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Common Symptoms and Treatments of Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that can be very irritating and painful. It most often occurs in children from between two-to-six months old and six years old, but can sometimes continue in older children and adults. Most eczema sufferers grow out of the condition or the condition becomes less severe over time. Though no definite long-term cure exists for eczema, there are treatments to help relieve and minimize symptoms.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is defined as a non-infectious, recurring skin condition with which the skin becomes irritated, itchy, very dry, red, and scaly. Eczema is also termed "atopic dermatitis." With severe cases of eczema, the skin may crust over, bleed, or become infected.

The exact cause of eczema has never been pinpointed, but there are several factors that doctors believe to be linked to the condition. For instance, studies show a child is 80 percent more likely to have eczema if both parents have the condition. Alcohol and certain foods such as nuts, eggs, citrus fruits, additives, wheat and dairy products, food coloring, and preservatives can be linked to eczema. Stress is another possible factor.

External irritants and allergens are also believed to be linked to eczema. Irritants include chemicals, smoke, certain weather conditions, and indoor air conditioning or heating. Allergens include pets, soaps, plant pollen, grass, dust mites, mold, certain foods, washing detergents, toiletries, and cosmetics.

Common Symptoms of Eczema

Eczema symptoms include itchy skin, from moderate to severe levels, cracked, dry, and red skin in the form of a recurring rash, lesions, or thick, leathery skin. For babies, the rash often appears on the face, knees, or elbows. For older children and adults, the rash is more common on the neck, hands, backs of ankles or knees, and inner elbows. Bacteria and viruses can cause lesions that are infected.

Eczema Treatments

An eczema sufferer can be affected in many areas of their life such as career, family and social life, school work for older children, loss of sleep due to severe itching or pain, etc. Eczema treatments can help relieve some of the itching and pain.

With babies and small children, take action before breakouts occur by keeping their fingernails clipped short to prevent harmful scratching, buying all 100 percent cotton clothing and fabrics for bed sheets and pillows, and keeping the home free from allergens and irritants.

For bathing, use only non-irritating cleansers that help keep moisture in the skin. Cetaphil, Aveeno oatmeal bath, and other similar products work oppositely from regular soap in that the skin retains moisture instead of losing moisture when bathing. After bathing, pat the skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing. This helps keep moisture on the skin. Then, rub a topical moisturizing cream to the skin immediately after bathing.

When eczema breakouts occur, keep the skin clean and moist, and then apply topical skin cream specifically made for eczema. Ask a doctor to recommend or prescribe a cream for severe breakouts.

Other tips include:

*Remove carpet.....

by Candice Pardue

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