Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Symptoms & Causes 

Eczema – Eczema Is a very common skin issue. The United States records more than 3,000,000 cases of eczema each year. It is a very common skin condition in children, but sometimes adults can also get it.

Usually, in eczema, your skin itches, and it turns red. Sometimes experts also refer to eczema as atopic dermatitis. People with allergies or asthma often have eczema. 

Types of Eczema

There are a few different types of eczema, and they all have different symptoms as well as different causes. Let’s take a look at a few of them. 

Atopic Dermatitis

It is one of the most common types of eczema. Atopic dermatitis usually starts in childhood, and it gets mild or completely away by adulthood. Many people suffering from atopic dermatitis usually have three conditions: asthma, hay fever, and atopic itself.

Contact Dermatitis

As its name suggests, contact dermatitis is usually caused by a reaction to substances you touch. Your skin might get red and irritated. You might have seen a child who is allergic to paint, bleach, detergent, which is contact dermatitis.

Hand Eczema

When eczema only affects your hand, that is called hand eczema. It is very common between people who work as a hairdresser or cleaning, where you use chemicals on a regular basis that can irritate the skin. 

Nummular Eczema

Nummular eczema can cause round-shaped spots on your skin which will look like a coin. In the Latin language, nummular means coin. It is a very different type, and you can easily spot this type of eczema. Usually, it is caused by an insect bite or an allergic reaction to hard metals or chemicals.

Stasis Dermatitis

When fluids leak out of your weakened veins into your own skin, it is called stasis dermatitis. The leaked fluid can cause swelling, pain, and itching. It can happen in people who have blood flow problems in their lower legs.

Causes Of Eczema

Now let’s talk about a few causes of eczema. Even though the causes are different for each type of asthma, here are a few common ones.

Genetics

Your genetics play a huge role in causing eczema. If your family has a history of skin diseases, it is more likely that you can get eczema due to that. 

Other than that, if you or your family have a history of asthma, hay fever, or allergies, you are at a higher risk of getting eczema. 

Immune System

Your immune system also is the leading cause of eczema. If you have a weak immune system, it can overreact to small irritations and allergies. That overreaction can result in eczema. 

Environment

The environment around you can also trigger eczema. There are a lot of things that can cause eczema, and all of these are derived from the environment around you. 

There is a chance that you might be allergic to tobacco smoke, air pollution, chemical soap, fabric softener, skincare products, etc. 

In many cases, low humidity or dry air can also cause skin problems. Other than that, heat and high humidity can also cause sweating and itching. 

You should be very careful about the environment around you if you have eczema.

Mental Stress

There is a high probability that your mental health and stress levels can cause eczema. If you have eczema, you must take care of your mental health.

You should always try to relax and stay away from anything which can cause depression. 

The use of tobacco, alcohol, or any other drug can cause mental health-related problems, and it might trigger eczema as a result.

You must try to be positive and have high self-esteem. Being anxious can also cause eczema.

Physical Cause

Other than mental stress, there are a few physical conditions that can cause eczema. A few of them might not be in your control.

Sleeping too little or sleeping too much can also cause eczema. It is very important for you to maintain a healthy sleep cycle. You should sleep at least 6 – 8 hours a day.

Muscle tensions, headaches, and body pain can also be the cause of eczema. You must take care of these things if you ever get any allergic reaction.

Diarrhea and Constipation are also one of the leading physical cause  

Common Symptoms Of Eczema 

Let’s talk about a few common symptoms of eczema. 

Dry Skin

Dry skin is the number one symptom of eczema. If you have white patches on your skin and it is always rough, this could be dry skin. Most people with eczema had dry skin.

Bumps On The Skin

Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? Those bumps on the skin after being bit by a mosquito might appear on your skin. That is also a common symptom of eczema.

Itchy Skin

If you have eczema, you will get itchy skin. Usually, you won’t be able to find any cause of itchy skin, but it won’t go away easily. 

Swelling

Swelling is one of the most common symptoms of eczema. Usually, people suffering from allergic reactions get swelling. It can appear on any part of your body, such as your face, hands, and feet. 

Other Health Conditions

Usually, eczema does not come alone. You might have other conditions that can cause eczema.

People suffering from asthma usually have eczema. Where depression and anxiety can trigger or worsen eczema. 

Diagnosis Of Eczema

Diagnosis of eczema might be more tricky than a diagnosis of any other health problem. Sometimes you have to be more active than your health care provider to diagnose it.

If you have itchiness or redness on your skin that isn’t going away on its own, doctors during a checkup can easily detect that. 

Your doctor will take a close look at your skin and find classic signs of eczema. Afterward, doctors might recommend a few tests such as an allergy skin test, a blood test to check unrelated causes, skin biopsy to determine the type of eczema.

Other than that, you can also help your doctor by providing information regarding your condition. What if you don’t have red skin or itchiness when you visit your doctor?

In that scenario, let your doctor know about a few things when it triggers your eczema.

• What were you eating or drinking?
• Your job profile.
• Your environment.
• Any skin products you use.
• Your stress levels.
• Family history related to skin diseases.
• Family history of asthma, allergies, etc.

These are the few things that you can note about yourself and let your doctor know when you go for a diagnosis.

Treatment Of Eczema

Treatment of eczema is a very tricky job. There are a few causes that are out of your control, such as genetics. Usually, doctors recommend moisturizing and other self-care tips to treat eczema. There are other ways to treat eczema.

Medication

Usually, doctors don’t recommend oral medication to treat eczema, but in some cases where symptoms are more severe, doctors might prescribe oral medications such as Prednisone. Surely these drugs are very effective, but you can’t use them for a longer period of time. They also contain serious side effects.

Creams

Your doctor may recommend a few creams or ointments. You can apply it as directed by your doctor. Your doctor might also let you know about the dosage you can apply. Overuse of these creams may cause serious side effects.

Wet Dressing

Other than creams and medication, your doctor might recommend you to get wet dressing therapy. The wet dressing therapy is for people with severe symptoms. 

Home Remedies For Eczema

There are a few home remedies for eczema. You can use these home remedies to manage your symptoms.                    

You should moisturize your skin at least twice a day. Lotions usually don’t respond well, so it is better for you to select a bath oil, cream, ointment, or spray. 

You can also carry an anti scream and apply it to the affected area twice a day after moisturizing. Once you start feeling better, you can slowly stop using it.

Scratching makes everything worse. You should never scratch any itching or rash on your skin. Kindly cover the area where itching is happening if you can’t help. 

You must avoid water baths and always opt for warm water baths. You should also avoid hard perfumes and soap. 

Doctors always advise everyone affected with eczema to use a home humidifier. As you already know, dry air can trigger eczema.

You should never avoid stress and anxiety-related issues. It is also very important for you to stay away from any type of depression.

Takeaways

Eczema is a very common skin-related issue. Usually, you find children affected by it, but sometimes it can continue till adulthood.

You don’t need any big test to diagnose eczema. A simple close look at your skin by a dermatologist is enough. You can easily treat eczema using medicines and a bit more self-care.