Eczema is a long-term, chronic inflammatory condition that causes skin to become inflamed, itchy, irritated and sometimes painful. The word “eczema” comes from a Greek word meaning “to boil over.”
It can affect any part of the body, but most often appears on the arms and legs. It is important to note that Eczema can affect anyone at any age.
However, it is more common in children than adults, but it can also affect adults of all ages. Just like any other skin condition, there are many different types of eczema including Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Dyshidrotic Eczema (pompholyx).
So what are their differences? Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema in children and adults.
It occurs when your immune system overreacts to something in your environment — like pollens, mold or dust — which then triggers inflammation in the skin.
This inflammation causes itchiness and redness on the skin’s surface. For some people with AD, their flare-ups may be seasonal due to allergies or other triggers in their environment.
On the other hand, Dyshidrotic eczema also known as pompholyx is a form of eczema that causes small blisters to appear on the palms and soles of the feet. The blisters may be filled with clear fluid or blood-stained fluid, depending on how irritated they are.
They can also be painful if they become infected.
What causes Eczema?
If you have eczema, it’s important to know what causes it and how to manage the condition. But the first question we must answer is what causes this skin condition?
The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but research suggests that it’s related to an overactive immune system. When you have an allergic reaction to something you touch or eat, your immune system creates antibodies to fight off the allergen.
When this happens in people with eczema, their bodies create too many antibodies and produce too much inflammation. This causes the symptoms of eczema to appear on your skin.
That is why people with eczema have red spots and their skin is irritated. While researchers cannot provide an exact answer as to what causes this skin condition, they have listed possible causes which might influence the occurrence of eczema.
Genetics is one possible cause of this skin condition. If you have eczema in your family, you’re more likely to develop it yourself.
Some people are more likely than others to develop eczema if they have a family history of the condition or allergies.
But even if you have no family history of eczema, you may still have an increased risk of developing it because of your genetics. So how do doctors know if genetics are involved?
In order to determine whether or not someone has a genetic predisposition to developing a disease like eczema, they would need to test their DNA for specific genetic mutations associated with it.
While such tests are available today, they don’t exist for every possible gene mutation related to eczema.
In addition to genetics, other factors such as environmental triggers like stress or irritants like soap or detergent can aggravate symptoms for those with eczema.
A combination of both can cause eczema to flare up, which is why it’s important to pay attention to what you put on your skin, how you treat your skin and how you manage stress.
Aside from the two causes above, a few studies suggest that certain foods may trigger eczema symptoms in sensitive individuals.
The most common foods that trigger eczema are eggs, fish, dairy products, peanuts and tree nuts. In babies and young children, eczema can be caused by food allergies or intolerances to milk protein (casein) or soy protein (soybeans).
This is called cow’s milk allergy. Some babies may also be allergic to the proteins found in wheat or eggs.
Many children with eczema outgrow their food allergies by the time they reach adulthood, but some may continue to have allergic reactions into adulthood.
How to treat eczema?
While other people might have overcome this skin condition early on, some people are still struggling with this during their adulthood. Good thing that there are multiple ways to treat eczema.
The most effective way to treat eczema is to identify the cause and avoid it. You may need to switch your laundry detergent or use a different soap.
If you’re allergic to dust or animals, try removing them from your house as much as possible. It is also better to have skincare products that are made for your skin type.
These include cleanser, moisturizers, sunscreen, etc. More importantly, moisturizers are used to keep the skin hydrated.
They also restore the skin’s natural barrier. When your skin is dry or damaged, it loses its ability to retain water and protect itself from irritants like allergens and bacteria.
Moisturizers reduce inflammation by helping restore natural lipids (fat molecules) in the outermost layer of your skin known as stratum corneum, which keeps out foreign substances while keeping in moisture for optimal hydration levels throughout your entire body .
So, what are the ingredients that should be included in your skin care products?
Your skin care products must have salicylic acid (BHA). This ingredient helps prevent and treat acne as well as unblock pores. It’s also an exfoliant, which means it sloughs off dead skin cells and removes excess oils from your face.
In addition, salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and swelling associated with eczema. Another is tea tree oil which has been popular for years as an antiseptic and antifungal agent due to its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation associated with eczema flare-ups. Coconut oil is proven to be rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that promote healthy skin cells, which makes it an ideal ingredient for treating eczema symptoms.
However, choosing the best skin care for you is a bit overwhelming. So to help you, here are our recommended skin care products.
Avene Hydrance Aqua Gel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X_lfeoxu-Q
Product link: Hydrance Aqua-Gel | Avène USA (aveneusa.com)
Avene Hydrance Aqua Gel
It is an ultra-gentle formula that’s also water-based, which makes it very moisturizing without being greasy.
It contains Avene Thermal Spring Water, which acts as an antioxidant to help soothe and heal irritated skin.
Burt’s Bees Truly Glowing Night Cream
https://www.burtsbees.com/product/truly-glowing-night-cream/792850911574.html
Product link: Burt’s Bees | Truly Glowing Night Cream (burtsbees.com)
Burt’s Bees Truly Glowing Night Cream
The moisturizing properties in this night cream are ideal for anyone with eczema because they help prevent dryness without clogging pores like some other products might do.
The formula is free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, which are common allergens that can cause irritation to sensitive skin types like those with eczema.
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