eczema, as a general term, is a chronic skin condition (dermatitis), usually an inflammation of red, itchy and/or swollen skin, that spans across several different forms.

What is the difference between eczema and dermatitis?
The short answer: there is no difference. The two words are often used interchangeably, what is more important is the type of eczema one may have.

There was once a time when eczema was used to refer to skin conditions caused internally, while dermatitis was used for skin conditions caused externally. However, this is no longer the case.

What does eczema look like?
Most forms of eczema, including atopic eczema, will have symptoms including (or are related to) patches of redish, scaling, blistering, scaling, itching, flaky skin, cracked skin, or oozing lesions. In severe cases, the lesions can be painful or may even bleed.

How many types of eczema are there?
There are several different types of eczema, most of which many people may never have to deal with. Among the most common types of eczema include:

Atopic dermatitis. Also called atopic eczema. It is the most common type of eczema
Contact dermatitis. This includes both allergic CD and irritant CD
Seborrhoeic dermatitis. Includes infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis and cradle cap.
Xerotic eczema, caused by abnormally dry skin.

Some lesser known forms include:
Dyshidrosis
Nummular dermatitis
Dermatitis herpetiformis

What causes eczema?
The causes of eczema depend on the type of eczema. For example, the cause of atopic eczema is uncertain, but is linked to a family history of atopic diseases such as asthma and hay fever, and can be triggered by histamine, allergens, diet and radiation.

Contact dermatitis, on the other hand, is caused by irritants that cause the skin to become inflamed. For example, allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with the oils from plants such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Xerotic eczema is cause by the lack of proper moisturization to the skin.

See here for more info.

Is eczema contagious?
No. Eczema can not be spread from person to person, or from child to child through contact or any other means.

Is eczema an allergy?
Eczema in and of itself is not an allergy. However, those with atopic eczema may also be susceptible to, or already have allergies, such as food allergies or hay fever. However, removal of the allergens will not cure atopic eczema.

If I have eczema, will my children have eczema too?
As atopic diseases are hereditary, if you or other immediate family members have atopia (eczema, hay fever, asthma, etc), then it is possible your children will have inherited them as well.

Does eczema cause physical problems? Are people disabled by eczema?
It depends on the severity. At best eczema will only be a minor irritation, but at worst the lesions may dominate your actions. Severe pain and bleeding, infections and discomfort will lead to taking away most of your time in treatments and visits to the doctor.

As for being disabled, the worst eczema will do is keep your from working at specific jobs that require exposure to chemicals or products that would negatively react with your skin.

How does eczema affect people emotionally or sociologically?
Persons with lesions of eczema on their face or hands usually become self conscious, and may have lowered self esteem. They may feel bitter, resentful, depressed, or even fearful that everyone is looking at them negatively.

What is the best way to cure eczema?
When people ask this question, they usually mean in relation to atopic eczema or seborrhoeic dermatitis. Unfortunately, there is no cure for eczema in either of these, and in most other forms of eczema.

Forms of eczema that can be cured are few, but include contact dermatitis and autoeczematization, usually by removal of the irritant or infection that creates the lesions as a side effect.

My child has eczema. What should I do?
Treating a child with eczema is typically the same as treating an adult with eczema, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Children with eczema may find it irresistible to scratch the itchy lesions, so you must be sure to keep them from scratching. Apply medications where needed, or try a natural treatment such as a sea salt or oatmeal bath. Make sure your child’s skin is moisturized. If itching persists at night, you may want to have your children wear soft gloves overnight.

For information regarding babies with eczema, see here.

Can people grow out of eczema?
75% of children with atopic eczema may show signs of improvement starting at adolescence and beyond, while others will continue to struggle with eczema for a lifetime. Infants with seborrhoeic dermatitis may recover in a short amount of time without any treatment needed. This all being said, there is no way to determine whether or not your child will grow out of eczema, or if complications will persist, as no two cases are similar.

