So far, we’ve covered quite a few types of eczema, and hopefully you have found the information therein to be of value to you. But we can’t forget those out there who may have one of the less common types of eczema, one of which is dyshidrosis. So to do things a bit differently this time out, we’ll be covering dyshidrosis. If you know you have it, then stay with us, but be aware of the symptoms. Just because you have a rash on your hands and feet does not mean that you should jump to a conclusion about what kind of eczema you may have.

What is Dyshidrosis?

Dyshidrosis (also knowm as dyshidrotic eczema among more technical names) is a type of eczema that is characterized by an itchy rash, which is primarily found on the hands; however, it can be found on the feet as well. When dyshidrotic eczema takes over the hands, you can find it mainly on the palms of your hands or on the sides of your fingers. On the other hand, when this skin condition takes over your feet, it will mainly appear on the sides of your toes and the soles of your feet. Dyshidrosis is considered to be a seasonal skin condition, as it comes and goes, particularly during the dry seasons. It is not known what causes dyshidrotic eczema; however, during the onset of this skin condition, you will notice blisters that are filled with fluid, and eventually the blisters will start itching. Although there is no specific age group that dyshidrosis primarily affects, children less than ten years are not affected by this skin condition.

Dyshidrosis Symptoms

Due to the fact the skin of your palm is very deep, the blisters may seem to be deep to you. Although very rare, redness is also considered to be one of the symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema. In cases of dyshidrosis that are more severe, the small blisters will spread and will form very large blisters. Sometimes, people who suffer from this skin condition (who do not think that it can get serious) will try to self medicate; however, self medicating can lead to irritation of the blisters. As such, it is always best to consult your family doctor or dermatologist, if you are experiencing symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema. In order to avoid irritating the condition, you should use petroleum jelly, topical creams, mild cleansers and mild soap on the affected areas. You should also try your best not to scratch your blisters, as this can make the condition worse; additionally, treatment will be longer.

Dyshidrosis Treatment

When you seek medical treatment for your dyshidrosis, there are a few treatments that your doctor will recommend to you. These treatments will include oral anti-itch medications like antihistamines, oral steroids like Prednisone, moisturizers, and topical ointments or steroids that you need to apply to the affected areas at least twice daily. If you are using topical or oral steroids, your treatment will start with a high dosage, and then it will be gradually reduced.

Generally, dyshidrotic eczema goes away by itself; however, it may return when the dry season returns as well. In severe cases of dyshidrosis, you may have complications like restricted use of your hands (or feet), severe pain and itching and bacterial infections. In such cases, your dermatologist will recommend that you get phototherapy treatment.

In this article, we’ll touch upon all natural eczema treatment. What you will find on this page is a little different than you would find on a regular post on eczema treatment, and that’s purely based on the fact that these treatments may require you to go a little out of your way to get the recommended products. In such examples, you should be able to find products at a store that sells natural products, usually all natural soaps, hair products and supplements. If it turns out that you don’t live near one (or the closest one to you is very much out of your way), then you may have to order these products online.

The Virgin Coconut Oil Treatment

Natural oils are typically good for keeping your skin moisturized, and dry skin is usually one of the causes of eczema aggravation. Virgin coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, (MCFA, also known as medium-chain triglycerides, or MCT), and if you’ve heard about coconut oil before, this is what is responsible for its healing properties. Technically, the MCFA restores damamged skin by penetrating the celluar structure of the connective tissues. That’s why it’s not only recommended for eczema, but for other skin disorders. It also an active agent in anti-ageing treatment. The results in using coconut oil usually show a reduction in inflammation, skin softening and moisturization, strengthening of the immune system, and the repair of skin tissue (in other words, symptoms of cracked, scaly skin will disappear).

Blueberry Leaf and Licorice Extract

This natural eczema treatment also works on keeping your skin moisturized. Particularly after taking a bath or a shower, it is recommended that you use a moisturizer that’s free of added scents and dyes. However, to go a step further from prevention, we recommend purchasing moisturizers or lotions that contain blueberry leaf and licorice extract. Alternatively, you can buy the extracts separately (these will be in liquid extracts, FYI).

But What Does It Do?

The reason blueberry leaf is a great natural eczema remedy is because the leaves of blueberries are known to contain very strong compounds that will stop the spread of germs. When your skin is damaged by eczema, it makes it easier to get an infection. By blocking any external irritants and diseases, this will give your skin a chance to repair itself. Eventually, you will notice a reduction of inflammation and redness, and the itching will subside.

