Understanding the Different Types of Eczema
Sunday, June 27th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed
Eczema is a well-known skin condition that causes the skin to become red, dry and very itchy. It can cause skin infections that must be treated with antibiotics in extreme cases. Eczema can be found all over the body but the common locations are on the legs, arms and behind the knees. People of all ages may have some type of eczema but it mostly affects over twenty percent of children in the United States. Eczema doesn’t have a cure at this time. However, doctors are able to treat or prevent the symptoms based on the type of eczema their patient has.
One of most common types of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It affects a small amount of adults but affect most children by age 1. It is known to run in families with a past history of asthma and hay fever so it is hereditary. This type of eczema flares due to a food or environmental allergy, which can be caused by items such as eggs, grass and pollen. The treatment for this type of eczema may require an allergy test in order to determine what is triggering the reaction. Based on the findings of this test, you will be able to determine what your trigger for your eczema is so you can avoid it. You can use a topical corticosteroid cream to reduce the redness and itching while your skin is healing.
Another one of the types of eczema is contact dermatitis. It is caused when the skin is exposed to an allergen or an irritant such as poison ivy or detergent. By washing or removing the cause of the reaction from the skin, the rash will began to clear up. However, you should give it some weeks before your skin will return to normal. You can use an over the counter corticosteroid cream or oral antihistamine such as Benadyal to relieve any itching.
Seborrheic dermatitis is another type of eczema, which is mostly found on the scalp and face. The symptoms are oily and scaly patches of skin on the face, scalp and other part of the body. Cradle cap and dandruff are considered to be seborrheic dermatitis. Like atopic dermatitis, it is also hereditary and stress and oily skin conditions make cause a reaction. Normally, there is no itching with this type of eczema. Your doctor will give you a prescription shampoo that contains sulfur to treat your scalp. For other areas of the body, an ointment that contains vitamin B6 used to treat this condition.
By increasing your knowledge about the different types of eczema and their causes, you will be able to find better way to treat it. There may not be a cure but you can live eczema free with the right treatment and prevention tips.
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