Eczema Treatment and Research

The diagnosis of eczema can be made more difficult by the similarity of other skin conditions to eczema such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, and rosacea. And to make treatment more challenging, all of these skin conditions have various sub-types that make the final diagnosis and effective treatment more complicated.

If your skin condition is located in the facial area, you may be suffering from rosacea, acne, and seborrheic dermatitis, atopic, or contact eczema. Understanding the differences in these conditions can make the treatment of your skin condition more effective. Making this process even more difficult is the fact that you can actually suffer from more than one skin condition at a time.

The many symptoms that mimic eczema and the many skin conditions with symptoms similar to eczema can make the diagnosis of eczema difficult.

Eczema is used to describe all kinds of red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, thickened, and itching skin conditions. Eczema is associated with dry, rough, red, itchy, skin dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.

Atopic dermatitis is related to asthma and hay fever-type allergies, and is often seen in early childhood. This type of acne-related condition is characterized by a speedy distribution of reddish irritation that can be prickly, swollen and erupted. The eyelids, neck and hands are most commonly affected in adults.

Perioral Dermatitis is an acne-like inflammation generally consists of small red bumps or even pus bumps and mild peeling as the skin is extremely aggravated. Perioral dermatitis is often aggravated by fluoridated or tartar-control toothpaste, chapstick, the ingredients in lipstick, and mouthwash. It is also believed that topical steroids, residue from asthma inhalers t containing steroids, cinnamon, cosmetics, and even moisturizers contribute to perioral dermatitis.

Light sensitive Eczema that is caused by sunlight is rare. If it happens it is likely to occur on the face, hands and arms. Using high SPF factor sun creams can treat it. Sometimes this eczema can be caused when people are taking medication that reacts to sunlight e.g. antihistamines and arthritis medications. Ingredients in soaps and cosmetics may also cause this.

Milia sometimes referred to as milk spots or oil seeds, are benign, keratin-filled cysts that can appear just under the skin. These little white bumps, or milia, are keratin-filled cysts, or simply little globs of protein under the skin. Milia can be mistaken for stubborn acne whiteheads.To reduce creating milia around the eyes, use eye creams with the least amount of ingredients possible to avoid irritating the delicately thin eye area. Also, gently touch the eyes and avoid rubbing the eyes vigorously so as not to damage the skin

In its classic symptoms rosacea is patchy flushing (redness) and inflammation, particularly on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the mouth.

The butterfly rash of lupus can also lead to a mis-diagnosis of eczema. A common symptom of lupus includes a red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks, which can be mistaken for rosacea.

Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms.

The International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation

Our skin is often perceived as the window to who we are. It is only human to judge others by their appearance; therefore we are often identified by our skin condition or imperfections, or even the color of our skin. The largest human organ isn't the liver, the kidneys or the lungs; it's the skin. Our skin is our front line protection against the outside world. The skin guards our internal organs against sunburn, dirt, bacteria, and other dangers. As our body's largest organ, the skin is also the first to react to change. A number of factors can affect the skin.

The mission of the International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation is to gather in one place information pertinent to eczema and psoriasis and to make the information helpful and easy to read and implement. The information provided has been found on in medical books and the web, and Dermatological Journal articles about the 156 various forms of dermatitis, and the 10 major terms describing eczema, and the six major terms describing psoriasis. Many dermatologist intermix the terms of eczema and psoriasis. We do not provide medical advice as you should always consult your dermatologist to diagnose the symptom that you are experiencing.

Eczema-Ltd: Understanding and Treating Eczema Craquele

Eczema Craquele is often worse in winter and appears on the legs, arms, and hands. Asteatotic eczema is characterized by dry, cracked, fissured skin and redness. Large dry scales may form on the skin giving a "crazy-paving" appearance to the skin. Asteatotic eczema may be triggered by soap remaining on the skin after a bed bath. Fair-skinned, sensitive or elderly people who bathe a lot in hot showers or tubs are at risk to develop Asteatotic eczema. Using a good moisturizing routine and switching from soap to a cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin such as Neutrogena transparent facial bar for dry skin formula - fragrance free, Dove that has been known for years for use on sensitive skin, Cetaphil moisturizing gentle cleansing bar for dry, sensitive skin can alleviate it. Steroid creams are generally best avoided because the underlying skin is already very thin and delicate.

