Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) is an inflammation of the skin. It results in itchy, red, thickening and scaling skin eruptions. The dominant symptom is itching, which can be severe. Eczema is not contagious. The most common type of eczema is called atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction. Eczema is often very itchy and when you scratch it, the skin becomes red and inflamed. As many as 15 million people in the United States have some form of eczema. It occurs in adults and children, but most often appears on babies. You are more likely to have eczema if you have a family history of the condition. Eczema can be triggered by just about anything coming in contact with the skin. It occurs in atopic people, who are extra sensitive to skin irritation. Dry, flaky skin appears over red, inflamed areas, causing intense itching and burning. Eczema is a very common condition, and it affects all races and ages, including young infants. About 1-2 percent of adults have eczema, and as many as 20 percent of children are affected. It usually begins early in life, even before asthma or hay fever. Most affected individuals have their first episode before age 5 years. For some, the disease will improve with time. For others, however, eczema is a chronic or recurrent disorder. Although it can occur just once, it usually occurs on and off throughout life, or lasts the entire lifetime. Eczema can be a difficult, frustrating condition. The natural human desire to scratch or rub an itchy rash just makes the condition worse, and treatments can be slow and are not always completely effective.
Eczema is a general term for rash-like skin conditions. There are different types of eczema. The most common type is atopic eczema. In this type of eczema there is a typical pattern of skin inflammation which causes the symptoms. The word ‘atopic’ describes people with certain ‘allergic’ tendencies. However, atopic eczema is not just a simple allergic condition. People with atopic eczema have an increased chance of developing other ‘atopic’ conditions such as asthma and hay fever. Eczema can affect any part of the body. In infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. After “what is eczema”, the most common question we are asked is “what causes eczema.”
There may be many causes which can lead to eczema, but the exact cause of eczema is not known till now. Some forms of eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema. Changes in the weather, or even psychological stress for some people lead to outbreaks of eczema.
Find common causes and risk factors of Eczema:
Sign and symptoms may include the following:
Treatment may include:
No related posts.