Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Eczema Medications
The following medications are most commonly used to treat eczema:
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine which is used to help decrease the amount of itching. These medications may cause drowsiness. Some new antihistamines are also available that do not cause drowsiness;
Topical steroid creams used to help to decrease the inflammation in the skin, thus decreasing the itching and swelling. Many topical steroids in various strengths are available. Steroids, if overused, are potentially damaging to the skin.
Other options include oral antibiotics; oral cyclosporine designed to suppress the immune system; phototherapy; topical immunomodulators which are a new class of drugs for the treatment of eczema. These drugs are used topically to alter the immune response.
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine which is used to help decrease the amount of itching. These medications may cause drowsiness. Some new antihistamines are also available that do not cause drowsiness;
Topical steroid creams used to help to decrease the inflammation in the skin, thus decreasing the itching and swelling. Many topical steroids in various strengths are available. Steroids, if overused, are potentially damaging to the skin.
Other options include oral antibiotics; oral cyclosporine designed to suppress the immune system; phototherapy; topical immunomodulators which are a new class of drugs for the treatment of eczema. These drugs are used topically to alter the immune response.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Treatment Tips for Eczema
Treatment tips for eczema are like opinions; there are many of them. One obvious tip is to stay away from substances that cause reactions. Keep the skin as healthy as possible.
When bathing, use soaps that are not harsh to the skin.
Do not use any cortisone products that contain steroids. Steroid-bases products are known to have many side effects and should be avoided.
Diet is very important. Some common foods known to contain allergens that can aggravate the body are daily products such as milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Eggs should be avoided. Crustacean meat should be greatly reduced or avoided altogether. Lobster, shrimp, squid, prawns, clams, oysters, and other crustaceans can cause allergic reactions. Salmon should also be avoided.
Calcium supplements and color dyes, especially Yellow #5.
Additional allergens are products containing NutraSweet. Mushrooms sometime cause reactions for eczema sufferers and should not be eaten. Hot, spicy foods can cause intestinal inflammation which can cause outbreaks of eczema.
When bathing, use soaps that are not harsh to the skin.
Do not use any cortisone products that contain steroids. Steroid-bases products are known to have many side effects and should be avoided.
Diet is very important. Some common foods known to contain allergens that can aggravate the body are daily products such as milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Eggs should be avoided. Crustacean meat should be greatly reduced or avoided altogether. Lobster, shrimp, squid, prawns, clams, oysters, and other crustaceans can cause allergic reactions. Salmon should also be avoided.
Calcium supplements and color dyes, especially Yellow #5.
Additional allergens are products containing NutraSweet. Mushrooms sometime cause reactions for eczema sufferers and should not be eaten. Hot, spicy foods can cause intestinal inflammation which can cause outbreaks of eczema.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Avoiding Winter Dry Skin
The cold air outside and the dry heat inside combine to rob skin of its natural moisture, causing skin to become dry, scaly and itchy. Dry skin is most common among older people, whose skin is thinner and has fewer productive oil glands. Dry skin also can exacerbate skin problems such as eczema.
Here are a few tips to help you stop the winter itch:
Wash with warm water. Hot water is one of the worst offenders because it dissolves the skin’s natural oils. Use lukewarm water for bathing and hand washing.
Avoid soap. Soap is even worse than hot water, because it removes all of the natural oils on the skin’s surface. You can clean the skin effectively with plain water, according to Jacob Dijkstra, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist. "The only thing soap does that water doesn’t is remove oil—and that’s exactly what you want to keep," Dr. Dijkstra says. "It’s fine to use soap in the groin area and under the arms, but people with dry skin should avoid using it on the rest of the body."
Moisturize. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer within three minutes after a shower or bath, to seal in the moisture your skin absorbed while bathing. It’s best to buy moisturizers without fragrances or lanolin, because some people can develop sensitivities to these ingredients. However, the brand name doesn’t matter, according to Dr. Dijkstra.
Here are a few tips to help you stop the winter itch:
Wash with warm water. Hot water is one of the worst offenders because it dissolves the skin’s natural oils. Use lukewarm water for bathing and hand washing.
Avoid soap. Soap is even worse than hot water, because it removes all of the natural oils on the skin’s surface. You can clean the skin effectively with plain water, according to Jacob Dijkstra, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist. "The only thing soap does that water doesn’t is remove oil—and that’s exactly what you want to keep," Dr. Dijkstra says. "It’s fine to use soap in the groin area and under the arms, but people with dry skin should avoid using it on the rest of the body."
Moisturize. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer within three minutes after a shower or bath, to seal in the moisture your skin absorbed while bathing. It’s best to buy moisturizers without fragrances or lanolin, because some people can develop sensitivities to these ingredients. However, the brand name doesn’t matter, according to Dr. Dijkstra.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
DISCOID OR NUMMULAR ECZEMA
Discoid eczema, also called nummular eczema or gravitational eczema is usually found in adults and appears suddenly as a few coin shaped areas of red skin; normally on the trunk or lower legs.
