Eczema (Dermatitis) is a skin disease that occurs on the skin as a result of an allergy or stress and is common among the public.
Although this disease is not dangerous, it causes discomfort in terms of appearance.
Eczema can be controlled with simple prevention methods.
Especially in winter, cold air and low humidity, water, soap, detergent, dusty places and some chemicals are on the list of causes of eczema.
What Will We Learn?
What Are The Symptoms Of Eczema?
Eczema disease, which is very common in the society and can occur due to various reasons, generally shows the same symptoms in all sick people. Some of these symptoms are listed below:
- Dry skin
- Itching
- Bubble formation
- Skin crusting and flaking
- The rash
- Inflammation
- Dandruff on the scalp
- Skin cracking
What Causes Eczema?
Genetic factors, allergies or different chemical materials used may play a role in the development of eczema.
The causes of formation may also vary according to different types of eczema.
Water, soap, detergent and other chemicals to be used and dusty places create a suitable ground for the development of eczema.
Workers in the cleaning market, housewives and hairdressers are the most common groups with eczema.
In addition, if there is eczema of allergic origin, even a small amount of contact with the allergen can cause eczema.
Eczema caused by chemicals does not go away as long as the contact with the chemical continues.
One of the areas where eczema, which has different types, affects the body the most, is the hands.
Eczema on the hands often occurs as a result of the decrease or disappearance of the biological defense capacity of the skin.
Factors such as water, soap, detergent and dusty environment wear out the skin.
Items such as bleach, which are indispensable for frequent hand washing and cleaning, also prepare the ground for the formation of eczema.
Eczema is most commonly seen on the upper part of the hand and forearm.
What Are The Types Of Eczema?
There are different types of eczema that lasts throughout life. These species are listed below:
Atopic Eczema
It is thought that a combination of immunological, genetic and environmental factors play a role in the formation of atopic eczema.
Atopic eczema is seen as a host in infancy and childhood.
The discomfort, also called baby eczema, may alleviate or completely disappear during the adulthood of the individual.
But eczema has a repetitive feature. In infants, eczema develops on the face in the first 12 weeks and then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs.
Atopic dermatitis can be observed in the inner parts of the joints, arms and legs in childhood.
Atopic dermatitis can be observed in the inner parts of the joints, arms and legs in childhood. In adulthood, it can be seen in the body areas listed below:
- On the eyelids
- In the ear
- On the nipples
- In the inner parts of the joints
- In hands
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic eczema, the cause of which is unknown and chronic, often appears in areas where the skin is oily. These regions are listed below:
- Percent
- In eyebrows,
- On the cheeks,
- On the sides of the nose,
- In the beard,
- In the middle of the chest,
- On the scalp,
- In the ears
Asteatotic Eczema
This type of eczema is more common in older people.
It can be seen after frequent bathing, a decrease in the amount of fat in the upper layer of the skin, or atopy.
It is more common especially in winter due to increased dryness.
It usually manifests itself on the front of the legs, arms and trunk.
It causes a cracked appearance on the skin, itching, dryness and rash.
Contact Dermatitis
It is an acute or chronic disease that occurs against substances and factors that the skin is sensitive to.
Continuous exposure of the skin to substances and factors that suppress its protective oils causes contact dermatitis.
It is very important to be careful about some substances and factors that trigger eczema in contact dermatitis.
- Cleaning agents,
- Cosmetics,
- Perfumes,
- Nail varnish,
- Industrial substance contact,
- Hair dyes,
- Toothpaste,
- Chewing gum,
- Shoe and foot sprays,
- Pants zipper,
- Metal buttons,
- Temporary tattoos
Nummular Eczema
Nummular eczema, which is commonly observed on arms, legs and hands, is the name given to itchy lesions in the size of a coin and may be present in large amounts.
The disease has a chronic course and is observed more frequently in young adults and elderly people.
Lesions of nummular eczema occur as a combination of small bumps called papules and vesicles.
In its acute phase, it causes redness, leakage and crusting.
It is also possible to have an infection that triggers nummular eczema.
Stasis Dermatitis
It is a type of eczema that is very common in elderly and standing people. In addition, gravitational eczema can be observed in people who have given birth.
It develops with the appearance of varicose veins in the lower parts of the legs and the irregularity of blood circulation.