Molecules in Skin Link Eczema and Asthma

In a study appearing in the May 19 in the journal PLoS Biology, research as shown below indicates that skin conditions such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and rosacea are in fact triggered as a result of an immune system response. A substance secreted by eczema-damaged skin might trigger asthma in children, U.S. researchers suggest. The theory comes from a study of mice with an eczema-like condition, which suggested that early treatment of eczema and inhibition of the trigger substance might help prevent asthma.

An estimated 50 percent to 70 percent of children with severe eczema (known as atopic dermatitis) develop asthma, compared with about 9 percent of children in the general population. In the United States, about 17 percent of children have eczema, although not all cases are severe.

The progression from eczema to asthma is called the atopic march. "Over the years, the clinical community has struggled to explain atopic march," Raphael Kopan, a professor of developmental biology and dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and an author of the study, said in a news release from the school.

"So, when we found that the skin of mice with an eczema-like condition produced a substance previously implicated in asthma, we decided to investigate further," Kopan said. "We found that the mice also suffered from asthma-like responses to inhaled allergens, implicating the substance, called TSLP, as the link between eczema and asthma."

The researchers found that TSLP (thylmic stromal lymphopoietin) is secreted by damaged skin to alert the body that the skin's protective barrier has failed. TSLP activates an immune response that fights invaders. "We are excited, because we've narrowed down the problem of atopic march to one molecule," Kopan said. "We've shown that skin can act as a signaling organ and drive allergic inflammation in the lung by releasing TSLP. Now, it will be important to address how to prevent defective skin from producing TSLP. If that can be done," she said, "the link between eczema and asthma could be broken."

Over the counter acne treatments are often too strong and strip the skin of its protective barrier layer causing the skin to produce more oil as to repair and replenish the protective barrier destroyed by contact with harsh chemicals often found in acne treatments.

The skin is a protective barrier between our body organs and outside bacteria, pollution and disease. In fact it is a complex system of action and reaction. When TSLP (thylmic stromal lymphopoietin) is secreted by damaged skin to alert the body that the skin's protective barrier has failed, the TSLP activates an immune response that fights invaders. Skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, and eczema partially result from an overly acidic body and skin. The pH (potential of hydrogen) as you remember from your high school general science or chemistry class, ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. As you think of your past rosacea history, you will see that all the rosacea triggers have come from 'acidic triggers' regardless of whether they are foods, drinks, stress, or lack of breath due to not enough oxygen (oxygen is an alkaline) and inability to exhaust enough carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide is acidic). We all know that if we hold our breath for 30 seconds or 60 seconds, we will all notice that our face turns pink or red. We all know, but hardly think that the cause is a build up of carbon dioxide which is an "acidic" gas and we have a shortage of oxygen. Very similarly, when we exercise for too long and become aerobic, we have a build up of lactic acid which is burned muscle and fat tissue (and obviously acidic) which results in more eczema redness.

Introducing Eczema-Ltd

Eczema-Ltd is dedicated to helping you to find new and novel ways to treat and control your eczema!

Eczema-Ltd, is a patented topical skin conditioner invented by a team of Eczema Researchers with 40 years of collective research led by a Johns Hopkins MD with continuing training at Harvard Medical Center - Beth Israel Deaconess & Massachusetts General, and the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. Now for the first time, there have been discovered new confirmed eczema research facts about Eczema's Cause / Etiology or "Cure".

It is important to treat the specific cause of your eczema, and the aggravating factors in as many ways as possible. One way to treat your eczema is behavioral with positive lifestyle changes such as better eating habits and reducing stress. Another way is by eliminating contact with environmental factors which can aggravate your sensitive skin such as allergens, harsh chemicals, certain metals, and irritating fabrics. A third way is through the use of prescription medications, moisturizers, Jojoba oil, or Eczema-Ltd III topical skin conditioner.

