Are You Turning Scaly

HAS YOUR SKIN TURNED RED AND SORE AND YOU FEEL ITCHY LIKE CRAZY? And you know you haven't been near poison ivy or even don't have chickenpox! But still, you chew your fingernails down to the quick just so you won't scratch until you bleed! Don’t dip down in depression for turning into a monster movie. You suffer from ECZEMA. Dr Sheilly Kapoor Consultant Dermatology Medanta the Medicity tells all about this scaly skin concern. Read to know.

What is Eczema

In Greek means “to Boil”. It broadly encompasses skin conditions that cause the skin to suffer from recurring redness, skin edema (swelling), and you feel itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding most of the time. Areas of temporary skin discoloration may also appear.

Identify the Causes

The exact cause of eczema in unknown but is linked to an over active response by the body's immune system to an irritant. In addition, it is more common in persons with a family history of other allergies/ asthma.

 Some types of eczema can occur as a result of single (irritant contact dermatitis) or repeated (allergic contact dermatitis) exposure to irritants / allergens. The common allergens include detergents, animal dander, objects containing nickel like coins, buttons, jewellery and eyeglass frames etc. Upper respiratory infections or colds may also be triggers. Stress may cause the condition to worsen.

Seasonal changes can affect eczema badly especially in children. However, flare-ups often occur in winter months when the air is drier. Dry hair combined with heating in some houses can cause the skin to dry out and lead to eczema.

Eczema can get aggravated by dryness of the skin. So keeping the affected area moisturized can promote skin healing and relied of symptoms. Other drugs with can be used for eczema include topical (tacrolimus and pimecrolimus ) and systemec (cyclosporine, azathioprine and methotrexate) immuno suppressents.

  

Are you at risk?

Genetic Factors: Parents who suffer from allergic disorders, including eczema, asthma, and hay fever have a higher risk of having children with eczema.

Environmental factors such as skin irritants, including wool or synthetic clothing, soaps or detergents, cosmetics or perfumes, dust/sand, chemical solvents, chlorine triggers eczema. Other conditions that aggravate the disease includes extreme temperates(cold or hot temperatures or dry air or extremely humid air), and lack of moisturizer after bathing, etc. Other allergens that also trigger eczema includes plant pollen, animal dander, household dust mites, molds, and certain foods

Age factor: The risk is greatest for infants and children. It is estimated that of people who eventually develop eczema, 65% of patients develop symptoms in the first year of life, and 90% develop symptoms before age 5. The condition often improves in adulthood, but 50% of those affected in childhood are affected throughout life.

Obvious Treatments

Lifestyle wise: Eczema can be controlled and not cured. Growing out of atopic eczema with age and avoiding the allergens causing atopic eczema are the only situations where it is considered to               be cured. Otherwise controlling the condition with some lifestyle modification with or without medication is the answer. Here are few recommendations to stay well with eczema:

• Maintain a regular bathing and moisturizing schedule.
• Avoid wearing wool or other rough fabrics which can irritate the skin.
• Dressing in layers is preferable as to much clothing may cause swelling and increase itch.
• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist and prevent the skin from getting dry.
• Moisturize well and repeat at regular intervals.

 However, specifically in warmer months, it is important to stay cool as sweating causes itchiness and make the symptoms of eczema worse. Wear loose fitting cotton clothes cotton allows the air to circulate better and helps to absorb body moisture this helps to keep the body cool and dry. Also it is good to lessen activities that cause a lot of sweating esp-during hot hours of the day. Lastly protect your skin from the sun.

Medication wise:  There is no known cure for eczema; therefore, treatments aim to control the symptoms by reducing inflammation and reducing itching. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment.  To treat mild to moderate eczema steroid cream eg. Hydrocortisone may be used for a week; while in more severe cases a higher potency steroid eg. clobetasol propionate is recommended. However, in extreme severe cases, oral on injectable corticosteroids is needed. Although they bring rapid relief but at times shows greater side effects. It can be controlled on an average in 2-3 weeks in majority of cases.  For itch relief, antihistamines are combined.     

                                 

Dietary restrictions You can avoid flare-ups by restricting eatables like eggs, fish, peanuts and soya. However, this is very individual and should be discussed with your health care provider. Try to eliminate cigarette, alcohol, caffeine, saturated fats and preserved foods from the diet. Eat more fiber-rich food. Drink plenty of water and take fruit juices like orange.

What to wear with eczema

 Fabric not fashion should be the deciding factor. Cotton is currently one of the most commonly recommended fabric for people with eczema but a specially treated silk (Dermasilk) has shown good evidence to become the fabric of choice for eczema. Wool, nylon and other synthetic fibres have frequently been shown to irritate eczema, so it’s good to avoid these materials.