Tag: eczema

Eczema Treatment Conventional vs. Natural

Some of the symptoms of eczema include inflammation, reddening, itchiness and formation of blisters on the affected areas of the skin. An eczema treatment is designed not to cure eczema itself because there is actually no cure but to spare the person afflicted with the disease form such symptoms. Body parts where lesions are likely to occur include the face, elbows, at the back of the knees and the wrists.

The eczematous skin tends to be really dry, which contributes to the itching of the area. Although scratching might give the person afflicted with eczema a certain degree of relief, however, this is not really advisable. Scratching will only exacerbate the condition. When an eczematous skin is scratched, it thickens.

The symptoms are at their worst during flare ups. It may cause the person discomforts and many sleepless nights because of the severe itching. Because of this, it is wise for anyone afflicted with the skin disease to find out the triggering factors of flare ups. They include dust, yeast, cosmetics, detergents, solvents and many others. Stress is also a triggering factor. When a person is stressed, the immune system of the body is decreased, which leads to the susceptibility of the person with eczema to have flare ups.

One can opt for a conventional or natural mode of treatment for eczema. So is one better than the other for you? Read on as we compare known conventional and natural treatments for the skin disease.

Conventional corticosteroids

Creams containing corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation, redness and itching of the eczematous skin. They basically contain the same bodily hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. This hormone is secreted to control the inflammation process. Topically applied, corticosteroids do the same thing on the affected skin: inflammation, redness and itching are relieved. However, some people afflicted with eczema are fearful of using steroids as part of their treatment. It is because of the many side effects on the skin, such as:

* Thinning of the skin
* Dilation of blood vessels
* Formation of stretch marks
* Rashes
* Skin infections

When used for long periods, corticosteroids may also get accumulated in the body and cause some metabolic imbalances. One reason for this is the competition of the topically applied steroid and the one secreted by the body for the same receptors that make them do their job. Another reason is giving the kidney a hard time to get rid of it through urination. You see, even when a medication is applied topically, it is absorbed by the skin, and may get into the blood stream. That is why the use of topical corticosteroid creams have to be maintained at low doses, and for a short period of time.

Natural herbal and antioxidants

The herbal approach to treating the symptoms of eczema are generally milder and gives little or no side effects. There are many herbs known to be beneficial to anyone suffering from the skin disease. Such herbs may be used as teas, tinctures and topical treatments. They can either be used alone or in combination, to boost the potency. Some of the herbs used for treating eczema include:

* St. Johns Wort
* Chamomile
* Chickweed
* Yarrow
* Nettle
* Licorice

Antioxidants are also great natural eczema treatment, as they are for many other skin diseases. For instance, Sea Buckthorn and Grape seed oils contain loads of antioxidants such as selenium, beta carotene and vitamins A, C and E.

Eczema Treatment and Prevention of Symptoms Aggravation

It is hard to imagine life with eczema. Constant itching, inflammation and discomfort are what people suffering from this dreaded skin disease have to go through on a daily basis. This is why they try every eczema treatment they could get their hands on. Although there is no cure to it, the signs and symptoms of eczema can be managed.

Most cases of eczema begin to appear early in life. It is a chronic inflammatory response of the skin, usually having flare-ups and remissions. The appearance or features may vary from one person to another, also greatly depending on the parts of the body where they appear. The psychological impact on the person suffering from eczema is significant having to live through the feeling of embarrassment and the effects it has on daily activities.

There are many things that can be tried to relieve the symptoms of eczema, including medications prescribed by doctors and some tried and tested natural remedies. Of course the results greatly depend on the kind and severity of the eczema. If you are suffering from this skin disease, let us discuss some of the things which you can do to lessen the inflammation, itching and other forms of discomforts.

First things first: Always pay attention to what aggravates the condition. Finding out the causes that worsens the condition and avoiding being exposed to them can do a lot more for eczema than any treatment available.

Is it because of an allergic reaction to certain foods? Commonly, consuming milk, eggs, wheat and peanuts contribute to the itching of eczematous skin. Its best to avoid eating foods that only makes the itching worse. Is it because of contact with certain chemicals and household products? Many people who suffer from eczema need to stay away from certain stuff such as cosmetics, perfumes, pesticides, detergents and many others. Ingredients such as alcohol, astringent and fragrance may trigger or worsen the case; thats why you should make it a habit to read labels prior to using a particular product.

Is it because of extremes in temperature and humidity? Maintaining a stable temperature and humidity all year long may be complicated, but you need all the help you can get. For instance, if you are using air conditioner, make sure you moisturize your skin or use a humidifier to prevent excessive skin drying, causing itchiness.

It is best to take baths than showers because the spraying water can irritate the eczematous skin and make it itchy. Use lukewarm water and never hot water. Hot water kills skin cells faster and makes the skin drier. The drier the skin, the more skin scaling and itchiness you will experience. Bath and essential oils may also be added onto the water. Rosemary and chamomile essential oils are effective anti-inflammatory and anti-itching remedies when added to bath water. Also, pat dry with a towel and never rub.

Researches have shown that making your life free of stress and having a positive outlook may help keep the symptoms of eczema at bay. While it is extremely difficult to stay relaxed each time your skin condition flares up and think about other peoples perception of you, you should always try to manage stress effectively.