Eczema-Ltd has Medical Patents in 73 countries where eczema sufferers live. Eczema-Ltd has no dangerous side effects.

DEFINING RED, ITCHY IRRITATED SKIN

Dermatitis is classified as an inflammation of the skin. Dermatitis manifests as a rash, and the symptoms can include swelling, redness, itching, cracking, and pain. Dermatitis is the skin's reaction to chemicals or environmental elements. It causes the skin to become irritated and inflamed, itchy and red, dry and flaky. When certain substances contact the skin and causes an allergic reaction, it is called "contact dermatitis". Examples of substances causing contact dermatitis are: deodorants, metal, chemicals, clothing dyes, cosmetics, detergents, hair coloring, hair perm solutions, leather processing chemicals, nickel in jewelry, perfumes and fragrances, poison ivy, solvents, wrist watches and zippers.

Rosacea is an inflammation of the skin with resulting facial redness and symptoms of vasculation of spidery blood vessels, swelling, and rosacea papules. Rosacea's more pronounced symptoms can vary in intensity when exacerbated. When rosacea is present, small, red, solid bumps called papules and pus-filled pimples called pustules may appear on the skin. These can easily be confused with acne pimples, but unlike acne, rosacea papules and pustules have no blackheads. Rosacea typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50 and affects more women than men. Because the symptoms emerge slowly, rosacea may initially be mistaken for sunburn, leading to a delay in treatment. The redness can come and go, but eventually it may become permanent. Furthermore, the skin tissue can swell and thicken and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.

Acne is a condition of the sebaceous glands of the skin. These sebaceous glands surround each hair follicle and produce sebum, an oily substance, to lubricate the hair. Acne usually appears on the face, back and chest. Acne occurs primarily on the face and sometimes on the back, shoulders, cheat, and arms. The incidence of acne is greatest during puberty, adolescence, and when hormones influencing the secretion of oil glands are at their peak level of activity such as during stress, emotional problems, menstruation, and exercising. Another cause of acne can be dirt, oil and dead skin, accumulated inside the pores, plugging the pores and preventing the flow of sebum. When bacteria builds up, pimples can form and acne may develop, often as an indication of an internal toxin condition. Other causes or contributing factors include allergies, a poor diet, dehydration, environmental pollution, heredity, sun over exposure, and weaken immunity.

Eczema can occur anywhere on the body. The symptoms of eczema include itching, redness, dry/flaky skin, and even blisters. 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. The dry skin will become redder in color and may even crack due to scratching. Scratching may also lead to infection.. The urge to scratch symptom becomes a repetitive cycle: the more you scratch, the more it itches. Eczema is a common skin disease. Eczema is dry, rough, red, itchy, skin dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. The most common symptom that people complain about is the itch that is a side effect of eczema. It's sometimes called the 'itch that rashes', meaning that once you start scratching, you develop a rash.

Psoriasis sufferers experience symptoms such as itching, cracking, stinging, burning, or bleeding. Lack of sunlight and low indoor humidity in the winter months can cause the psoriasis symptoms to worsen. The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends, or in areas where the individual scratches. Scratching should be strictly avoided, because it can cause bleeding and infection. Psoriasis has also been known to cause pits or dents to form in fingernails and toenails. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, psoriasis will cause joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. Psoriasis is a non-contagious disorder, which affects the skin. As a result, itchy, scaly red patches appear, often on the elbows, hands, feet, and scalp, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Usually, what happens is new skin cells take about a month or so to move from the deepest skin layer where they're produced, to the surface where they die and flake off. With psoriasis, the entire skin cell life cycle takes only days.

Seborrheic dermatitis causes yellowish scales to develop on the scalp, the chest, ears, face, nose, the hairline and the eyebrows. Seborrhea affects areas of the skin with abundant oil glands - When oil glands secrete abnormal amounts of oil glands secrete abnormal amounts of oil and skin cells grow at twice the normal rate, the skin produces red eruptions with thick crusting and scaliest. The oily, pinkish - yellow scales resemble dandruff and may itch and flake. If one looks closely, the flakes usually have a greasy look, smell and feel. The dryness of seborrheic dermatitis is perceived because of the flaking, which consists of dried layers of accumulated oil. This is often confused with the crusting and scaling on the eyelids that occur with ocular rosacea.

