 Eczema is a common term that describes several different conditions in which skin is inflamed, dry, itchy and red. Eczema is a skin condition and atopic dermatitis is one of the most common forms of eczema. The condition is not infectious.
What Causes Eczema?
The cause of eczema is not well known, but the disease often affects people with a family history of allergies. Many individuals with eczema also have asthma or hay fever. Some factors can cause a flare-up of eczema or make eczema worse, but they do not cause the condition. Eczema causes include allergens, stress, skin irritants such as soaps, skin care products, climate and environment.
What are the Symptoms of Eczema?
The symptoms of eczema can vary from person to person. In adults, eczema appear most frequently on the elbows and hands, and in "bending" areas such as back of the knees and the inside of the elbows. In young children, eczema is usually seen on the knees, scalp elbows, face and neck.
How is Eczema Diagnosed?
Eczema often is diagnosed with an analysis of a individyal's history of symptoms and with an examination of the skin. A dermatologist might test an area of scaly or crusted skin to rule out other skin diseases or infections.
How is Eczema Treated?
Eczema usually is treated with medications, including over-the-counter creams and ointments containing the steroid cortisone such as Cort-Aid and Cortisone 10. These products may help to control the redness, swelling and itching associated with eczema. Prescription-strength cortisone lotions, creams, shots and pills are also available for more severe cases of eczema. For people with severe eczema topical immunomodulators (TIMs) can help. TIMS include such brand name products as Elidel and Protopic. They work by altering the body's immune response to allergens, averting flare-ups. The two creams are very strong so the doctors usually prescribe short-term use of Elidel and Protopic only after other available eczema treatments have failed in adults and children over the age of 2.
Other medications that might be used for patients with eczema include antihistamines to help control itching and antibiotics to treat infected skin. Phototherapy is another type of treatment that helps some people with eczema. The ultraviolet light waves found in sunlight have been shown to benefit certain skin disorders, including eczema. Phototherapy uses ultraviolet light such as ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) from special lamps to treat people with severe eczema.
In some cases, a medication called psoralens is prescribed before phototherapy to make the skin more sensitive to the effects of the ultraviolet light. This treatment is called psoralens plus ultraviolet A or PUVA.Risks associated with phototherapy include burning, often like a mild sunburn, freckling, itchy skin, dry skin, and possible premature aging of the skin.
Can Eczema be Prevented?
Currently, there is no cure for eczema, but the symptoms of the condition can be prevented.
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