Licorice extract is known for its ability to heal. Licorice extract will stop the pain related in more chronic cases of eczema, and will work to quickly reduce redness and swelling. Like the blueberry leaf, it is also effective in stopping the itch, and works well when you want to keep your children from scratching their lesions.

Sea Salt Does More Than Flavor Food…

Remember the oatmeal bath? Another alternative to bathing away your symptoms is to try sea salt instead. By itself, a sea salt bath will not only remove dead skin from your body, but it will restore and rejuvenate damaged skin in the process. The sea salt will also detoxify your body by causing you to sweat out foreign irritants. For a whole body bath, we would recommend 1 to 2 cups of high grade, unrefined sea salt. Remember to keep your bath water from being too hot, and soak for about 15 minutes. You are free to add natural oils to enhance your bath. Also, you can add sea salt to a bowl, pan, sink, or whatever you have available full of warm water. This works well for a local treatment, such as relieving eczema on your hands and wrists.

Sea salt works as a natural eczema treatment because it works directly with the skin. It widens your pores to allow for the hydration of skin tissues. It also increases circulation, sooths irritation and itching, and reduces pain.

The Aloe Vera Eczema Treatment

One more natural eczema treatment that you should be able to find anywhere is 100% pure Aloe vera juice. However, you can always do one better and buy yourself an Aloe vera plant if the sources are locally available to you. Much in the same way that the juice from the Aloe vera plant sooths burns and reduce itching, say from bug bites, you will find that the juice from the Aloe vera plant, when applied to eczema, will also reduce the inflammation and rehydrate the skin.

We hope you will take one of these natural eczema treatments into consideration. The properties found in these natural products do so much more for your health than what you may see on the surface. You will definitely see improvement in your overall health as well as from your eczema symptoms, and we believe it’s worth the added benefits to try one of these remedies for yourself.

So far we’ve covered both atopic eczema and contact dermatitis. This next article will cover another common type of eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis. Seborrhoeic dermatitis differs quite a bit from both atopic and contact eczema, and in effect should be treated differently. As you read on, you will find out more about seborrhoeic dermatitis, which should be considered critical as to keep from mistaking it for another from of eczema. Remember, using the wrong solutions for an unassociated form of eczema can make symptoms worse, which is what we’re going to help you avoid.

What is Seborrhoeic Dermatitis?

Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (also known as seborrheic dermatitis, seborrhea, or seborrheic eczema), like other forms of eczema, is an inflammatory skin disorder. What separates seborrheic dermatitis from the others is that it tends to affect the sebum-gland rich areas of the skin in particular. What more, seborrhoeic dermatitis tends to have more in common with dandruff, and is related to other fungal disorders and diseases. Having said that, you will find that the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, the face, and the torso. In both adolescents and adults, you will usually notice flaking of the scalp and skin.

What Causes Seborrhoeic Dermatitis?

The cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is typically fungal. Specifically, it is related to Malassezia, a type of yeast that is naturally found on the skin of humans and other mammals. This yeast will produce a toxic substance that irritates the skin, causing an inflammation. Those who have seborrhoeic dermatitis usually have a weakened resisitance to the yeast. Malassezia survives purely on saturated fatty acids, which can be gathered from the human sebum. The Malassezia will hydrolize these areas, which releases both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from the sebum. As the yeast take in the saturated fatty acids, the leftover unsaturated fatty acids will, generally speaking, create a negative reaction which irritates the skin, leading up to the inflammation.

Not all causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis are related to Malassezia. In fact, other causes have been linked to environment, hormones, immunodeficiencies, and heredity. In children especially, malnutrition can be a cause, such as a lack of biotin, vitamins B6 and B2, or conversely, too much vitamin A. Other factors such as stress, fatigue, illness, and seasonal changes can cause an aggravation in seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis Symptoms

While other forms of eczema have symptoms that may show up immediately, especially in the case of contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis usually shows its symptoms gradually. Dandruff is often the first and most common symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Lesions can appear on the face, ears, torso, upper back, and places where the skin folds. The rash is usually characterized as being red in color and flaky, but may also include itching, soreness, thick crusts on the scalp, and greasy skin covered with white or yellow scales. Flakes are white, yellow or grey in color.

Lesions on the scalp may contribute to hair loss, especially if the scales attach themselves to the hair follicles. Permanent hair loss may occur if chronic cases of seborrhoeic dermatitis are left untreated. In infants, the greasy yellowish crusting of the scalp is what is known as cradle cap. With infants, however, the condition often resolves itself. In adults, however, symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis can last for many weeks, even lasting as long as several years.

