| Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is an | | | | moisturizers, mild soaps, or wet dressing. Moisturizing |
| inflammation (reddening and swelling) of the skin | | | | gloves can be worn while sleeping. Emollient bath oils |
| which is very itchy. The severity of the disease can | | | | should be added to bath water and then suitable |
| vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, | | | | agents applied after patting the skin dry. Chronic |
| whilst in more severe forms the skin can become | | | | thickened areas may be treated with ointments or |
| broken, raw and bleeding. In the United Kingdom, up | | | | creams that contain tar compounds, corticosteroids |
| to one fifth of all children of school age have | | | | (medium to very high potency), and ingredients that |
| eczema, along with about one in twelve of the adult | | | | lubricate or soften the skin. Mild anti-itch lotions or |
| population. The most common type of eczema is | | | | topical corticosteroids (low potency) may soothe less |
| atopic dermatitis. It is an allergic condition that makes | | | | severe or healing areas, or dry scaly lesions. Systemic |
| your skin dry and itchy. It is most common in babies | | | | corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce |
| and children. Factors that can cause eczema include | | | | inflammation in some severe cases. Light therapy |
| other diseases, irritating substances, allergies and your | | | | using ultraviolet light can help control eczema. UVA is |
| genetic makeup. Some people who have eczema | | | | mostly used, but UVB and Narrow Band UVB are also |
| scratch their skin so much it becomes almost | | | | used. Ultraviolet light exposure carries its own risks, |
| leathery in texture. Others find that their skin | | | | particularly eventual skin cancer from exposure. |
| becomes extremely dry and scaly. Eczema will | | | | Tea-tree oil in a gel or diluted form has good |
| permanently resolve by age three in about half of | | | | antiseptic and antibacterial effects, and is helpful in |
| affected infants. In others, the condition tends to | | | | calming down inflammation. Non-conventional medical |
| recur throughout life. Most affected individuals have | | | | approaches include traditional herbal medicine and |
| their first episode before age 5 years. | | | | others. |
| Eczema is not contagious. Eczema can affect people | | | | Eczema Treatment Tips |
| of any age, although the condition is most common in | | | | 1. Emollients are necessary to reduce water loss from |
| infants.About 1-2 percent of adults have eczema, and | | | | the skin, preventing the dryness normally associated |
| as many as 20 percent of children are affected. | | | | with eczema. |
| Eczema can occur on just about any part of the | | | | 2. Steroids act by reducing inflammation and are used |
| body; however, in infants, eczema typically occurs on | | | | in most types of eczema. |
| the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. | | | | 3. Ultra Violet light treatment and stronger medication |
| Sometimes the itching will start before the rash | | | | may be considered for very severe eczema. |
| appears, but when it does the rash most commonly | | | | 4. Avoid substances that stress your skin. |
| occurs on the face, knees, hands or feet. It may also | | | | 5. Diet restrictions and chemical skin-drying agents |
| affect other areas as well. Atopic eczema affects | | | | may also be offered, but their success is |
| approximately 15-20% of young children in the UK. | | | | controversial. |
| Atopic eczema clears up in approximately 70% of | | | | 6. Use warm water with mild soaps or nonsoap |
| children by the time they reach their teens and in | | | | cleansers when bathing your child. |
| many it largely clears up by 4-5 years of age. If it | | | | 7. Avoid using scented soaps. |
| persists into adult life, it usually affects the body | | | | 8. Apply cool compresses on the irritated areas of |
| creases, the face and hands. Soap removes dirt but | | | | your child's skin to ease itching. |
| also removes natural oils from the skin; making the | | | | 9. Keep your child's fingernails short to minimize any |
| skin dry, irritated and itchy. Try not to scratch the | | | | skin damage caused by scratching. |
| irritated area on your skin even if it itches. | | | | 10. Try having your child wear comfortable, light |
| Treatment of weeping lesions may include soothing | | | | gloves to bed if scratching at night is a problem. |