How is eczema treated?
Atopic eczema is usually treated with a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. When applied to the skin, it begins to work rapidly in reducing the inflammation. Eczema can also be treated with natural products such as virgin coconut oil, but cases of a reversal in inflammation with non-medical products are not as typical.

What can I do to help myself?
You can try various home remedies for quick relief from itching, as well as improve the quality of your home with the removal of dust and mold. An eczema air purifier is also ideal. Use products that are all natural, or free from synthetic chemicals, fragrances, dyes, and alcohol. Take short baths, and moisturize your skin after every bath or shower. Try to keep your skin moisturized at all times, such as the use of a humidifier.

See here for more about remedies.
See here for more about the quality of your air.

How are diet and eczema related?
Though it is still under research, specialists have reason to believe that what you eat can cause a negative reaction in your system, which may lead to inflammation as a possible effect. This is usually the case if you have specific food allergies, such as shellfish or nuts. But this can also occur with foods that have a high amount of histamine.

See here for more information.

Home eczema remedies, huh?

Everybody and their grandmother seems to have a special, super secret home remedy, passed down from generation to generation, for every ailment under the sun. And let’s not get started on the amount of websites out there owned by these medicine men and women who post their miracle cure so simple to concoct, that you’d feel the need to kick yourself for not having come up with it. And then those that take the information and spread it around like wildfire to informational sites like eHow? Now you’re in for some real trouble!

By now, you must have noticed the rather cynical tone used in the opening paragraph. Well, what you have read is how home remedies are perceived through the eyes of a skeptic. And when you think about the way some home remedies are developed, and the amounts that have been tried with no positive result, and you might be able to understand where the skeptic is coming from. But what about the at home eczema treatments that we have recommended here at Eczema Treatment Help? Have they been tested? Do they measure up? And most importantly, can they be trusted?

First of all, we have to offer the disclaimer that no two cases are the same, and results do in fact vary from person to person. There are those who have seen very favorable results, and for others, such treatments may not have given the feedback they were looking for in a timely fashion. But with that out of the way, we can assure you that the do-it-yourself treatments we offer at Eczema Treatment Help are both absolutely safe and have been proven effective in studies.

The Advantages Of Home Eczema Remedies

One of the biggest benefits to eczema treatment that you can do yourself is that we recommend using products that are all natural, or are typically free from harmful chemicals. And best yet, they are easy on the budget. The cost of prescription creams and ointments is usually higher than that of most of the products you can find that will help rejuvenate your skin and lessen eczema conditions, such as Aloe vera and oatmeal. They are also more readily available to you than a prescription, which you would have to wait for or order in several days advance. Getting into specific natural ingredients such as essential oils and extracts may prove more difficult to find than your average container of oatmeal, and the total cost of purchasing a stock of all natural products may begin to make your prescription costs look reasonable. However, what you’re getting here is a tradeoff in health benefits.

There are many people out there that aren’t very convinced abut natural eczema treatment, and we respect that. The result of using an ointment over using natural soaps and moisturizers is usually quick relief, but keep in mind that in the long run, you may be doing your overall health more harm by applying steroid creams and other such chemicals to your body. There are known side effects to be aware of when using such ointments, such as skin atrophy that can be avoided altogether. While we are not here to sell you the idea of natural eczema treatment, we are here to provide you the option and give you the facts.

The Disadvantages Of Home Eczema Remedies

One of the biggest detractors to eczema remedies, even if they work for you, is that sometimes its hard to keep track of what worked and what didn’t, moreso if you tried multiple remedies at once. And in some cases, positive results will occur faster in one usage, and then slower in another, which may lead to mixed results. It requires a lot of patience and trial-and-error to see what works for you and what doesn’t. Also, as stated above, there are a numerous amount of eczema remedies that can be found on the internet, most of which do not come from trusted or authoritative sources. If you try out everything you read online with little to no positive result, you will end up disappointed.