What Can I Do About Seborrhoeic Dermatitis?

Because of the causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis, some of them even showing relation to other types of eczema, treatments of seborrhoeic dermatitis tend to be more clinical. This is not to say, however, that there aren’t any steps you can take at home. In fact, the best action to take is prevention, and to maintain a healthy diet. For example, when you shower, use an over-the-counter or prescription anti-fungal shampoo. Brands you may recognize include Selsun Blue, Nizoral and Head & Shoulders. Get as much exposure to the sun as you can, especially during the winter, as the UV rays curb the growth of Malassezia. To help expose your scalp to more sunlight, keep your hair cut short. As for you diet, try to lower your intake of sugar and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants, as these have been proven to reduce inflammation caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis.

References:

Mayo Clinic for additional information.

In this article, we’ll be focusing in on contact dermatitis. While it is not the most wide spread type of eczema, it is still one of the more common types, along with others such as seborrhoeic dermatitis. Much like the article on atopic eczema, this article will be spent going into details about what makes contact dermatitis different from other types of eczema, along with the characteristics and causes.

Before we begin, I’d like to try something a bit different. Below is a video on contact dermatitis, specifically from poison ivy, that you can use as a supplement to the rest of the article.

What is Contact Dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis (can be referred to as contact eczema) is an inflammation of the skin that is caused by either allergens, irritants, or in specific circumstances, a sensitivity to sunlight. Specifically, these three types of contact dermatitis are referred to as allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and photocontact dermatitis respectively. While the symptoms of each are similar, each type of contact dermatitis has its own causes.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is the most prevalent form of immunotoxicity in humans, but between other types of contact dermatitis, it is less common than irritant contact dermatitis. People with a history of allergies are more susceptible to this type of contact dermatitis, and it is caused by having the skin come in contact with an allergen. Well known examples include the oils found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Unlikely allergens include metals such as gold, nickel, and chromium.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis, usually due to the abundant factors found in everyday products that aggravate sensitive skin. Products high in alkaline, such as harsh cleansers and detergents, drain cleaners, and any soap with lye residue are common irritants. Certain types of plants may also be a factor. Other products and chemicals that can cause ICD are latex, kerosene, acetone, turpentine and alcohol. Topical medications and cosmetics may also irritate the skin.

Photocontact Dermatitis

Photocontact dermatitis is quite unusual, as it needs both sunlight and an activator to occur. When this activator (typically a harmless or less harmful substance) makes contact with the skin, only through exposure to ultraviolet light will this trigger a reaction on the skin. Therefore, photocontact eczema only appears in areas that have been exposed to sunlight, and can be effectively cured by avoiding exposure to the sun.

Contact Dermatitis Symptoms

Despite there being three types if contact dermatitis, all the symptoms are similar. You may experience an itching, red rash, blisters, welts, or even hives. Typically speaking, irritant contact dermatitis may have a painful, burning sensation. Allergic contact dermatitis tends to be itchier, but not painful. When an agent of ICD makes contact with the skin, the rash usually appears immediately, but with an allergen, ACD may not appear for up to three days after exposure. Unlike atopic eczema, only the surface of the skin is affected. The skin may take days, if not weeks to heal, but is easily treated by avoiding exposure to the irritant or allergen that began the inflammation.

Prevention of Contact Dermatitis

Unlike other forms of eczema, contact dermatitis is curable, but the difficultly is in knowing what your particular triggers are. Medically speaking, there are multiple factors involved that make distinguishing the differences between each form of contact dermatitis difficult at best. In order to prevent contact dermatitis effectively, you may have to undergo allergy testing. This is not a required procedure, but is available to those who may want more conclusive information. It is advised regardless to seek a dermatologist to test for the type of contact dermatitis you may have at a minimum. From there, you may be able to deduce what the causes are based on products you may have, or the objects you have touched.

If you plan on doing this on your own, we suggest using a journal or a diary to keep a log of daily events. You may be able to narrow down whether you have made contact with a specific plant, chemical, or metal. If you know the name of the product that you have used that may contain an agent, be sure to log that into your journal or dairy, as multiple products that produce similar results may not contain the same agents. Also, note that chemicals sometimes have several other names.

References:

MedicineNet.com for additional general information on contact dermatitis.

Eczema treatment does not need to be an expensive ordeal. In fact, you will find that there are plenty of ways to treat your eczema using items right in your own home. The good news is that even if you don’t have any of these items, you can find most of them simply by visiting your local convenience store. Keep in mind that these home remedies will not cure eczema, and you may want to read a different article for long term eczema treatment.  

