Eczema is a relatively common skin condition, but a terribly frustrating one to treat. However, it doesn't have to be. Dr. Schultz explains how to treat eczema. www.dermtv.com Become a fan on facebook www.facebook.com
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Eczema in Babies - How to Treat Them
Very little of the literature for new mothers addresses eczema in babies. After all, eczema doesn't fit in with the picture of the dewey, glowing baby all new parents imagine. Eczema in babies is fairly common though, and not too difficult to understand and treat.
Eczema is dry, scaly, itchy skin that appears irritated. Although not contagious, eczema can become infected if scratched. Infants can develop eczema almost anywhere, but behind the knees and elbows, and on the face, neck and belly are the most common sites. Eczema in infants tends to become crusty and weepy.
Treating your baby's eczema can be relatively simple. Since eczema tends to rob the affected skin of moisture, keeping the skin adequately moisturized is the most important aspect of treatment. Limiting baths to two to three a week helps to keep the skin moist, and using a very mild soap like Aveeno, Dove or Cetaphil is important. Avoid anything with perfumes or dyes. Pat the skin dry, never rub, and immediately apply a thick moisturizer. Aquaphor and Eucerin are often recommended, but any mild, unscented, thick lotion will work.
Many doctors recommend that lotions be applied four or five times daily to help keep the skin moist.
If the skin is irritated and red, a mild topical steroid like 1% hydrocortisone cream may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce inflammation. Many doctors and parents advocate putting socks or mittens over a baby's hands to keep them from scratching affected skin.
Eczema should be carefully monitored for signs of infection. Any open, weeping or warm areas should be immediately treated, and your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to keep the infection under control.
Although often very frightening for new parents, eczema in babies can be managed with careful monitoring and constant moisturizing. Fortunately, many babies grow out of eczema by age five with no long lasting effects.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Eczema Skin - How to Stop Scratching the Itchy Rash
One common characteristic of people with eczema skin is that the red inflammation, bumps and patches are very itchy. Scratching an itch seems instinctive and we do this often unconsciously when we have mosquito bites and dry skin. When there is an eczema dermatitis problem, alternatives to scratching are very important. This is especially something necessary for working with children suffering from this skin condition. A child's impulse control is much weaker than an adult's and children often pick at scabs, peel dry skin and are fascinated with any imperfection. If you are using a cortisone cream, apply this at a different time of the day than the moisturizer.
The first line of defense for itchy eczema eruptions is to be sure that during tough times an antihistamine is taken. At night, this will allow for sleep and help the body keep up it's immune system. If you or your child has an allergic reaction causing the rash and patches it is important to strengthen your immune system. During the day there are milder antihistamines that won't cause drowsiness which can be taken and are useful for the steadiness and focus needed for work and school.
Moisturizing with coconut oil, aquaphor, olive oil and other emollients is important to treat dermatitis. Be sure to put this on after a bath or shower before the skin has a chance to dry out. Hot water can dry the skin so take care the water you use is warm instead. Oatmeal baths are gentle on the skin and will also give a few hours of itch relief. There are products on the market with oatmeal or you can design your own using rolled oats. Avoid using anything abrasive on the skin and after the shower or bath put on cotton clothing. Wool and other fabrics can be scratchy and irritate raised skin problems.
Practice slow breathing taking ten to fifteen seconds to inhale. Hold or suspend the breath for ten seconds and then slowly exhale for ten to fifteen seconds. This has a calming effect on the mind and helps cultivate clarity. You can teach this to your child if your child has a problem with atopic eczema or another form of dermatitis.
