ECZEMA TREATMENT

A variety of things can contribute to cause eczema. Most commonly, the main cause of eczema is a general allergy of sensitivity (www.medinfo.co.uk). This results in atopic eczema and is associated with asthma and hay fever. Eczema can also result from skin contact with a substance that irritates the skin. Substances such as laundry detergents, soaps, diesel or engine oils, strong chemicals, cleaners, etc. commonly cause skin inflammation for individuals with eczema. Upon contact, the immune system reacts and will cause the skin to become inflamed, irritated, and very sore. Varicose veins can also cause eczema. This form of eczema affects the lower legs of individuals with poor circulation. Some foods have also been known to cause eczema. This varies from person to person. However, if the individual has an idea what the problem food may be, doctors advise them to remove the food from their diet and watch for any improvement. Emotional factors and stress levels can also aggravate eczema. If an individual is upset, the body and face often become red, itchy, and hot. A high stress level can also cause eczema to flare up. Eczema follows a course with many ups and downs, particularly associated with seasons and stress (Hall 80). It can be possible to control or minimize your eczema by identifying and isolating those triggers that are the cause of your eczema or cause your eczema to worsen during an outbreak.

To keep skin healthy, it is better to avoid long baths. It was once thought that cutting down on all baths was important. Now we know that long baths and soaps are the problem for most eczema sufferers. When the skin prunes, this disrupts the moisture-retaining layer of sensitive skin.

Aim for frequent, brief baths, in lukewarm water, and use a small amount of very mild cleanser, such as Cetaphil, Dove or Neutrogena, or better yet, don't use any unless you are particularly dirty. These brief baths will hydrate the skin, not dry it out. A few people with eczema can't tolerate baths at all and need to be cleansed with Cetaphil liquid, a water-free cleanser for people with sensitive skin. Use the liquid cetaphil sparingly as it can cause dryness of the skin with overuse.

Apply a moisturizing lotion to the affected areas as least twice a day. Apply the moisturizer immediately following the bath, while the skin is still damp. Use a product like Eucerin, Lubriderm, Alpha Keri, Moisturel, Aquaphor, Curel, or Vaseline. This will keep the skin moist and help protect the skin from other irritants. A humidifier for the room can also help prevent the skin from getting too dry.

In the midst of an inflamed cycle, cortisone cream can be very helpful. It is not recommended for everyday use. Use the mildest form of cortisone that will break the cycle. On the face, an over-the-counter strength cortisone cream, such as Cortaid or Hydrocortisone, will usually be sufficient. Do not use anything stronger than the over-the-counter cortisone, unless prescribed by her pediatrician. Once the cycle is broken, gradually reduce, then stop, the cortisone over one week to prevent rebound.

You can help minimize inflamed patches of eczema, but the skin will remain sensitive until you outgrow the condition.

The first step in treating eczema is to identify the precipitating event or trigger and avoid it if possible! You may not see an immediate improvement, but if you are going to successfully treat eczema, it is important to break the cycle! Here are some tips:
Avoid situations that will make you sweat -- don't pile on blankets.
Cut cows' milk, eggs, citrus fruits, and peanut products from your diet.
Wash clothes in a laundry detergent made for sensitive skin, such as Dreft Laundry Detergent.
Avoid dressing in wool or any other harsh material (cotton is excellent).

By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MDon Thursday, March 10, 2005

The FDA is warning doctors to prescribe two popular eczema treatments with caution after concerns over a possible cancer risk associated with their use.
The two creams, Elidel and Protopic, will also soon carry the FDA's strongest "black box" warning on their packaging to alert doctors and patients to these potential risks. The warning advises doctors to prescribe short-term use of Elidel and Protopic only after other available eczema treatments have failed in adults and children over the age of 2.
At a meeting last month, the FDA's Pediatric Advisory Committee reviewed research in animals that linked Elidel and Protopic to an increased risklinked Elidel and Protopic to an increased risk of skin cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In those studies, the risk of cancer increased as the dose of the drugs increased.
Research presented at the meeting also linked Elidel and Protopic to about 25 cases of cancer in adults and children who used the drugs.
The FDA has also received reports of serious adverse events in children under the age of 2 who were prescribed the drugs, although they have not been approved for use in children in this age group.
Elidel was approved in 2001 and Protopic in 2000 to treat adult eczema,eczema, which is an inflammatory condition of the skin affecting about 15 million Americans, 20% of whom are children. The condition causes dry, red, itchy skin that can blister or develop scaly patches.
Since their approval, the FDA estimates that more than 12 million prescriptions have been written for Elidel and Protopic. Both drugs are applied to the skin to control eczema by suppressing the immune system and are viewed as an alternative to the steroid-based drugs cuwrrently used to treat eczema.
Research to Examine Cancer-Eczema Link Underway
The FDA says manufacturers of Elidel and Protopic have agreed to conduct research to determine whether there is an actual risk of cancer in humans, and, if so, its extent.
The FDA's warning advises doctors to weigh the risks and benefits of these drugs in adults and children and to consider the following:
Elidel and Protopic are approved for short-term and intermittent eczema treatment in people who have not responded to or are intolerant of other eczema treatments.
Elidel and Protopic are not approved for use in children younger than 2 years old. The long-term effect of Elidel and Protopic on the developing immune system in infants and children is not known. In clinical trials, infants and children younger than 2 years of age treated with Elidel had a higher rate of upper respiratory infections than those treated with a placebo cream.
Elidel and Protopic should be used only for short periods of time, not continuously. The long-term safety of these products is unknown.
Children and adults with a weakened immune system should not use Elidel or Protopic.
Use the minimum amount of Elidel and Protopic needed to control the patient's symptoms. The animal data show that the risk of cancer increases with increased exposure to Elidel or Protopic.

A home-based treatment using oral medications and a portable tanning unit seems to reduce the symptoms of hand eczema as effectively as treatments done in hospitals, says a Dutch study in the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology.

Usually the first symptom of eczema is intense itching; this itching can be very uncomfortable and individuals may tend to scratch the skin. The itchy feeling is an important symptom in eczema, because scratching and rubbing in response to itching worsen the skin inflammation characteristic of eczema. Scratching should be avoided because it can only make the eczema symptoms worse. The dry skin will become redder in color and may even crack due to scratching. Scratching may also lead to infection. It is a good idea, therefore, to keep fingernails cut short and to keep the hands occupied during the day in order to control the urge to scratch. The urge to scratch symptom becomes a repetitive cycle: the more you scratch, the more it itches

Eczema runs its course through three distinct phases: acute, sub acute, and chronic. Symptoms associated with the acute stage of eczema include pain, heat, tenderness, and possible itching. The affected areas are characterized by extreme redness and drainage at the lesion site .The sub acute phase of eczema includes symptoms associated with skin redness and crusting; however, there is no extreme swelling. People in the sub acute phase tend to complain about the symptom of itching more than the pain. Individuals with lesions developed over three months are referred to as having chronic eczema. Itching is a predominant symptom in this phase as well and scratching causes the lesion to worsen. Individuals with atopic eczema will find that their symptoms tend to worsen in the winter months due to decreased humidity in the home or office.