What you will find here, though, will do in a pinch, and have been proven to effectively subside the symptoms of eczema. One last important thing to be aware of is that while most of these remedies have been tested, results are still on a case by case basis, and one treatment in particular may not have as much of an effect on one individual as it would for another. You may want to try one eczema remedy at a time, long enough to take notice of any positive results.

How to Stop Eczema Itching

Scratching lesions is one of the worst things you can do, as nothing else will cause the eczema to spread as quickly. Scratching also weakens the skin, leaving you vulnerable to airborne bacteria and infections. More inflammation results in more itching, and more itching would result in endless scratching, leading to the itch-scratch cycle. Let’s talk about ways to break that cycle, or better yet to stop it before it starts. Here are some simple ways to help ease the “eczema itch”.  

• Apply a cold compress to the itchy lesion  
• Take antihistamines to reduce severe itching  
• Keep your skin moisturized. Ways to achieve this include applying ointments such as petroleum jelly, creams or lotions on your skin 2 – 3 times a day. Make sure that the moisturizers you use are free of any chemicals such as dyes, fragrances, scents, and alcohol.  
• Use a home humidifier as a method to keep the skin mosturized  
• For children who are prone to scratching, make sure their nails are always cut short. If they are scratching during the night, have them wear a pair of light gloves.  
• An oatmeal bath will do wonders to relieve the itching. You will want to make sure that you only use raw, unprepared oats. You will need about 4 cups (2 for children), and the oats must be ground into a fine powder by using a blender or grinder. Be sure that the bath water is not too hot, as this may actually aggravate your eczema instead.  

Eczema and Hygiene

While outbreaks of eczema do not correlate to your personal cleanliness, it is still necessary to keep your home and body clean. You might not think that an eczema treatment would include monitoring hygienical habits, but you would be surprised what a few changes will do. Here are a few suggestions:  

• While showering or bathing, you’ll want to limit the amount of time you spend in contact with the water. Short and cooler baths and showers are suggested over longer and hotter baths and showers.  
• Use only enough soap to cleanse your body. Do not use too much soap.  
• Do not harshly scrub your skin, or scrub for a long amount of time.  
• Do not allow your skin to dry out. Use the moisturization methods stated above, such as lotions and creams right after washing. This will retain the moisture in the skin.  
• Dust mite feces not only create breathing complications, but will also aggravate your eczema. Make sure to keep your house free of as much dust as you can.  
• Smoking, or being around second hand smoke is just as bad for eczema as dust, if not worse.  

Other Eczema Remedies

 Here are a few other things you can do to help subdue your eczema.  

• Probiotic yogurt has active cultures that will help you remove toxins.  
• Remember the oatmeal? Not only does it make an effective eczema treatment externally, but it also heals from the inside as well. Oatmeal is rich in fiber and keeps the skin hydrated even after consumption.  
• Stress can aggravate your eczema. Try to reduce the stress factors in your day to day routine.  

Hopefully you’ll find these simple but effective tips useful for controlling your eczema on the spot. Unless you have severe or chronic cases of eczema, there’s no need to buy expensive topical creams at the first sign of an itch. Just remember that eczema treatment begins at home. These remedies are easy to remember, so try to introduce them into your daily routine. Next time, we will take a look into eczema treatments that may take a little more work, but will provide lasting results.

You may be wondering, what is atopic eczema? Afterall, atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema found in people, and is usually the one that is referred to generally by the public and online physicians. Fortunately for you, this article will go into depth about atopic eczema, focusing in only on this particular kind of eczema. Now I must warn you, this article may get a little technical, just stay with me if you can. If you feel your eyes glazing over, just skip to the bottom for a summary.

Atopic Eczema Characteristics

Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronically relapsing and inflammatory, but non contagious skin disorder. The skin of one who has atopic eczema is susceptible to trigger foods, allergens, and other irritants. It often occurs in conjunction with other atopic diseases (atopic, according to Wikipedia, means having a predisposition toward developing certain allergic hypersensitivity reactions). Examples of other atopic diseases include asthma and hay fever. Atopic eczema usually runs in a family with a history of atopic diseases. Though typically found in human children, atopic eczema can also be found in dogs. In some cases, atopic dermatitis is sometimes mistaken for psoriasis, usually in older children and adults.