It may look similar to ringworm. These areas become itchy and can weep fluid. Usually discoid eczema is treated with emollients (and steroid creams if necessary).It can be considered as an adult form of atopic eczema. It can be complicated by a bacterial infection which causes weeping and crusting.
The word "nummular" comes from the Latin nummus, meaning coin, and is characterized by round plaques of eczema. Eruptions of nummular eczema are often recurrent and chronic and usually appear in people who are in their 60s but can occur at any age.
The cause of nummular eczema is not known, but it usually occurs in cold weather and is most common in people who have dry skin. Hot weather and stress can aggravate this condition.
Other aggravating factors include:
Fabric softeners
Allergies
Soaps and detergents
Wool clothing
Bathing more than once a day.
Nummular eczema most commonly appears on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy.
Neurodermatitis most commonly appears as scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch that becomes intensely irritated when scratched. Minor skin injury such as an insect bite or a burn may trigger an outbreak.
Discoid eczema can affect any part of the body particularly the lower leg. It may be termed "varicose eczema" when it runs along the leg veins and result in gravitational eczema. One or many patches appear, and may persist for weeks or months. They can be several centimeters across, or as small as two millimeters. The skin between the patches is usually normal, but may be dry and irritable.
Discoid eczema may be extremely itchy, or scarcely noticeable. When the patches clear, they may leave marks for some weeks or months which are darker or sometimes paler than the normal skin tone. Discoid eczema does not run in families, and unlike atopic dermatitis, it is not associated with asthma. It does not result from food allergy. It is not infectious to other people, although it sometimes becomes secondarily infected by bacteria.
As this type of eczema often starts off as a minor skin injury, protect all your skin carefully. If the hands are affected, use gloves and tools to make sure the skin is not irritated by friction, detergents, solvents, other chemicals or excessive water.
An eruption may begin with one or numerous round red plaques with tiny overlying blisters. The plaques often enlarge to several centimeters with clearly marked edges, and overlying scale may be prominent.
Swelling and oozing occur in newer lesions and itching can be mild to severe.
Coal-tar salves can help relieve symptoms of nummular dermatitis that have not responded to other treatments, but these ointments have an unpleasant odor and stain clothing. Antibiotics are important if the dermatitis is weeping, sticky or crusted. Sometimes nummular dermatitis clears completely on oral antibiotics, only to recur when they are discontinued.
It may look similar to ringworm. These areas become itchy and can weep fluid. Usually discoid eczema is treated with emollients (and steroid creams if necessary).It can be considered as an adult form of atopic eczema. It can be complicated by a bacterial infection which causes weeping and crusting.
The word "nummular" comes from the Latin nummus, meaning coin, and is characterized by round plaques of eczema. Eruptions of nummular eczema are often recurrent and chronic and usually appear in people who are in their 60s but can occur at any age.
The cause of nummular eczema is not known, but it usually occurs in cold weather and is most common in people who have dry skin. Hot weather and stress can aggravate this condition.
Other aggravating factors include:
Fabric softeners
Allergies
Soaps and detergents
Wool clothing
Bathing more than once a day.
Nummular eczema most commonly appears on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy.
Neurodermatitis most commonly appears as scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch that becomes intensely irritated when scratched. Minor skin injury such as an insect bite or a burn may trigger an outbreak.
Discoid eczema can affect any part of the body particularly the lower leg. It may be termed "varicose eczema" when it runs along the leg veins and result in gravitational eczema. One or many patches appear, and may persist for weeks or months. They can be several centimeters across, or as small as two millimeters. The skin between the patches is usually normal, but may be dry and irritable.
Discoid eczema may be extremely itchy, or scarcely noticeable. When the patches clear, they may leave marks for some weeks or months which are darker or sometimes paler than the normal skin tone. Discoid eczema does not run in families, and unlike atopic dermatitis, it is not associated with asthma. It does not result from food allergy. It is not infectious to other people, although it sometimes becomes secondarily infected by bacteria.
As this type of eczema often starts off as a minor skin injury, protect all your skin carefully. If the hands are affected, use gloves and tools to make sure the skin is not irritated by friction, detergents, solvents, other chemicals or excessive water.
An eruption may begin with one or numerous round red plaques with tiny overlying blisters. The plaques often enlarge to several centimeters with clearly marked edges, and overlying scale may be prominent.
Swelling and oozing occur in newer lesions and itching can be mild to severe.
Coal-tar salves can help relieve symptoms of nummular dermatitis that have not responded to other treatments, but these ointments have an unpleasant odor and stain clothing. Antibiotics are important if the dermatitis is weeping, sticky or crusted. Sometimes nummular dermatitis clears completely on oral antibiotics, only to recur when they are discontinued.
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