What exactly is eczema? What causes it? Why does it only effects certain areas of your body?

Question

I had eczema since i was 4 y/o. A dermatologists told me that my eczema was caused by sudar and food coloring. i only get rashes near joints ex. back of neck, inside of elbows and knees, over and under my eyelids and sometimes under my arms

sources and sites also would be helpful.

Answer 1

I have atopic dermatitis;I've had it for over forty years and I have lots of experience in treating the condition.The first thing you need to do is to be properly diagnosed by a dermatologist.If you already have been there are lotions and medicines that help treat the rashes.Eczema can affect the skin all oner your body,not just certain places,I've had it all over my body over the many years I've lived with this consition. Doctors really do not know why eczema exists;they just know that it's a genetic condition that predisposes the skin towards hypersensitivity.They do know what can trigger a rash.So have to avoid lots of things.
1.Get rid of all soaps and scented products.Soaps are drying and take away the protective moisture barrier that atopic skin already has very little of and switch to Cetaphil cleansers.The cleansers come in lotion and bar forms.Aveeno Collidal Oatmeal powder is good for the bath;there is also Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal bath/shower oil and shave gel.After cleaning you then can apply any medicines,but you will always have to apply a moisturizer,every time you clean.Cetaphil Cream moisturizer and Eucerin Cream are the most popular among dermatitis patients.
2.Atopic Dermatitis means having hypersensitive skin.You cannot use most skin care products available because they are too harsh;even baby oil and baby lotions are too harsh.Stay away from all scented products and highly colored products.Do not use any thing with AHA acids,sugar acids,retinol,peeling agents,lanolin,benzocaine or any"-caine" derivative,greasy ointments, petrolatum( like Vaseline),ointments containing antihistamines,anything containing alpa-olefin sulfonates,secondary alkane sulfonates,alkybenzene sulfonates,fatty alcohol sulfonates.
3.Wear soft fabrics;dermatologists prefer that their patients wear all natural cotton,silk,linen fabrics that allow the perspiration to evaporate away from the skin.Your own perspiration can trigger a rash!If you wear wool,it must be lines are you need to wear a layer of soft fabric between your skin and the wool(I do both at the same time,lined wool,tee shirts,camisoles,long underwear).Detergents and fabric softeners all need to be unscented and gentle.Your sheets and blankets need to be soft and unscratchy.
4.Anti-perspirant deodorants need to be unscented and formulated for sensitive skins.Shampoos that are good are tar-based Neutragena and Denorex,and non-prescription strength Nizoral.Conditioners just have to be moisturizing.Scalpicin is a clear lotion that can help with scalp itch.
5.You will need to wear gloves when doing wet work;these rubber gloves have to be worn over cotton liners that are available in the beauty sections of pharmacies.Fabric gloves need to be worn when you are doing dusty ,dry work.Latex gloves need to be worn when you handle potatoes,garlic,onions,citrus fruits,tomatoes and pineapple.These foods contain highly irritating juices;I forgot to wear my gloves when I was chopping onions,once, and I thought that my hands were on fire!I had to ice them.
6.Over the years,some medications have become available over the counter;these are the hydrocortisone or corticosteroid creams.Cortaid is the best of these;Cortaid makes a special moisturizing formula which my dermatologist made up especially for his patients.Precription cortisone cream,Prednisone,Lidex are doctor precribed medicines.I do not recommend Protopic or Elidel,two prescription medicines that are currently being investigated to increased risk of skin cancer.I have found that the Cortaid with moisturizers and liberal use of Cetaphil moisturizing crream does just as well as any of the prescriptions I've used. The hard part is accepting that some rashes will go away,while others will take years to burn out;my worst flare up was on my hands and lasted for four years.I was on prescription medicines and visiting the dermatologist during the whole awful episode.
You will need to take an antihistamine because dermatitis is an autoimmune disease that usually is accompanied by allergies(hayfever) and asthma.
8.If you ever get an oozy rash,you can dry it up by using Bluborro astringent powder;just follow the directions to make a wet dressing.Drying the ooze helps the medicine work better.
9.Wear a sunblock containing avobenzone or zinc oxide.
10.Read up on atopic dermatitis/eczema;just get writings by qualified doctors(dermatologists only).
11.Keep nails short and clean.Do ot scratch and try not to stress.Being highly emotional makes things worse for the skin.

Source(s):

Eczema Free for Life by Adnan Nasir,M.D. and Priscilla Burgess
Your Skin:From Acne to Zits by Jerome Z. Litt,M.D.
Your Skin:A Dermatologist's Guide to a Lifetime of Beauty and Health by Frederic Haberman,M.D. and Denise Fortino
The National Eczema Association has a printable booklet available online(just ignore ads for the two medicines under investigation)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration sometimes characterize healed lesions, though scarring is rare.
Types
ICD-10 codes are provided where available.

Eczema classification remains haphazard and unsystematized, and the proliferation of synonyms hinders understanding. At times, there is focus on the location (e.g. hand eczema), or on the specific appearance (eczema craquele or discoid), and other times on possible cause (varicose eczema). Herpetiformis and dyshidrosis are misnomers. Further adding to the confusion, many sources use the term eczema and the term for the most common type of eczema (atopic eczema) interchangeably.

This classification is clustered by incidence frequency.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What exactly is eczema? What causes it? Why does it only effects certain areas of your body?
I had eczema since i was 4 y/o. A dermatologists told me that my eczema was caused by sudar and food coloring. i only get rashes near joints ex. back of neck, inside of elbows and knees, over and under my eyelids and sometimes under my arms

Answer 5

My little boy had eczema on his cheeks. I was not sure what method to use but I didn't want to make my boy go through any surgery treatments at this young age. Some suggested a plastic surgeon since it was in a very visible location but our family doctor recommend this natural guide.

Best Eczema Treatment?

Answer 6

It does. I don't get eczema all the time, just every few years but when I do get it, it's all over my body and it takes 6 months to get back under control. The only place I didn't seem to get eczema patches is my scalp. And the medication the doc prescribed didn't work. I sure wish I knew what triggered it. And my sympathies to you.

Answer 7

I Cured Eczema Easily Permanently - http://Eczema.neatprim.com

Answer 8

I just wanted to send a huge thanks for the book called eczema free forever!
My 8 months son had eczema on his face, neck and upper chest.
After trying various medications prescribed by our doctor my son had eczema still.
This is when i decided to look for an alternative and bought tried eczema free forever methods.
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Check here to try it : http://Eczema.naturallysaver.com .
You don't have to live with eczema any longer!

Answer 9

Eczema patients can avoid scratchy fibers for softer ones like bamboo, cotton, or silk, which are gentler on the skin. Opting to buy organic fibers can also be a wise, healthy, and eco-friendly alternative. Learn here https://tr.im/rvIvT

Answer 10

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