Atopic eczema usually starts in early childhood (before the age of 5) as opposed to later on in a person’s life. Children afflicted with atopic eczema may “grow out of it”, however. 75% of children show improvement from their symptoms of atopic dermatitis by the time they reach adolescence. Unfortunately, the remaining 25% will continue to have complications throughout their lifetime. In all children, though, you may find that there are periods of time where eczema will breakout, and other times where it will subside, lasting as long as several years. In infants, atopic dermatitis is referred to as infantile eczema, or more informally, baby eczema.

It is not uncommon for atopic eczema to appear in lesions anywhere on the body. However, common areas where it will develop include the hands and feet, as well as the chest, neck, and on wrists and ankles. It may also appear around the eyes, such as on the eyelids.

Atopic Eczema Symptoms

Displays how eczema can vary with age

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis vary from one individual to the next. The more common symptoms will usually reflect an inflamed, red or brownish grey itching rash, and is typically more sensitive than healthy skin. This can develop into raised, painful bumps very quickly. If these bumps are scratched, they cause crusting or oozing, and will only cause the rash to become further inflamed. The skin may also thicken, and appear scaly or cracked. Itching may worsen during the night. If signs of eczema show around the eyes, scratching in this area may create patches of lost eyebrow hair or eyelashes.

Symptoms also vary with age. In infants and young children, eczema may appear on the cheeks, neck, arms and legs as a red, scaling, oozing or crusty rash. Older children will have dry, thick scaly skin which becomes very itchy compared to that found in infants. Adolescents may develop thick, dull colored leathery rashes around or on the face, neck, hands, fingers, feet and toes.

Atopic Eczema Causes

There are several possible causes of atopic eczema. It is often inherited, but there are also factors that may cause its aggrevation. These causes may be related to the following.

Allergies

Usually found in people with a family history of allergens, or who have these themselves. Such allergies include asthma, hay fever, and allergic conjunctivitis. It may be influenced by negative reactions in the immune system, such as stress and fatigue.

Food Triggers and Food Allergies

What a person consumes as part of their diet may be a link in what aggravates their eczema. Common food triggers include nuts, acidic fruits, eggs, milk and cheese, wheat, shellfish and artificial additives.

Histamine Intolerance

Foods that contain histamine are another subset of trigger foods different from those found in a typical food allergy. These foods include cheese, eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, shellfish, alcohol and fermented foods. 33% of those with atopic eczema see their symptoms improve simply by cutting out foods that contain histamine.

Microwave Radiation

Cell phones and microwave ovens are linked to an increased risk of eczema. those who are electrohypersensitive will develop an increased amount of mast cells within the skin. Mast cell activation will occur in children with eczema as well.

Topical Steroid Creams

The use of the creams that were meant to heal can in fact make the eczema worse. When this occurs, by ceasing to use the same treatments, those afflicted with eczema will find that they actually begin to heal.

Other aggravations include cigarette smoke, dry skin, dust, sand, low humity, sweating, and Staph infection. Conditions can be made worse by using harsh irritants such as detergents and cleansers, wool clothing, and even taking long baths or showers.

Biological causes of eczema include Epidermal Barrier Dysfunction and genetics.

A Summary about Atopic Eczema

Let’s go over the key points of atopic eczema once more. Previously, we took a look at the characteristics, symptoms, and causes related to atopic eczema. Here’s what we know:

• Atopic eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis.
• It is a familial disease, and usually occurs alongside other atopic diseases.
• It usually occurs in infants and young children under the age of five.
• 75% of children affected with atopic eczema will show signs of improvement beyond adolescence.
• It usually appears as a red, inflamed and itchy rash.
• Scratching inflamed sores may cause crusting or oozing, and will worsen the condition.
• Symptoms of eczema differ from person to person, and varies with age.
• It can be aggravated by foods, allergies, topical steroid creams and microwave radiation among other factors, including cigarette smoke, dust, stress and fatigue.

You now know just about everything you really need to know about atopic eczema. Do any of the causes and symptoms seem familiar to you? While we always recommend seeing a dermatologist, we’ll also provide you with information on eczema treatment and solutions. But I think this article has run long enough. Keep reading along, and stay smart about eczema.

References:

PubMed Health for the clarification of some causes.

This may or may not come as a surprise to some of you, but some of the things that you eat could actually be a factor in what causes eczema! To clarify, there aren’t any foods that will give you eczema just by eating it, but they may aggravate it if you already have a history of eczema conditions such as atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. If you’ve read or heard something like this before from your doctor, or even from a news source, then you may have a general idea of what foods are known to cause a reaction. But did you know there are foods and supplements that can actually prevent eczema from breaking out? If you knew that treating your eczema could be as simple as changing what you eat, wouldn’t you do it? 

