Eczema is not contagious. You can’t “catch it” from someone else. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When an irritant or an allergen from outside or inside the body “switches on” the immune system, it produces inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes the symptoms common to most types of eczema.

There are several different types of eczema that you should know about:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Dyshidrotic eczema
• Nummular eczema
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Stasis dermatitis

Though there are several distinct types of eczema, it is possible to have more than one type at a time. All types of eczema cause itching and redness, but some may also cause your skin to blister, “weep,” or peel.

It’s important to understand which type you or your child may have and also your symptoms and triggers, so that you can best treat and manage your eczema. But the only way to be sure that you or your child has eczema and which type, is to make an appointment with your doctor.

1. Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a type eczema that is chronic and inflammatory. Though the exact cause of atopic is unknown, it happens when the immune system goes into overdrive in response to an allergen or irritant inside or outside the body. AD usually begins in childhood, often in the first six months of the life. When you or your child have AD, it might improve at times or it may get worse (when you may experience what’s called a “flare”).

Atopic dermatitis is part of what’s called the atopic triad, which includes two other allergic conditions (asthma and hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis). Researchers believe that people who come from families with a history of atopic dermatitis, asthma and/or hay fever are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis themselves.

Some common symptoms of atopic dermatitis:

• Dry, scaly skin
• Redness (erythema)
• Itching
• Cracks behind the ears
• A rash on the cheeks, arms and legs
• Open, crusted or “weepy” sores (usually during flare-ups)

Read more about atopic dermatitis symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

2. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis happens when the skin touches irritating substances or allergens. These make the skin inflamed, causing it to burn, itch and become red. There are several kinds of contact dermatitis but irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis are the most common. Contact dermatitis usually appears on the hands, or parts of the body that touched the irritant/allergen.

The  most common irritants include:

• Solvents
• Industrial chemicals
• Detergents
• Fumes
• Tobacco smoke
• Paints
• Bleach
• Wool
• Acidic Foods
• Astringents
• Skin care products that content alcohol (but not cetyl alcohol)
• Some soaps and fragrances
• Allergens (usually animal dander or pollens)

Symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

• Redness and rash
• Burning or swelling
• Blisters that may weep or crust over

Read more about dyshidrotic eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

3. Dyshidrotic eczema

Dyshidrotic eczema is a condition that produces small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. Stress, allergies (such as hay fever), moist hands and feet, or exposure to nickel (in metal-plated jewelry), cobalt (found in metal-plated objects, and in pigments used in paints and enamels), or chromium salts (used in the manufacturing of cement, mortar, leather, paints, and anticorrosives) may be “triggers” of dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema is twice as common in women as it is in men.

Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema include:

• Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) on the fingers, hands, and feet
• Itching
• Redness
• Flaking
• Scaly, cracked skin
• Pain

Read more about dyshidrotic eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

4. Nummular eczema – nummular dermatitis

Nummular (numb-mu-LUR) eczema, also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis, is a common type of eczema that can occur at any age. It looks very different than the usual eczema and can be much more difficult to treat. People with nummular eczema develop coin-shaped spots on their skin, which may be very itchy. It is thought to be “triggered” by things like insect bites, reactions to skin inflammation, or dry skin in the winter.

Some symptoms of nummular eczema include:

• Round, coin-shaped spots
• Itching
• Dry, scaly skin
• Wet, open sores

Read more about nummular eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

5. Seborrheic dermatitis

Considered a chronic form of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis appears on the body where there are a lot of oil-producing (sebaceous) glands like the upper back, nose and scalp.

Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp is called dandruff.

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, although genes and hormones play a role. Microorganisms such as yeast, that live on the skin naturally can also contribute to seborrheic dermatitis. Unlike many other forms of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis is not the result of an allergy.

People of any age can develop seborrheic dermatitis including infants (known as “cradle cap”). It is slightly more common in men than women.

People with certain diseases that affect the immune system, such as HIV or AIDS, and the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, are believed to be at an increased risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis often appears on the scalp, where symptoms may range from dry flakes (dandruff) to yellow, greasy scales with reddened skin. Patients can also develop seborrheic dermatitis on other oily areas of their body, such as the face, upper chest and back.

Common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:

• Redness
• Greasy, swollen skin
• White or yellowish crusty flakes

Read more about seborrheic dermatitis.

6. Stasis dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis is also called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema and venous stasis dermatitis. It happens when there is a problem with blood flow in the veins and pressure develops (usually in the lower legs). This pressure can cause fluid to leak out of the veins and into the skin, resulting in stasis dermatitis.