ITCHY PALMS – SIGN OF MONEY OR ECZEMA

According to an old wives tale, nearly every bodily sensation or skin condition has an explanation. One such tale involves itchy palms. The tale states: if the palm of your right hand is itching, you’ll soon be coming into money. But if you scratch your right hand while it is itchy, it'll prevent the money from coming your way. If your palm of your left hand is itchy, this foretells that you will be paying money to someone, and you should scratch away to do get rid of or lower the payments.

In reality an itchy palm usually has to do with a nervous system or allergic response, and it’s unlikely that is has to do with money one way or the other. An itchy palm is a common symptom of dyshidrotic eczema which incudes itching of the hands and feet, resulting in a sudden onset of blisters. Symptoms of this rash include burning pain or itching may be experienced before blisters appear. The cause of dyshidrotic eczema may be sensitivity to nickel or other metals such as chromium or cobalt, also fragrances, fungal infection (tinea pedis), stress, aspirin, oral contraceptives, smoking, and implanted metals. Dyshidrotic eczema is a form of hand eczema, which is more common in women and starts on the sides of the fingers as itchy little bumps and then develops into a rash. It takes a long time for skin to recover, and unless you're careful, the eczema will reoccur. The symptoms of hand eczema include red, itchy, scaly, cracked skin with blisters up to one inch in diameter, usually on the palms of the hands. Dentists are prone to hand eczema. The cause of hand eczema is usually a combination of sensitive skin and irritation or an allergic reaction from materials touched. Prevention and avoidance can be a powerful treatment. The following suggestions will be helpful for anyone with symptoms of hand eczema: wear waterproof or cotton-lined gloves, avoid contact with soaps, detergents, scouring powders, and irritating chemicals. Wear waterproof gloves when peeling or squeezing lemons, oranges, or grapefruit, peeling potatoes, or handling tomatoes. Wear heavy-duty gloves while gardening, wash dishes in a dishwasher, do not wash clothes by hand, avoid contact with turpentine, paint, and paint thinner, floor polish, and shoe polish. Wash hands in warm water and a small amount of mild soap, rinse carefully and dry gently. Wearing rings can cause hand eczema to become worse.

Should you refrain from scratching your right hand or even your left hand when it itches? The answer is yes. Eczema occurs as a result of an immune system response to an irritant either through contact, inhalation or ingestion. The body activates an immune system response often resulting in a flushed appearance, a rash, or welts on the skin. The symptoms of eczema include itching, redness, dry/flaky skin, and even blisters. 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 makes 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. The urge to scratch symptom becomes a repetitive cycle: the more you scratch, the more it itches.

As unusual as these old wives tales may sound, there are people who believe in them, and these theories are still being spread today from generation to generation. Just as outdated treatments for an itchy palm continue to be considered the standard if treatment. Among the many outdated treatments are Coal tar which has been used to treat the itching and inflammation caused by skin conditions for hundreds of years. The tar contains chemicals that soothe the skin. Crude coal tar is a byproduct of oil production. It makes the skin more sensitive to light. In its natural state it is a thick, brownish-black substance that is messy to apply to the skin. Refined coal tar preparations, many of which are available over the counter, may be more cosmetically acceptable. Coal tar has been used for many years to treat psoriasis and it has few side effects. However, it does not work for everyone. In addition to being messy to use, it has a strong odor and can stain skin and clothing. It can cause sun sensitivity, and may irritate acute eczema. The smell may be offensive to some people.

A few years ago, primrose oil was touted as a topical therapy for hand eczema, but it later was shown not to work. In November 1998, an American Medical Association journal, Archives of Dermatology, published a report listing several other plant extracts being used for skin conditions similar to eczema: calendula officinalis (marigold); chamomile; witch hazel; licorice root; and aloe vera gel. Unfortunately, a history of use doesn't necessarily translate to a history of effectiveness. Indeed, some of these substances, or their vehicle gel/lotion, may worsen your condition.