How eczema relates to your diet is what this article is all about. You will find that eczema treatments or “eczema cures” don’t always require expensive gels and creams, but can start at home just by watching what you eat. As you read on, you will learn about which foods to eat and which ones to avoid in a relatively simplistic eczema diet. Remember that each individual is different, and that common trigger foods that cause a breakout in one person may not cause one in another. This is why we highly recommend keeping a food diary, and taking notes on a daily basis on what you eat, and how it effects your body. 

Common Food Triggers

Although everyone is different, in most cases, the following foods and substances are identified with causing a breakout of the skin: 

• Dairy products, usually from cow’s milk, including various cheeses.
• Wheat products, including anything and everything that contains wheat, such as foods baked with wheat flour.
• Acidic fruits such as oranges, cranberries and blueberries.
• Seafood, which usually pertains to shellfish like oysters and mussels, but may also include scaly fish.
• Eggs, and anything that is cooked with eggs.
• Corn, and any corn based product such as corn sugar or corn syrup.
• Soy and soy products are also known to be a trigger of eczema.
• Nuts, such as cashews and almonds, and foods casually grouped with nuts, such as the peanut.
• Food additives, such as MSG and sodium glutamate, food preservatives, and artificial colorings can also trigger a breakout.

Elimination of Trigger Foods

The next step to take is to start your own personal eczema diet by eliminating the foods that may contain one or more of these products. When a trigger food is consumed, some people may experience an immediate breakout of eczema within two hours. A delayed response may as long as a full day. This makes finding the foods that trigger eczema in you based on a lot of trial and error. If you notice an aggravation in your eczema, take out your food diary, and begin to list the foods that you have consumed within the past 24 hours. Keep in mind that they may have been a different cause of inflammation during this time, such as contact with an irritant or even the weather, and if you know these things to cause breakouts on your skin, be sure to make a note of it. 

After you have made your list, compare it to the list of common food triggers above. Do any of the them match? Or have you had any products what were prepared with one ingredient or the other? Now is the time to start to cut out the trigger foods one by one, and keep a record of your progress. After a certain time, you will have to reintroduce the foods you have cut out back into your diet to clarify if it was your personal food trigger. If you notice your body recovering from the breakout, or breakouts, and after reintroducing a particular trigger food, conditions begin to worsen, then you have found your trigger food, and it is necessary to cut this out of your diet. 

Natural Eczema Treatment In Your Diet

We brought you the bad news, or which foods can cause an aggravation of your eczema. Now it’s time to bring up some good news. There are some foods and supplements you can find at your grocery store, whole foods store or even health food store that can act as a natural remedy for your eczema. One such product is probiotic yogurt, or yogurt with active cultures. These cultures found in yogurt boost your immune system, and help cleanse your body of toxins. Fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C (but are not acidic fruits), such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, are known to work much like an antihistamine that reduces the irritants found in eczema.

Foods high in essential fatty acids help prevent breakouts of food related eczema. A common supplement that people take for their eczema is fish oil, which has the essential fatty acids people need. However, it is clinically proven that people who are deficient in essential fatty acids tend to have more problems with eczema than those who are not, so it is better to include these foods into your diet overall, as opposed to a single supplement. When shopping for your typical groceries, you should also buy organic. You may have been told this for numerous other reasons, but when it comes to eczema specifically, by buying organic, you reduce the risk of outbreak by eating foods with additives or synthetic compounds. Along with your essential fatty acids, it would be a good habit to continue to buy fresh organic foods where you can, and foods that have been minimally modified otherwise.

If your baby has eczema, it is absolutely important that you take care in treating your child. Just like eczema found in adults, it is important to first understand how eczema is developed, what can cause potential irritations, and the specific type of eczema that your child may have. While this article is designed to help educate you on your child’s eczema (sometimes referred to as baby eczema), remember to see a specialist if you require further assistance, or if it appears that symptoms worsen.

Atopic Dermatitis: The Common Form of Baby Eczema

Baby with atopic eczema

Atopic dermatitis (known as atopic eczema) is the most common type of eczema, and this is especially true in infants. Usually when you see eczema and baby eczema brought up in general topics and questions, it refers medically to atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is typically a chronic, familial disease, and may occur in relation to other atopic diseases such as asthma and hay fever. Infants afflicted with baby eczema tend to show lesions particularly on the face and scalp, but patches can occur anywhere on the body. These lesions will appear as an oozing, crusting rash in infants, but as the child grows older, the rash tends to become dryer.