Cold compresses can be used throughout the day. Coolness feels good on the skin and will help to relieve the reaction response. Avoid too much sun and keep a food journal of ingredients that may be causing an allergic reaction. Taking these steps will help the eczema skin heal, avoid a bacterial infection due to scratching and allow the body to heal.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Eczema Creams
Skin dryness is common in eczema. Using moisturizing lotions alone may not suffice to keep skin adequately hydrated; creams or ointments that lubricate the skin may be needed instead. Creams and ointments are both heavier than lotions, and act by creating a seal over the skin, thus preventing the loss of water. Skin lubricants should be used every day, and applied all over the body for maximum effect. They should be applied within three minutes of bathing, and after a steroid cream if one is also being applied. Some brands of lubricant creams are Eucerin, Lubriderm and Cetaphil. For more severe dry skin, ointments such as Aquaphor can be used.
Steroid creams are one of the most common treatments for eczema. They act by reducing the local inflammatory reaction that occurs in skin affected by eczema, and therefore offer relief against itching. While milder steroid creams are available over the counter, stronger ones are available by prescription and should only be used under direct medical supervision. Steroid creams should not be used in children unless prescribed by a doctor, and then only for the shortest possible time at the lowest effective strength. This is because steroids can interfere with growth, disrupt normal hormone levels and cause skin thinning and permanent damage. With stronger steroid creams, it is important to taper off their use gradually, as directed by a physician.
Elidel and Protopic are two creams that act as immune modulators, or drugs that suppress the body's immune system in some way. Both these creams have recently been linked to certain skin cancers and to lymphoma, and the US Food and Drug Administration has asked their manufacturers to place warnings on their labels. While these creams are very effective in treating eczema, they should be used with caution, and only in more severe cases.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Cures For Eczema on Hands
Having Eczema on any part of your body can be annoying, but having it on your hands because you use them all the time can be extra annoying. This article will look at some of the cures for eczema on your hands that you can try right at home to help relieve the pain and itching.
Firstly though I need to be honest and let you know that currently there is no medical cure for eczema. But that doesn't mean that you can't clear up any symptoms you have because you can. And any time in the future that you get another outbreak you can use these remedies to clear up your eczema fast.
Ok, so let's get to it.
Most of the time eczema on your hands (atopic hand dermatitis) is due to something you've touched or come into contact with. Usually that's soap, detergents or some sort of chemical. Add to that contact wetting and drying of the hands and you are left with that annoying red itchy rash. That's why it's much more common for new mom's and hospital workers to have it because they are constantly washing them.
If you can find the source of the problem then all you need to do is eliminate touching or using that product, but this is often harder said than done. And of course it may be more than one product as well to make things even more difficult to determine the cause.
Anything that you can do to help improve your immune system such as eating healthy, mild exercise and living a stress free lifestyle will help your body heal itself.
Keeping your hands out of water as much as possible can also really help, as can keeping your hands constantly moisturized. There are many good over the counter products that are specifically made for eczema prone skin or dry sensitive skin which includes the Aquaphor range of creams and ointments.
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Saturday, December 3, 2011
Dry Skin NYC - (212)-644-9494 - NYC Dry Skin
www.dryskinnyc.org (212)-644-9494 Dry Skin Highlights Moisturizers Skin Care Dry Skin Dry skin, also referred to as xerosis, is often itchy and irritating. Dry skin results from the loss of oils (sebum) in the skin that serve as a natural moisturizer. This may occur with excessive bathing (particularly with hot water), low humidity (in desert climates or cold winter weather), advancing age, or the use of drying soaps (antibacterial, deodorant soaps, Ivory). In addition, several skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, lead to dry skin. The tendency for dry skin runs in families and is usually a recurring problem, especially in winter. Because of this seasonal occurrence, it is sometimes referred to as "winter itch." It is important to regularly apply a moisturizer when your skin becomes dry. Moisturizer is best applied within 3 minutes after a shower or bath when your skin is still damp, but not wet. Use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturizers. The drier the skin, the "thicker" the moisturizer should be. For some people with very dry skin, petrolatum (Vaseline) is quickly absorbed and may be required to sufficiently moisturize the skin. Other effective moisturizers that are readily available include: CeraVe Cetaphil Eucerin Aquaphor In severe cases, your doctor may recommend a urea- or lactic-acid-based product.
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