Another fact of the matter is that eczema remedies usually do not provide immediate relief, and in chronic cases of eczema, are not meant to be used as a long term substitution. Prescription medications are specifically manufactured to treat the type of eczema you have, and also to prevent any eczema related infections that may occur when eczema is left untreated. An oatmeal bath, for example, while good for the skin and to alleviate an itch, cannot do this for you.

What Should I Do?

Ultimately, the decision is up to you. We would recommend seeing your dermatologist and getting their opinion, but also, we would recommend the moderate usage of both prescription medication, natural eczema treatments, and eczema remedies. The key is moderation and knowing what works. We would not recommend reaching for the creams every time you have an itch, but we also would not recommend that you rely solely on oatmeal, sea salt and probiotics to alleviate the symptoms of chronic eczema,

Eczema Treatment Help’s goal is to provide you with help on how to treat your eczema, and offering you advice and suggestions, whether that be for natural eczema treatment or otherwise. But that’s all we can do for you, you will have to take the action for yourself if you want to take control of your eczema.

As you may already know by now, a lack of moisture is often a factor towards aggravation. But what happens when a lack of moisture is the cause of eczema? It’s highly possible that you may have xerotic eczema. Xerotic eczema happens to be the last of the commonly found types of eczema in patients, and the one thing that can be linked to all of them is a severe case of dry skin. Don’t jump the gun on us yet, the last thing anyone wants is to self diagnose a condition that they do not really have. As always, we highly recommend you read the rest of article to acquire the knowledge you need about a specific type of eczema, and then follow up with a visit to your dermatologist.

Characteristics of Xerotic Eczema

Xerotic eczema (known also as winter itch and winter eczema) is characterized by itching, cracking, and abnormally dry skin. The definition of ‘xerosis’ is dry skin; as such, xerotic eczema develops as a result of exposure to conditions which are very dry, or have a decrease in humidity. To add to this, those who develop xerotic eczema tend to be elderly, who are usually prone to having their skin dried out much more quickly than young adults (that having been said, it’s not uncommon to find xerotic eczema in patients in their 20′s). The term winter itch derives from the dry, cold weather associated with winter, and the fact that breakouts in xerotic eczema increase during this time, and in some as eraly as autumn. Xerotic eczema can also take affect during the winter season with those who are locked up in heated places that have low humidity. For example, the use of a space heater can warm up an area, but it will also dry it out very quickly. Either way, the skin is being dried out with very little moisture coming in.

Other persons who are at risk of developing xerotic eczema are those that work in wet conditions or live in desert climates. Although this may sound contradictory, water can actually dry out the skin; this is because water is able to wash away the oils of the outer layers, which results in the skin cracking. That’s why, believe it or not, xerotic eczema is tied to excessive bathing, and especially to those who do not use moisturizers after a bath.

What Can I Do About Xerotic Eczema?

All things being equal, xerotic eczema treatment tends to be rather simple. There are a number of ways in which one can address the treatment for xerotic eczema. The very first option is to improve the environment in which you live. You can prevent your skin from drying out if you use a humidifier, as it is able to keep the air moist. Next, you can take shorter showers and baths, and use intensive moisturizers in order to keep your skin moist. Deep bath oils and moisturizers are very popular; however, using them can cause xerotic eczema symptoms, which include flaky, cracked and dry skin. We would therefore recommend that you use natural products and soaps when bathing, and avoid anything with dyes or fragrances and other synthetic chemicals.

If your xerotic eczema is painful, or shows no signs of diminishing through the application of moisture (directly or indirectly), then you will need your doctor to prescribe medications for you. Topical steroid ointments are used to soothe and moisturize the skin, in addition to suppressing the responses of the immune system that contribute to xerotic eczema. Depending on how severe your xerotic eczema is, you may also be given oral medications to aid in managing the skin condition.

