Eczema, a skin condition that can negatively affect quality of life as the patches are exposed to the external environment and are visible to the eye, can have many causes and there is no definitive cure. But there are some treatment methods that can help reduce the symptoms. The question “What is eczema?” can help you attain a better understanding of the condition. Eczema is a common skin condition that causes dry and itchy patches and sometimes infection of skin. The condition can cause excessive itching at times, which is referred to as flare-ups and needs investigation of underlying causes.

What causes eczema?

Several factors can cause eczema, including:

●                  Immune system: If you have eczema, your immune system overreacts to small irritants or allergens (triggers) in your environment. When you contact a trigger, your immune system assumes that these small irritants are foreign invaders, like viruses. As a result, the triggers activate your body’s natural defense system. Your immune system’s defense is to create inflammation, causing symptoms of eczema on skin.

●                  Genes: You’re more likely to have eczema if there’s a history of eczema or dermatitis in your family. You’re also at a higher risk of eczema if there’s a family history of asthma.

●                  Environment: There’s a lot in the environment that can irritate your skin. Some of the simplest examples include exposure to smoke and harsh soaps. Low humidity and dry air can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. Prolonged exposure to heat and high humidity can make your eczema even worse.

●                  Emotional triggers: Negative emotions such as stress, sadness, anxiety, depression could affect the health of your skin, which can cause a flare-up of eczema symptoms.

What are the symptoms of eczema and what does it look like?

Although the symptoms of eczema can be different for each person, there are some typical symptoms. No matter which part of your skin eczema affects, eczema often presents as itching. The itching sometimes starts before the rash. Typical symptoms of eczema include:

●                  Dry skin,

●                  Itchy skin,

●                  Skin rash,

●                  Thick, leathery patches of skin,

●                  Flaky, scaly or crusty skin,

●                  Reddening, swelling.

During flare-ups, these symptoms can appear all over the body. In adults, the symptoms usually happen on the face, the backs of the knees, wrists, hands or feet, and the skin may look dry and thick. In fair-skinned people, these areas may appear reddish at the start and then turn brown. In darker-skinned people, eczema can affect skin pigments, making the affected area lighter or darker. In infants, eczema rash can lead to a crusting condition mainly on the face and scalp. Newborn babies can show symptoms within the first few weeks or months after birth for some types of eczema, or after 4 months of life for others. Children and teens usually have a rash in the bends of their elbows, behind their knees, or on their necks, wrists, or ankles. The rash can turn scaly and dry.

Eczema can look different on different individuals. For those with darker skin, the rash can be purple, brown, or gray. If you have a light skin tone, the rash can look pink, red, or purple. While less common, eczema can also occur on nipples, breasts, vagina, or penis. One of the most frequently asked questions about eczema is whether eczema is contagious. The answer is no. This skin condition does not spread through person-to-person contact.

What are the complications of eczema?

Eczema can lead to skin infections from scratching or cracking, which can break down the skin’s barrier against bacteria and other germs. Complications with eczema can include some or all of the following:

●                  Asthma or hay fever (before or after eczema diagnosis),

●                  Food allergies,

●                  Changes in skin color,

●                  Skin infections,

●                  Sleep problems due to itchiness.

If you experience any of these complications caused by eczema, it is important for your health to consult a specialist doctor.

What are the types of eczema?

There are several types of eczema. Although they are all similar, there are some differences. The types of eczema can be listed as follows:

●                  Atopic dermatitis: This is the most common form of eczema. It can be triggered by other allergic disorders, such as asthma and hay fever, and often starts in childhood.

●                  Contact dermatitis: It happens when your skin comes into contact with something that causes a rash. Triggers are unique to each person and vary depending on the type of contact dermatitis. Irritant dermatitis is the more common kind and triggers may include soaps, detergents, and skin care products. Allergic dermatitis, on the other hand, can be triggered by poison ivy, latex, fragrances and beauty products. For some people, it takes sunlight to cause a reaction.

●                  Dyshidrotic eczema: This is a less common but more challenging form of eczema. It causes outbreaks of tiny blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sides of the fingers.

●                  Neurodermatitis: This type of eczema tends to cause intense itchiness often on the back of the neck, arm, or leg. Some mental health issues, including anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), can also trigger it. It is most common in women between 30-50 years of age.

●                  Nummular eczema: This coin-shaped eczema often appears after a skin injury such as a burn or insect bite or it can accompany other types of eczema.

●                  Seborrheic dermatitis: This type of eczema happens in areas of the body with lots of oil glands. When it’s on the scalp, it’s called dandruff. 

●                  Stasis dermatitis: This type happens in people who have poor blood flow, usually in their lower legs. Being overweight or not getting enough physical activity can raise the risk of stasis dermatitis.

What causes eczema flare-ups?

Some people can have flare-ups in response to specific things, such as:

●                  Fabrics or clothing,

●                  Makeup, skin care products,

●                  Environmental physical or chemical pollution factors such as smoke, dust, etc.

●                  Soap, detergent,

●                  Stress,

●                  Allergen contact,

●                  Sweat,

●                  Animal fur.

People with eczema should also pay attention to food allergies. Consuming allergenic food can cause flare-ups.

How to prevent flare-ups?

Although there is no definitive cure for eczema, there are some practices that can alleviate symptoms. As with other diseases, steps should be taken to prevent recurrence after treatment. Some home remedies that can be practiced include use of moisturizers. Put on a moisturizer right after you take a bath has been shown to be more effective. If you want to learn more about the right moisturizer or if home remedies do not help your eczema, you should consult a specialist doctor.

Apart from moisturizers, you can add finely ground oatmeal to a lukewarm bath to keep your skin hydrated. Oatmeal contains starches that seal in moisture and help block irritants. When your eczema is flaring, you can soak some gauze in cool water and put them on your skin. The coolness will relieve itching. You should to your doctor before using wet wrap therapy. If you do it too much, it can cause an infection in your skin. If you experience flare-ups due to stress, you can try to reduce your stress with relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.

Some foods can cause inflammation in the body. An unhealthy diet consisting of red meat, processed meat, fried foods, added sugar, trans fats and junk food can often be inflammatory. You can try to avoid this type of harmful foods.

How to treat eczema?

The primary goal in eczema treatment is to ease and prevent itching, which can lead to infection, and to heal lesions that have already formed. Your doctor may also prescribe creams and ointments with corticosteroids to ease inflammation. If the area becomes infected, you’ll probably need antibiotics. Other options include tar treatments that contain chemicals that reduce itching. Corticosteroid-free topical creams may also be prescribed for mild to moderate eczema. These creams change the immune system's response to prevent flare-ups. They reduce inflammation and itching. It is advisable to talk to your doctor to find the treatment that works best for you.

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9998-eczema

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/atopic-dermatitis-eczema

https://www.healthline.com/health/atopic-dermatitis/severe-eczema-treatments