ECZEMA

INTRODUCTION

Eczema spells a chronic skin disorder that causes inflammations and rashes on the epidermal areas. It generally invades skin surfaces such as face, neck, elbows, and knees.
Eczema is also known as Atopic dermatitis. Nevertheless one usually refers to Atopic dermatitis as one kind of Eczema. The targeted treatment for this allergy is to combat the symptoms especially itching, and to recede the spread of the rash which is thought to be an allergic response to the skin inflammation. The causes of this allergy are as yet in the process of constant research.
Agents thought to be the cause of this disease, are the environmental interactions and genetics. More sensitive the immune system, greater is the incidence of eczema. On the other hand genetics relates to a family tree of allergies.

AGENTS:

Factors that are believed to cause eczema are:
· Contact with irritants such as some soaps, lotions and woolen garments.
· Interaction with allergens like dust mites, pollen, etc.
· Allergic reaction to fumes and chemicals. These are usually given the name of workplace chemicals as they are generally native to factories, industries and offices.
· Allergy to certain food items such as milk, eggs and wheat also provocate eczema. Statistics reveal that over forty percent of all children suffering from eczema have some kind of food allergy.
· Climatic changes, sudden temperature changes, harsh winters with low humidity, etc. aggravate the chances of dryer skin and hence greater itchiness.
· Emotional disturbances and frustrations also tend to promote the symptoms of this allergy.

Symptoms:
The area of affected skin, the extent of scratching and the presence of secondary infections decide the extent of the symptoms.
These usually include persistent itching, especially at night. Repeated scratching leads to formation of rashes. There are three categories into which rashes may be classified:
· The rash can be categorized as oozing fluid or crust. This kind of rash is called acute oozing rash.
· The rash may also be red and itchy. Of the long lasting variety this form of rash is dry and scaly too and is known as sub-acute rash.
· If the rash remains tough and thick, from constant scratching, it is called Lichenification

ECZEMA AND CHILDREN:

The chances of a child contracting eczema is sixty percent if either parent suffers from eczema. If both parents are infected, the chances rise to eighty percent.
Fifty percent of the children suffering from eczema develop the first symptoms within one year of birth, and thirty percent contract it between the ages one and five. Eighty percent of all children suffering from eczema contract asthma or allergic rhinitis.

TREATMENT:
The following are a few treatment options:
· Avoiding all possible allergens and irritants inclusive of soaps, perfumes and scratchy clothing.
· Resisting the need to itch or scratch.
· Hydration of dry skin through proper bathing techniques and use of lotions that are anti-allergic
· Coal tar preparations may help soothe the itching. However, such treatments need to be prescribed by a certified doctor and not experimented with.
· There is no surgical treatment for eczema.

SUMMARY:

Eczema is an allergy that can be prevented and combated by developing simple techniques of hygiene. It can generally be detected at a very early stage and hence eradicated by heeding to the doctor’s prescriptions.

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