Hopefully by now you are starting to see a correlation in the several types of eczema, what causes them, and how they can be treated. Xerotic eczema is the result of abnormally dry skin, but you’ll note that moisturizing the skin has also been effective for various other types of eczema. And chemical irritants that are commonly linked to contact dermatitis can further aggravate other forms of eczema just as well. After a while, you will start to see a common link in aggravators and the types of eczema treatment you can apply. Pretty soon, you will get a feel on how to improve your health without even knowing exactly what kind of skin disorder you have. We still recommend seeing a dermatolgist, but the more you know, the more you’ll be able to educate others.

What you don’t know really can hurt you! Consider this, people commonly use more than 5,000 chemicals daily in household and toiletry products. And the use of these products, especially those in aerosols, spray bottles and atomizers will undoubtedly spread the chemicals around in the air. Here’s the kicker, did you know that any one of these chemicals could be the cause of your eczema? If you aren’t concerned, you should be, as air pollution in the home and even outside can be a cause of aggravation in you or another family member’s eczema. For the purpose of this article, we’ll refer to the circumstance as eczema pollution, or pollution eczema (this is not a technical term, we are only using it in reference to this article). 

So, Can You Describe This “Pollution Eczema”?

Fair enough. We call it pollution eczema (or again, eczema pollution, it’s all very arbitrary either way) because of the irritants that are pollute the air, and how they aggravate your eczema. The types of eczema that commonly coincide with airborne irritants are atopic eczema and contact eczema. Atopic eczema is a reoccurring, inflammatory skin disorder that is usually related to heredity and having a family history of other atopic diseases such as asthma and hay fever. Contact eczema occurs when irritants come in direct contact of the skin, which creates a negative reaction. In both cases, the eczema can be triggered by toxic or irritating substances in the air such as dust mite feces, pollen, or harsh chemicals that contain high traces of alkaline.

Out of doors, there isn’t much you can do. If there are plants that you are allergic to, the best you can do is to dispose of them, and if you live in a densely populated area with a lot of street pollution (or conversely, you live near one or several foundries), the best option you can take is to relocate to a cleaner neighbourhood. I’m sure you would agree that these aren’t very simple solutions that you can manage on a whim. However, if you happen to be moving into a new area, and you or a family member have atopic or contact dermatitis, it would be worth the effort to research the area in full, and even visit the new home on location to find any potential deal breakers. The good news is that eczema pollution indoors can be managed, and we will show you how.

Don’t Be a Contributor

Most chemicals found in people’s homes are from common household products. What this means is that what you may have purchased innocently at a supermarket may in fact be more hazardous to your health than you initially thought. That’s why you have to stop being the contributor to your indoor air pollution. Here’s what you can do the cut down on pollutants:

• Cut out all synthetic fragrances. Any product that is not fragrance free is often a cause of contact dermatitis, along with products containing dyes and alcohol. This will also mean that the use of cologne or perfume will have to come to a halt.
• Use pumps instead of aerosols where applicable
• Keep your house clean regularly by wiping down surfaces using products such a baking soda, lemon juice, and distilled white vinegar. This will keep bacteria and dust at bay and give you an effective cleaning agent that’s chemical free.
• Buy ecologically friendly products and toiletries, such as soaps that are vegetable based or made from tree oils.
• Open windows and buy house plants to keep the air indoors fresh.

And above all else, you may benefit from purchasing an eczema air purifier.

How an eczema air purifier can help treat eczema?

Air purifiers will lower the count of pollen, dust, bacteria and other pollutants and will therefore reduce the effect of eczema because of the overall reduction of irritants. When you are looking for an air purifier specifically for eczema, you should ensure that you choose a purifier that has a HEPA filter in order for you to get the best filtration. You should also ensure that the purifier that you choose will not only get rid of dust and pollen but that it will also get rid of mold as well and bacteria.

If you are getting an eczema air purifier, ensure that you get one that has a humidifier because the humidifier will keep your skin moist. 

There are times where you will have to take action for your own well being, and every step to control eczema within your own home is another step closer to a better quality of life. Take control of your eczema!

