Eczema affects millions of people in the United States alone. What is it and how is it treated?
Eczema is really just a generic term for any type of inflammatory skin condition. The most common type of eczema (and the one we hear about most often) is also referred to as atopic dermatitis. The severity of eczema can range anywhere from a rough and dry spot on the skin on one part of the body to raw and bleeding patches of skin in various spots on the body. Eczema is actually quite common in up to twenty percent of the child population, although, thankfully, for most children, it usually clears up as the child grows older. Although it may look it, eczema is not contagious.
Despite the research that has been done, the exact cause of eczema is still unknown, although many experts have put forth several theories. Some believe that eczema is simply a genetic condition, while others feel that those who suffer from eczema are actually more sensitive to different environmental allergies that may not affect others quite as drastically. Although a person of any age can develop eczema, it is most often seen in small infants. In the United States alone, it is estimated that over fifteen millions people currently suffer from eczema.
Unlike most conditions and diseases, eczema does not have a long grocery list of symptoms, although the severity of the condition depends on the person who suffers from it. Eczema usually looks like a rough or dry patch of skin on the body. The patch will be overwhelmingly itchy to the sufferer, who will often scratch or rub it enough that it will create a rash. While eczema is not really limited to any one part of the body, it seems to strike in different places for adults than it does for babies. For babies, eczema seems to strike the face (cheeks and forehead), legs, arms and scalp. On adults, eczema usually occurs on the neck and face, as well as inside the crook of the elbow, ankle and knee. Most cases of eczema result in simply a dry patch of skin, but for others less fortunate, the dry patch sometimes blisters up and fills with pus.
As of yet, there is no cure-all for eczema although scientists have made great strides in helping to make eczema sufferers more comfortable with the condition. If you feel you or somebody close to you is suffering from eczema, do not hesitate to contact your physician to discuss your concerns. Having eczema is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. The sooner you see your physician, the sooner you will feel and look better. In order to properly treat eczema, the scratching of the dry skin must first be minimized or eliminated. Many physicians will recommend applying a fragrance-free lotion to the area to keep it well moisturized. If the itching persists, some over-the-counter creams that contain corticosteroids can also prove beneficial. For more severe cases, your physician may prescribe a stronger dosage of these creams.