Most cases of baby eczema improve once the child grows into adolescence; only 25% of these children will continue to show complications throughout adulthood. For the time being, however, you must be sure that you or your baby do not irritate any rashes when it can be avoided. If your child scratches the rash, the skin becomes inflamed and extremely sensitive, causing further susceptibility towards irritability. Irritants, or some of the causes for atopic dermatitis in babies include diet, allergens, temperature, chemicals (such as those found in harsh soaps and detergents) and even through breastfeeding.

Foods that have high levels of histamine, such as cheese, yogurt, tomatoes, fish, and fermented foods such as soy have high levels of histamine. If your baby has histamine intolerance, it is recommended that you change their diet and find foods that can provide the nutrition that your baby needs. Allergen prone foods, such as nuts cheese, wheat, corn, and corn syrup are also linked to breakouts.

A temperature related rash will occur when sweat and heat build up in a sensitive area. This is a common cause of diaper rash found in babies, which is a related type of eczema. A soiled diaper, combined with the sweat from your baby and the heat can cause an infection. Remember that your baby’s skin is extra sensitive compared to an adult, so you must keep your baby clean whenever possible.

Be aware that breastfeeding is proven to help prevent the development of allergic disease in infants, but if you or the baby’s mother happen to maintain a diet that would trigger outbreaks in the baby, such as allergens or histamine, then the effects are still passed along to the child. Also, parents or other adults should be wary when it comes to smoking around infants. While this is a health hazard all on its own, it can also be detrimental to babies with eczema who have dust allergens.

Cradle Cap: Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in Babies

Baby with cradle cap

Have you ever heard of cradle cap, either directly in relation to your child or indirectly? You may be wondering what that is, and you may even know that it is a type of eczema. You might even lump it into the same generalized category when people use the term baby eczema. However, be warned not to make that mistake! So what is cradle cap, exactly?

Cradle cap is actually a form of Seborrhoeic dermatitis in infants. It typically occurs in infants younger than three months old, and is typically non severe. Infants with cradle cap appear to have a crusty, scaly, yellow and sometimes greasy rash on the scalp, and sometimes appears around the ears and eyebrows or eyelids. The cause of cradle cap is not bacterial, nor does it come from allergens, and as stated by online health website WebMD, does not indicate that your baby is not being cared for. Being a form of seborrhoeic dermatitis, the cause it typically a fungal infection, or overactive sebaceous glands. It may also occur due to a deficiency in biotin, or excessive amounts of vitamin A. 

In most cases, cradle cap will resolve itself in just a few days, without any treatment needed. However, if conditions worsen, or if the baby has other fungal infections or immunity disorders, it is advised to consult a doctor. Because it is often difficult to tell what specifically caused the cradle cap, medical advice should help bring clarity and peace of mind.

As with anything in life, understanding a problem is the first step toward resolving it. The information you have just read should give you an idea on the difference between general baby eczema and cradle cap (remember, these two terms may be used synonymously, but refer to two different skin conditions), what may be the cause of eczema in your baby, and how to reduce the irritants. While the eczema is non contagious, it is imperative that you maintain good hygiene for both you and your baby. If you know your baby has food allergies or intolerances, change your baby’s diet. It’s the small changes that will add up in the end, leaving you with a healthier baby.

Before you can understand what causes eczema, you must first realize that the term eczema is used in a very broad way. In fact, there are several different types of eczema.  In order to understand what causes eczema to flare up, you must first learn the difference in the types of eczema. The most common forms of eczema include atopic dermatitis (also referred to as atopic eczema), contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and xerotic eczema.

Eczema Causes Found in the Most Common Types of Eczema 

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, and is mostly hereditary. There is a strong correlation to those who have atopic dermatitis and families who have a history of asthma. Despite being common, there is no clear answer to what causes it. However, flare ups can be linked to allergens and dust mite feces. Being exposed to microwave radiation from sources such as cell phones and microwave ovens can make a person more susceptible to allergen related irritants. Histamine intolerance has also been linked symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

