INTRODUCTION: Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin and often comes and goes in cycles, meaning that at some times of the year sufferers are able to feel normal, while at other times they will distance themselves from social contact. Diagnosis is generally based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease areas.

It is sometimes referred to as “the itch that rashes,” since the itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash. It can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in infants, it typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. Outbreaks can usually be avoided with some simple precautions.

DERMATITIS: One of the most common types of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or “atopic eczema”). There are several different kinds, but the one that most people usually mean when they say eczema is atopic dermatitis. In general, it comes and goes, often based on external factors.

Dermatitis is a chronic skin problem recognized by itching rashes, which may be red, scaly, dry, or leathery. It is not yet known what the cause is, but it does tend to run in families that have a history of asthma, allergies or atopic dermatitis.

Some herbs, such as chamomile, are known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. It is a chronic disease, but only about a third of children with it will continue to have problems as they get older. In atopic dermatitis it is typical for there to be episodes of calm mixed with flares ups of eczema. It’s the most common kind of eczema.

TREATMENT: Using moisturizers is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of the disease. Another course of treatment is bathing using colloidal oatmeal baths. Other than direct treatments of the symptoms, no cure is presently known for most types of eczema; even cortisone and immuno-modulation may often have only minimum effects on what may be a complex problem.

These applications are usually most effective when applied directly after taking a bath (within 3 minutes is a common recommendation) so that the dampness from the bath is “locked in”. Tar treatments and photo-therapy are also used and can have positive effects; however, tar can also be messy.

While there are a lot of therapies, it isn’t always easy to find the one that works for you. Patients with eczema can be treated, but traditional therapies often don’t help a pain which is more than skin deep. The primary treatments are aimed at controlling and preventing inflammation and itching including avoiding triggers, frequent bathing and hydration of the skin, liberal use of moisturizers and lubricants, and the use of steroid creams for flare ups.

With numerous treatments on the market, it’s critical to be well informed when making decisions with your doctor. The natural human desire to scratch or rub an itchy rash just makes the condition worse, and treatments can be slow and are not always completely effective.

CONCLUSION: Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions and occurs in both children and adults, but usually appears during infancy. It is an allergic condition that affects the skin. Also known as dermatitis it can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. It’s not contagious but like many diseases, currently cannot be cured.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the USA have some form of eczema. About 10 percent to 20 percent of all babies have it; however, in nearly 1/2 of these children, the disease will improve much by the time they are five to 15 years of age.

Because dermatitis is often dry and itchy, the most commonly used treatment is the application of lotions or creams to keep the skin as moist as possible. One of the most important components of a treatment plan is to prevent scratching.

Finally, in cases where eczema is non-responsive to treatment, your physician may prescribe the drug cyclosporine A, which modifies immune response; however, this is used only in extreme conditions because of its association with serious side effects.