Due to the accumulation of blood in these areas, the amount of pressure in the veins increases and this can cause damage to the skin. The following symptoms occur in the legs:
- Dryness
- Itching
- Water collection
- Redness
As eczema becomes more chronic, dark spots on the skin, hardening of the skin, and then ulcers can occur.
What Is Good For Eczema?
The measures to avoid eczema or to make the attack periods lighter can be listed as follows:
- Care should be taken not to scratch or irritate the eczema spot.
- The place you stay should have sufficient heat and humidity.
- The environment should be ventilated frequently.
- The frequency of bathing should vary according to the season. It is necessary to take care to take a bath every other day.
- Soft fibers and washcloths should be used, and baths should not be made with boiling water.
- The use of neutral soap should be preferred.
- A moisturizer should be used after the bath.
- To prevent eczema, immunity should be strengthened.
- Hands should be moistened frequently.
- Hands should be washed with warm water and dried.
- Gloves should be used while cleaning.
- In winter, woolen clothes should not be in direct contact with the skin and should be worn over combed cotton or underwear.
- Items that trap dust, such as woolen or fleece carpets and blankets, should especially stay away from the room where they sleep.
- Stress should be avoided as much as possible.
- Raw vegetables and fruits, meat, and fish products should not be touched with bare hands.
- Attention should be paid to a healthy and balanced diet.
- An adequate amount of water should be drunk throughout the day.
- The eczema diet prescribed by the physician should be followed.
How Is Eczema Treated?
When eczema complaints occur, a dermatologist should be consulted.
Although there is no definitive treatment for eczema, the key point in the treatment of eczema is to avoid eczema.
By consulting a specialist, and following the precautions and prohibitions, complaints due to eczema are reduced. In the treatment of eczema, the following treatment methods are used in addition to cortisone:
- Drugs that suppress the immune system,
- Wet dressings,
- Local corticosteroid pomades
The doctor may prescribe the following products to reduce the frequency of attacks and strengthen the skin:
- Neutral soaps,
- Barrier creams
- Humidifiers,
- Eczema gloves,
- Eczema shampoos
Frequently Asked Questions About Eczema
What Causes Eczema To Start?
The biggest triggers for the onset of eczema are soaps and detergents, including shampoo, dishwashing liquid and bubble bath.
Other causes are cold and dry air, humidity and more specific things like dust mites, pet fur, pollen and molds.
How Do I Get Rid Of My Eczema?
There is no permanent cure for eczema. Some children have eczema completely, while others continue to experience flare-ups and remissions of eczema for a lifetime.
What Foods To Avoid If You Have Eczema?
Foods that may aggravate your eczema are listed below:
- Cow’s Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Soy
- Gluten
- Fish
- Citrus Fruits
- Tomatoes
- Canned Foods
Is Vaseline Good For Eczema?
Vaseline (petroleum jelly) uniquely locks in moisture and can provide relief in the eczema area.
In addition, petroleum jelly is well tolerated and is a good choice for sensitive skin.
Is Sun Good For Eczema?
If you have eczema, direct exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun can relieve symptoms such as itching and redness and prevent the rash from spreading.
You should talk to your doctor about how long you should stay in the sun, because excessive sunlight can cause serious problems on your skin.
Why Is Eczema Worse At Night?
During the day, our bodies produce a natural anti-inflammatory called cortisol, without us even realizing it. At night, these cortisol levels decrease. This causes eczema to flare up even more at night.
How Long Does Eczema Take To Heal?
Although childhood eczema improves with age, chronic eczema usually lasts a lifetime and occasionally flares up. Acute eczema is known as short-term eczema. It can be the result of skin sensitivities after coming into contact with an irritant. Acute cases only last a few weeks.
What Happens If You Leave Eczema Untreated?
If eczema is not treated, the itching of the skin will increase. The itching becomes so intense that sometimes you may even have trouble sleeping. Significant increases in skin redness occur in some types of eczema.
Can Eczema Spread By Touch?
No, eczema is not contagious, nor is it related to a lack of hygiene. This applies to all types of the disease: atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, chronic hand eczema and pregnancy eczema. Eczema is not contagious when you shake someone’s hand or kiss their cheek.
Does Drinking Water Help Eczema?
Yes. Eczema can occur with dry skin in some cases. For this reason, doctors recommend that people with eczema consume plenty of water.
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