What is eczema?
Eczema is a rash that is very itchy. The skin is red and scaly. There may be papules, vesicles and crusts sit on. In people who have suffered from eczema may also get sores on the skin by scratching.
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. This infection is not contagious. There are many types of eczema, including atopic eczema (in babies is called infantile eczema), allergic contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis. Athlete's foot is no eczema but a fungal infection of the skin.
The treatment of eczema depends on the form and severity. There are several means, such as hormone ointment, tar ointment, antibiotics and anti-itching.
In most children the eczema disappears before puberty. However, children with eczema have a high risk of developing asthma and allergies.
Types of eczema
The main types of eczema are:
- Atopic eczema. This eczema is mainly in the elbow folds and knees, on hands and wrists, and feet and ankles. In young babies called this form dew worm. Babies with eczema have a red, itchy, often damp blistering rash on the face and scalp.
- Contact eczema. People with contact dermatitis get rashes when they touch substances for which they are hypersensitive.
- Dyshidrotic eczema. This is eczema on the hands and feet. Dyshidrosis means "Disorder in the perspiration. On the skin become lodged strong itchy blisters.
- Seborrheic dermatitis. With this type arise red scaly patches usually not very itchy. They are mainly found in areas rich in sebaceous glands, such as the head, the chest, the face (around the nose and eyebrows) and the armpits.
- Nummular (coin size) eczema. This makes for eczema spots the size of a coin, especially on the forearms and lower legs.
- Asteatotisch or xerotic eczema. This occurs in older people with very dry skin. They get red, scaly patches, especially if the air is very dry (eg in winter).
Treatment of inflammation associated with eczema
A skin with eczema Has A great chance to Become infected with bacteria. Especially if you do a lot of scratching and Therefore your skin breaks. Is your skin inflamed light, you can choose between different means:
- Tar Ointment. Tar Ointment helps relieve eczema. After two to three weeks, lubricate the skin in most people healed. It May take months to return to the eczema. Tar Ointment is a safe drug that's ook Suitable for small children.
- Antiseptic cream or antibiotic ointment.
- Hormone Ointment (ointment with corticosteroids). This Suppresses the inflammation and usefull helps relieve itching. You May not use hormone cream only constant Because The thin skin or there.
- An anti-inflammatory ointment without hormones: tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimus cream. These ointments act on the immune system of the skin.
- You need a course of antibiotics in severe inflammation.
Treatment Of Itching In Eczema
What can you do about the itching of eczema?
- Moisturize at least twice a day in a fatty cream or ointment. At the pharmacy, you can ask for advice about a suitable greasy cream with as little irritants. Also menthol powder often helps relieve the itching.
- Make sure you are in the night can scratch as little as possible. For example, wear cotton gloves. For a child, use cotton knee high socks for the hands, a pajama with fixed feet or antikrabpak.
- Wet dressings can be very uncomfortable for the itching. They help the skin to cool. There are special bandages and pajamas for people with eczema. You can wear them at night.
- If the itching continues, your doctor may prescribe itch-relieving medications. These products are called antihistamines. If antihistamines alone do not help, it works sometimes to swallow an antacid it. You can also ask for an antidepressant in a small amount. That fact also helps against itching.
- Seborrheic eczema is treated with an anti-yeast agent, such as a shampoo or a cream.