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 | What is eczema? |
|  Eczema—also known as dermatitis—is a red, itchy rash on the upper layers of the skin. It’s not contagious. Once you have eczema, it’s likely to reappear again and again throughout your life. There are many types of eczema. The most common are contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic dermatitis. Most dermatitis rashes look about the same. They usually itch, most are red, and many have blisters, swelling, oozing, scabbing, and scaling.Contact dermatitis occurs when you touch something that causes a reaction. The reaction can be either an irritation or an allergic reaction. Just about anything—including water—can cause irritation. But the most common culprits include chemicals in cosmetics, fragrances, certain metals, and clothes (wool). Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary condition. It’s most common in babies and children and in people with a family history of allergies or asthma. Like contact dermatitis, irritants such as chemicals, fragrances and wool can trigger symptoms. Exposure to tobacco smoke, emotional stress and changes in temperature can also make atopic dermatitis worse. The first step to treating eczema is to eliminate contact with what might be causing it. For example, if a new laundry detergent causes a rash, switch to a different detergent. If eczema is triggered by stress, stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation may help minimize the outbreak. Frequent bathing and rubbing your skin with a towel can make the eczema worse. Try bathing less frequently and gently patting yourself dry afterward. Use mild, unscented soaps such as Oil of Olay or Tom's of Maine or a waterless cleanser like Cetaphil. Keeping the skin well hydrated and moisturized is also very important. Scratching can break the skin and lead to infections, so try to resist the urge to scratch. Also, keep fingernails short. Longer nails may have more dirt under them, increasing the risk of infection if you do break the skin. Various drug treatments for dermatitis are available, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter antihistamines and creams. Also, prescription treatments are available for rashes that become infected. Sources: Habif, Thomas. Clinical Dermatology. Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1996.Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2000.Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Merck & Co, 1997.Diseases and Conditions, "Dermatitis/Eczema." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/9/2007.Medline Plus. Medline, 2007.This answer prepared 11/2/2000.This information updated 1/9/2007. |
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