As we have approached Eczema Awareness Month, it is important to understand what this skin condition is, its symptoms, and possible treatments so that people could detect it early on and better understand those that suffer from this condition daily. Eczema is a skin condition that affects more than 30 million Americans across the country. This inflammatory skin condition can be humiliating as it is readily visible and conspicuous. So, what exactly is eczema?
Eczema is an umbrella term that is often used to refer to skin that has become red, itchy and inflamed or otherwise known as a rash. There are six common types of eczema, which include the following: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. Despite its alarming appearance, eczema is common and manageable, although it is important to note that this skin condition can range from mild, moderate, to severe.
A common misconception is that eczema is contagious. Although researchers haven’t been able to identify a specific cause to eczema, they can verify that it is not contagious. Typically, eczema can be reduced to genetics and environmental factors. When individuals with eczema have immune system triggered, the skin cells don’t act accordingly and thus cause eczema to flare up. Although there is no real cure to eczema, there are common treatments that can be applied to help manage it.
Some of the treatments include over-the-counter remedies, prescription topical medications, phototherapy, immunosuppressants, and biologic drugs. There are also natural alternative treatments such as coconut oil, sunflower oil, cardiospermum, and topical vitamin B12. The severity of the eczema will warrant different treatments, but generally speaking, an effective way to reduce the redness and itchiness is to maintain the affected area moisturized.
If you or someone you know is worried about having eczema, here are some general descriptors of what eczema causes: dry and red inflamed skin, extreme itching, dark colored patches of skin, rough and scaly patches of skin, oozing or crusting and swelling. Each eczema case is unique; for instance, you may experience only one or two of these symptoms while someone else may experience all of them with more severe flare-ups. Despite the circumstance it is important to have a doctor look at the infected area for a proper diagnosis.
