What is ECZEMA?
Eczema, or dermatitis, is a group of skin conditions, which can affect all age groups. In the United States, up to one fifth of all children of school age have eczema, with about one in twelve of the adult population. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Eczema is not contagious. The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. It is believed that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment, which are harmless to others. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by a blood circulatory problems in the legs.

What to do about your Eczema:

Decrease stress:
As stress can exacerbate eczema, learn how to recognize and cope with stress. Practice stress reduction techniques. Changing your activities to reduce daily stress can be helpful. Give yoga a try. One or two sessions of yoga a week can reduce the stress level dramatically. Aerobic exercise is beneficial as well; just be sure to take a warm shower after exercise to wash away sweat.

Determine which things irritate your skin and avoid contact with them:
Most common irritants include: household cleaners, detergents, aftershave lotions, soap, gasoline, turpentine and other solvents. Avoid lanolin in skin lotions. Do not use over-the-counter ointments that contain benzocaine or antibiotics. Have a patch test: sometimes allergies may exacerbate eczema so having a skin allergy test performed by dermatologist may determine what you are allergic to.

Determine which foods make your condition worse and eliminate them from your diet:
Sometimes, but rarely, a food allergy can exacerbate your eczema. Eggs, milk, cheese, shellfish, chocolate, peanuts, soy, potatoes, and the glutens found in wheat, oats, rye and barley are common allergenic foods.

Moisturize your skin regularly:
Moisturizers keep your skin soft and supple; they prevent skin from cracking. Avoid perfumed moisturizers and moisturizers with a lot of extra ingredients. Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) is a good, non-agressive moisturizer.

Wear cotton clothes:
Wool and some synthetic fabrics can irritate your skin. Most people with sensitive skin feel better in clothes made of cotton. Wear cotton pajamas and sleep between cotton sheets.

Care for your skin in and after shower:
Shower rather than bathe. If you do bathe, make sure the water is not too hot, and make it as quick as you can. Use only a small amount of mild soap, such as Dove or Oil of Olay. Soaps and wetness can cause skin irritation; if eczema effects your hands wash your hands only when necessary. Dry your hands after you wash them. Apply a moisturizer to your skin immediately after drying: this helps to seal in the moisture and restore the skin barrier function.

Wear gloves to protect the skin:
If you have to work with water or any substance that can irritate your skin, wear cotton gloves and on top of them vinyl or plastic gloves (cotton gloves will absorb sweat). Wear gloves outside during the winter to prevent skin from drying. If it itches bad, wear gloves on your hands at night so you don't scratch yourself raw.

Try not to scratch when it itches:
Scratching can break the skin, which leaves it prone to infection. Manage the itch: repeated use of moisturizers, anti-histamines, gentle soaps or non-soap cleansers and prescription creams can help.

Avoid getting too sweaty and hot:
Avoid activities that make you hot and sweaty: too much sweat and heat irritates the skin and makes it itchy.

Eat more natural oils:
Natural oils have anti-inflammatory properties and are good for the skin. Visit a health store and pick up supplements of borage oil, fish oil or primrose oil. Eat fatty fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel at least twice a week.

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