In the last article, we touched on dyshidrosis, which is one of the less common types of eczema. In truth, what should have been done first was to give a brief overview of all the less common forms of eczema first before getting into details. At the end of the day, you may be asking yourself “does that really matter”? Speaking for myself, for organizational purposes, I would have preferred to have set the stage (so to speak) for going in depth about the less common eczema so you know what to expect going in.

And with that, the following article will be a brief but informative view of the less common types of eczema.

The Less Common Types of Eczema

Briefly, I just want to touch on each of these forms of eczema, just so you’ll have a very basic understanding of what they are. In the future. you can expect articles that focus in on these, such as our dyshidrosis article. And speaking of which, that’s where we’ll begin.

Dyshidrosis

Dyshidrosis, also known as dyshidrotic eczema, pompholyx, and even housewife’s eczema, is typically characterized by small blisters known as vesicles on the palms, fingers, soles of the feet and/or toes. Later on, it will result in scaling and fissures where the lesion resides. Generally, it is a kind of hand eczema, that was once associated with bad sweating (as per the meaning of “dyshidrotic”), but it hasn’t been proven that it’s the cause. Warm weather, however, seems to be a cause of aggravation. Though it is not contagious, it can be rather unsightly, and leads to awkward social interaction.

Discoid Eczema

Known more commonly by its other name, nummular dermatitis (and even nummular eczema), discoid eczema is known by the itchy, dry or oozing coin shaped lesions, and is a chronic form of eczema. It usually occurs in those over 60 years or older, but it can appear at any age. Lesions of discoid eczema are typically found on the legs or buttocks.

This type of eczema is associated with a lack of moisture in the skin, and therefore the aggravations of discoid eczema typically revolve around circumstances that lead your skin to drying out. For example, discoid eczema worsens during the winter season, and due to stress and even caffeine, as these all are capable of dehydrating your body. Discoid eczema also leaves a person susceptible to other types of eczema as well.

Venous Eczema

Best known as stasis dermatitis and varicose eczema, comes from the result of those with varicose veins, impaired circulation, and edema. The skin changes because of the result of “stasis”, which is to say blood pooling from insufficient venous return. Venous eczema occurs in the leg, and usually to those over 50. It is characterized by redness or darkening of skin, itching and scaling. Further deterioration of the skin due to stasis dermatitis can lead to a venous ulcer.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

You may know of dermatitis herpetiformis by its other name, Duhring’s Disease, as first described by Louis Duhring in 1884. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is closely related to celiac disease and gluten intolerance, autoimmune disorders that are caused by the ingestion of the protein known as gluten. Despite having the word “herpe” in the name, dermatitis herpetiformis is not the result of herpes, but is named accordingly because of having a similar appearance.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is often characterized as having extremely itchy, watery blisters that usually appear symmetrically on the scalp, neck, elbows, arms, back, buttocks and legs. It usually develops starting at early adulthood, such as the age of 20 to the 30s. The best treatment is often a change of diet, in which gluten is removed.

Neurodermatitis

Technically known as lichen simplex chronicus (localized scratch dermatitis), simply put, neurodermatitis is the result of habitual rubbing or scratching in a central area. It is also a result of a never ending itch scratch cycle, which is why is commonly found in children who chronically scratch lesions, welts, or insect bites. The end result is neurodermatitis, which is thick, brownish leathery skin. The only long term cure for neurodermatitis is behavior modification.

Autoeczematization

There isn’t much to say about autoeczematization, but it is simply the result of a reaction due to an infection, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites. The appearance of such eczema differs depending on the cause, and therefore becomes hard to diagnose particularly. To add to that, the lesion develops in an area distant from the origin of the infection. The good news, however, is that autoeczematization is completely curable and disappears once the original infection has been cleared from the body.

That concludes our brief overview of the less common types of eczema. Use this as a briefing for what is to come in later updates, and stay with us for more information on your eczema needs.