If you know what triggers the symptoms of your eczema, then you can do a lot to avoid it and experience less of the nasty outcome of being exposed to them. Eczema treatment is far more effective when you know how to do away with contributing factors.

Eczema Treatment at Home

Treating your eczema may vary depending on the kind of eczema you have. For most cases eczema treatment can be pretty easy as just changing your kind of laundry soap you use. Though, for some cases it can be much harder. You may have to move to a whole different place with a better climate or treating your eczema can force you to change your occupation. The key to preventing eczema is finding out what triggers your allergic reaction. Here are a few tips to help you.

Your skin can be very sensitive, so its best to keep it moisturized. To do this, avoid taking cold showers. Take warm showers or baths and moisturize your skin after. Use a lotion or cream that is non-irritating and odorless. Make sure the products you use do not contain any ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction.

When picking out your outfit for the day, try to avoid tight-fitting clothing and things that may make you itch or chafe. As much as possible try to wear light and loose clothes. These are definitely more comfortable and will prevent irritating your sensitive skin.

As much as possible, when your skin is irritated avoid making it worse by scratching. The trick here is to cover it with a dressing or by wearing thick gloves that can lessen the damage from scratching. If you find that you cant control yourself from scratching that annoying itch, then try to do as lightly as possible or finding ways to protect your skin from self-abrasion.

Another thing that you should also remember is that you shouldnt exert yourself physically when youre having a break out. Try not to sweat because it aggravates youre the areas that are affected by eczema. If you feel like you really have to exercise a lot, try to stick with exercise routines that wont cause your body to sweat as much. Make your routine as light as possible.

If you have taken all these steps and the situation is not getting any better, then you may not have identified what causes the allergy break outs. The next best thing would be to try and decrease the response from allergic inflammation.

To make the rash disappear you have to apply a few things regularly in a certain number of days. Application of hydrocortisone together with anti-itching lotions is usually what you need. You should try to slather these on as often as you can and until your rash has disappeared completely. Benadryl is also a very effective medication though it does make you really drowsy so you have to make sure youre not doing anything that will require your full attention.

Clean your rashes with hypoallergenic soap to prevent aggravating it. Always remember to moisturize and lubricate the affected areas after washing. You should try to also stay in relaxed environments. Keep away from any physical or mental stress. Keep a healthy diet and rest a lot. This will help prevent flares.

Eczema treatment at home is easier but it results will show slowly and gradually over time. Just trying to cure your eczema in an instant is nearly impossible and most unlikely. Dont expect a miracle because treating this can and will definitely take time.

Just hope for the best and continue treating it with this guide and help from a doctor.

Corticosteroid Creams and Ointments Are Commonly Used For Eczema Treatment

Corticosteroid Creams and Ointments Are Commonly Used For Eczema Treatment

Corticosteroid medication is usually prescribed for eczema treatment because these are derivatives of something we naturally produce in our adrenal glands. It helps us manage the inflammation especially in the case of eczema and against other skin disorders.

There are two ways that this medication is given namely topically or orally. When we say topically, this is applied to the skin and the absorbed by the body.

Once applied, they stop the skin cells from producing various forms of inflammation that are released when they come into contact with an allergen or irritation. Thus, you are able to reduce the inflammation and in some cases relieve the itchiness.

Examples of topical corticosteroids for eczema include betametasone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone and mometasone. This is available in creams, lotions and ointments which can be purchased over the counter.

It must be pointed out that there are 4 different strengths for topical corticosteroids namely mild, moderate, potent and very potent. Hydrocortisone is used for mild and moderate cases of eczema while the others are used in potent and very potent cases of this skin condition.

In some cases, you will have to use one or two different types for different parts of the body but when you have to take it, remember that the more potent it is, the shorter the time that you have to use it rather than suffering the side effects.

The most common side effect is the thinning of the skin which usually results to permanent stretch marks later on. Your blood vessels may also swell and become prominent under the skin surface. You may even look like someone beat you up because these will appear like bruises. This is why doctors rarely recommend this to patients when the skin is already inflamed.

In rare cases, the use of corticosteroids may cause growth suppression or adrenal suppression. You have to remember that these are also naturally produced by the body and if this should happen, you may not be producing the same number as you are used to.

Children are the ones who are at a higher risk of experiencing these side effects. To prevent this from happening, their case should be monitored by a trained dermatologist.

To reduce the risk of side effects, you have to use corticosteroid creams or ointments that are the least potent. When you apply it to your skin, make sure that this is confined only in the area where the skin disease is present. If this is prescribed by your doctor, make sure that this is only applied once or twice in one day.

When eczema is finally under your control, stop using it. Just use moisturizers to prevent flare ups from taking place because corticosteroid creams or ointments can only reduce the symptoms and not make this go away.

Although corticosteroid creams or ointments are common, you should know that women who are pregnant should never use it. Studies have shown that using it could endanger the fetus and result and abnormalities when the child finally comes out of the womb. It is also not safe for nursing mothers so the child does not absorb the steroids when it is time to feed them.

It is for these reasons that if you have this skin disorder, you should ask your doctor about other forms of eczema treatment like light therapy or wet wrap therapy.