Contact dermatits occurs when the skin comes in contact with an foreign substance or allergen, forming a rash. Causes of contact dermatitis can be linked to the use of harsh soaps, detergents, and cleaning products. Check to see if these products have high amounts of alkaline. Contact with plants may also cause irritation, especially those from the Toxicodendron genus. Specifically speaking, these plants include poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is what typically occurs on the scalp, face, and torso. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is linked with dandruff, and is typically dry and flaky in appearance, There may be several factors of what causes seborrhoeic dermatitis, the most common being fungal. However, other factors can be traced to genetics, your environment, hormones and your immune-system. Stress and fatigue can also cause seborrhoeic dermatitis to worsen, as well as illnesses and a general weakened state of health. People that suffer from a neurological disorder, have had a stroke, or have an immunodeficiency are also prone to seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Finally, xerotic eczema is a type of dermatitis where the skin becomes so dry, itchy, and cracked that it forms into eczema. It tends to worsen during very dry winter seasons. This type of eczema is commonly found in the elderly. It is typically caused by a lack of moisture in the skin.

How Does This Apply to Eczema Treatment?

When you understand the different types of eczema, you can pinpoint the causes. Understanding the causes is what will aid you in treating your eczema. Contact a dermatologist to find out what triggers your eczema, and use proper preventive measures where applicable. You can find out more about what you can do to treat your eczema by following the appropriate links on this site. We offer different solutions to eczema treatment that will best suit your needs.

Eczema is classified as a chronic form of dermatitis. Generally speaking, however, dermatitis and eczema are used to describe the same thing, which is an inflammation of the skin. The term eczema itself is broad, as it includes several different kinds of skin conditions that do not all have the same causes. In fact, there are a number of factors can cause eczema to occur for one kind of eczema, but they may not cause an outbreak for other forms. Most forms of eczema are characterized by symptoms of the crusting and flaking of the skin, redness, blistering, oozing, and in more severe cases, bleeding. Lesions may also be itchy, but scratching the lesion only scrapes away the healing skin, and further irritates the inflamed skin, which is what leads to spreading.  

What is the Most Common Type of Eczema?

The most common type of eczema is atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. When you hear of most clincal cases of eczema, its conditions, and how to treat it, whether in news reports or television advertisements, it is often referring to atopic dermatitis. However, it is best not to assume that this may this the same type of eczema you or someone you know may have. That is why it is advised to get a clear diagnosis of your skin condition by a trusted physician or dermatologist.  

Statistically, 1 or 2 out of 10 children born in the United States have atopic eczema. Of those children, 75% of them will show improvement by the time they reach adolescence, and may even grow out of it entirely. The other 25%, however, will continue to have problems with eczema for the rest of their lives, from mild but chronic cases to more severe complications.  

Eczema and Your Body

Diagram of eczema on the skin.

Let’s take a closer look into what is going on in your body when you have eczema or any other type of dermatitis. First of all, when you have healthy skin, the top most layer of your epidermis is made up of a thick collection of dead skin cells. Do not be alarmed, as this is a natural thing. This layer prevents infection and bacteria from entering into the body from the outside, as well as retains moisture inside.  

So when you have eczema, what happens is that your skin becomes inflamed, and the top layer of skin begins to break, forming the flakes that you may notice. When the skin breaks, it no longer retains moisture, leading to dryness. Having dry and broken skin opens the doors for bacteria, chemicals, dust and allergens to enter into your body, and when infected, can lead to further changes in the skin such as blistering, scaliness and redness. Often times the sore will become itchy, and as stated previously, scratching he sore only irritates the skin further, which makes the itching worse. This is what is called the itch-scratch cycle.  

What Are the Other Types of Eczema?

Other than atopic eczema, it is to your advantage to learn a bit more about other types of eczema. Common types of eczema include contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and xerotic eczema. Some of these conditions may be more prevalent in certain age groups. Less common forms of eczema include dyshidrosis, discoid eczema, venous eczema, neurodermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, and autoeczematization.  

Some forms of eczema may even be the result of other diseases and infections. Because this is only an overview about what eczema is, most, if not all of these specific forms of eczema may be touched upon in full detail on a later date.  

Coping With Eczema

There is no cure for eczema, but you can treat it. Eczema Treatment Help will provide information to you about available eczema treatments, which include natural eczema treatments. It is also recommended that you consult your physician before attempting any self treatments. Eczema may prove to be difficult to live with at times, but it should not discourage you.  

Living with eczema can sometimes be hard on the self esteem. It is important to continue to live your life, as it should not be what stops you or loved ones from participating in the activities that so many others do. Remember that eczema is not contagious, so do not be afraid to interact with others. Eczema Treatment Help’s goal is to serve you better in getting you the knowledge you want to know, and should know, about eczema, and we are here to help you in any way that we can. 

References: 

www.wikipedia.org for the classification of eczema.