Symptoms of stasis dermatitis include:

• Swelling around the ankles
• Redness
• Scaling
• Itching
• Pain

And in more severe cases:

• Oozing
• Open areas (cracking or larger ulcers)
• Infection

Read more about stasis dermatitis symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

The post The Different Types of Eczema appeared first on Medika Life.

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a non-contagious inflammatory skin condition. It is a chronic disease characterized by dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when scratched. People with eczema also may be particularly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections.

A note to patients or parents seeking help and advice for themselves or their children. Our Medika Forum will offer a broad range of advice on Eczema. It’s free to use, but you’ll need to register for a free account first on Medika. Please, please keep the following in mind when dealing with eczema.

Five different eczema patients can present with identical rashes and each may have a different underlying cause for the rash. It could be stress, diet, allergies, environmental irritants, or other medical conditions. For this reason, there is no cure-all for Eczema, don’t pin your hopes on a product simply because it’s helped another person. It may work for you or it may not.

Possibly the best advice we can offer you is that you identify, if you can, the underlying cause for the rash. It can help you avoid the irritant if it ingested or environmental. It also means narrowing down the treatments that may or may not work for you. Some hit it lucky after two treatments, others struggle through twenty, and yet others find that their skin develops a resistance to a product that was helping. To assist with this there are links in the article below to proper exclusion diets and advice and information.

Eczema can be one of the most frustrating conditions to deal with. It requires patience and empathy, particularly when you’re dealing with children. It’s one of the reasons we use the Forum to allow people to interact with fellow sufferers, both for support and for sharing advice. This page is a good starting point if you’re just starting to learn about eczema. We’ve linked to a few resources on Medika that we have created in an effort to help you resolve your condition or at least, live comfortably with it.

Causes & Strategies for Prevention

A combination of genetic and environmental factors appears to be involved in the development of eczema. The condition often is associated with other allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever, and food allergy. Children whose parents have asthma and allergies are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis than children of parents without allergic diseases.

Approximately 30 percent of children with atopic dermatitis have food allergies, and many develop asthma or respiratory allergies. People who live in cities or drier climates also appear more likely to develop the disease.

The condition tends to worsen when a person is exposed to certain triggers, such as

• Pollen, mold, dust mites, animals, and certain foods (for allergic individuals) 
• Cold and dry air 
• Colds or the flu 
• Skin contact with irritating chemicals 
• Skin contact with rough materials such as wool 
• Emotional factors such as stress 
• Fragrances or dyes added to skin lotions or soaps.

Taking too many baths or showers and not moisturizing the skin properly afterward may also make eczema worse.

Skin Care at Home

You and your doctor should discuss the best treatment plan and medications for your atopic dermatitis. But taking care of your skin at home may reduce the need for prescription medications. Some recommendations include 

• Avoid scratching the rash or skin. 
• Relieve the itch by using a moisturizer or topical steroids. Take antihistamines to reduce severe itching. 
• Keep your fingernails cut short. Consider light gloves if nighttime scratching is a problem. 
• Lubricate or moisturize the skin two to three times a day using ointments such as petroleum jelly. Moisturizers should be free of alcohol, scents, dyes, fragrances, and other skin-irritating chemicals. A humidifier in the home also can help. 
• Avoid anything that worsens symptoms, including 
  • Irritants such as wool and lanolin (an oily substance derived from sheep wool used in some moisturizers and cosmetics) 
  • Strong soaps or detergents 
  • Sudden changes in body temperature and stress, which may cause sweating 
• When washing or bathing 
  • Keep water contact as brief as possible and use gentle body washes and cleansers instead of regular soaps. Lukewarm baths are better than long, hot baths. 
  • Do not scrub or dry the skin too hard or for too long. 
  • After bathing, apply lubricating ointments to damp skin. This will help trap moisture in the skin. 

These Eczema resources may be of benefit to you

• The Different Types of Eczema
• Exclusion Diets – Identifying Allergens
• RAST Allergy Testing
• Skin Patch and Skin Prick Allergy Testing
• Avoiding Environmental Irritants
• Eczema and Stress
• Steroid Creams and Skin Care
• Alternate Health treatments for Eczema
• Epipen® and why carrying one may save your life.
• Wet Wrap Therapy for Eczema
• Which Doctors are best trained to deal with Eczema?
• Cycling Eczema Treatments
• The truth about Water and your Skin

The post Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis appeared first on Medika Life.