The skin is the largest organ and the outermost layer of the body. It acts as a barrier to entry for foreign particles and is madeup of cells containing water. Depending on our actions and surrounding conditions, pores in our skin allowwater to evaporate.Weather conditions affect our skin and are hardest to control. Extreme weather conditions whether extreme heat or extreme cold and extremely dry or extremely humid, have a direct impact on people suffering from Eczema. In this article, we shall discuss the implications of dry weather conditions for Eczema sufferers.
One of the most visiblesymptoms of Atopic Dermatitis is dry and scaly skin. It is well known that this condition in eczema worsens when the skin dries up.Dry weather combined with low temperatures especially in winters further worsens this condition causing eczema to flare. In other words, dryness acts as a trigger to cause a flare.Even people without eczema have an urge to scratchon waking up in dry weather.
It is very important for people suffering from eczema to retain skin moisture. When the weather is extremely dry, the air in the environment steals the moisture from the skin, drying it out and triggering an eczema flare-up. Moreover,alternating between cold and dry climate,when outdoors and indoors, can aggravate eczema symptoms. Often people find their dermatitis symptoms on parts of the body that are exposed to the weather elements.
How to manage eczema in dry weather?
The best course to manage Eczema in extreme weather conditions is to make changes to your lifestyle. The quicker you adapt to the weather, the lesser the effect on Eczema. Custom care regimens given by doctors for individuals should take into account the effect of weather that the individual is exposed to.
Moisturizing strategy
One of the most effective, easy and cheap treatments is to use moisturizers abundantly. Moisturize skin at least twice a day. Lock the moisture in the skin to help hydration by applying moisturizer right after a bath on wet skin.This will help repair the skin barrier. Change your moisturizer strategy,especially in dry winter, use thick moisturizer instead of lotions (e.g. Petroleum jelly) soon after the bath and give a good amount of time for absorption. Though it may be tedious and time-consuming it is an effective strategy. Cover your hands and face with moisturizer before dropping out in the cold petroleum jelly and emollient can be used to cover the lips.
Bathing
Hot water baths heat up your body resulting in skin moisture being lost due to evaporation.Also, sudden changes in temperature may irritate skin. Use lukewarm water for bathing and keep baths short. Avoid harsh soaps with fragrance dye and alcohol, which can further dry and irritate the skin, rather use moisturizing soap. Moisturize immediately after a shower so that you can retain and lock the moisture.
Comfortable clothes
Use natural and fabrics and always try to dress in layers so that you can respond to changes in temperature.Do not dress too warm so as to cause a sweat which worsensEczema giving rise to scratch and itch cycle. Avoid harsh and scratchy clothes especially woolen clothes which people wear to seek protection from cold.
Humidifier
Generally during dry and cold weather, people use heaters and the heating system pumps in lot of hot air into the room. This hot air irritates eczema affected skin increasing the chance to flare. Use Humidifier to maintain the humidity indoors. 50% relative humidity is considered ideal for keeping eczema affected skin moist. Keep your house environment comfortable maintaining the temperature and humidity level so as to get sound sleep.
Consume Liquids
Even though you don’t feel thirst keep drinking water as our body tends to lose water via various processes as it is made up of 70% of water. Consuming liquids not only protect your skin from dry weather but also beautifies, gives a glow and keeps your skin supple and healthy.
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Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that cannot be cured and has to be managed. The severity of Eczema varies over time and worsens due to some reasons which are called triggers. There are different types of triggers and everybody is not affected in the same way by a trigger. When a person suffers from a breakout of Eczema i.e. the severity of Eczema worsens, she is said to be having a flareup.
There’s a strong association between allergies and Eczema especially with triggers in the air. Common indoor triggers in the air include dust mites, pet dander, etc. Recent studies havealso revealed a relationship between the development of eczema flares and Pollen content of the air. Pollen content and associated allergies are often seasonal and are most acute during the transition of spring to summer.
Environmental allergens like pollen not only produce immediate allergic reactions but also interrupt the permeability barrier of the skin. The lipids released from pollen exhibit chemical and functional similarities to leukotrienes and prostaglandins (pollen-associated lipid mediators).They induce an immune response which exacerbates eczema symptoms causing flares.
Pollen allergens enter the skin through hair follicles and generally can stay there up to 1 week. Hence, allergens penetrating the hair follicles may remainactive for an extended period of time causing skin irritations and flares.
Handling Eczema in High pollen content
As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. To prevent flares caused by pollen.
It is very important to know pollen content at your location or the place where you are planning to travel/visit so that necessary precautions can be taken.
Tools such as EczemaLess which leverage AI can guide you with the pollen content of at your location and can give you a correlation between your flares and triggers.
Studies have found that pollen triggers flares and exacerbates the symptoms only on the skin which gets directly exposed to it. So covering your body/skin completely while going out will prevent the direct contact of pollen to skin thereby avoiding the trigger and subsequent flares to a large extent.
Avoid morning walks or being outdoor in the morning during spring as the pollen contents are high in the morning.Similarly, avoid freshly cut grass to prevent direct exposure to pollen in spring.
Take a shower immediately after being outdoors for a while so that you can rinse off the allergens before they exacerbate any allergic reactions giving rise to immune response.
If you the local pollen content is high keep your doors and windows shut to avoid this airborne allergen from entering your house. Keep your outdoor equipment and tools outside the house if not then at least outside your bedrooms so that you are not bringing pollen along with you in your resting place.
Use Anti-allergy filters in your air conditioner to limit the exposure to pollens indoors. Using Air condition also help to keep the temperature in check thereby reducing the chance of sweat and ultimately itching.
Do not forget to follow your daily care routine of applying moisturizers, wet wraps, showers, etc along with the extra care measures to manage your eczema effectively during the pollen season.
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that cannot be cured and has to be managed. The main goal of Eczema management is to keep flareups to the minimum and improve quality of living. There are several triggers for Eczema but one of the most important ones is food. Typically people think that skin allergies are caused by substances that come in contact with the skin. Even though Food may not come in contact with skin, some food items are considered major triggers for Eczema.
What is Eczema Food Allergy?
Our Body’s immune system works in a way by fighting out infections and other substances which could be harmful to our good health. Food allergy is a response from the body’s immune system that occurs soon after eating a certain food. It occurs when our immune system wrongly identifies some of the proteins in the food or a substance in a portion of food as a danger, thereby, triggering a protective response. When someone is allergic to a particular food, even a tiny amount of that allergy-causing food may result in triggering the signs and symptoms of the allergy such as digestive problems, respiratory problem, swollen airways, inflammation of the skin resulting in Eczema, etc.
The body’s immune system keeps you healthy by fighting off infections and other dangers to good health. A food allergy reaction occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food or a substance in a food, identifying it as a danger and triggering a protective response.
The substances that cause allergies are called allergens. In this case, any food or its substance for which a person is allergic is an allergen.
What Causes Food Allergies?
Let’s take an example of a kid with a peanut allergy. When this kid eats a peanut-topped brownie his immune system mistakenly identifies peanut ingredient in the food as harmful and a threat to the body. In response, his immune system triggers cells to release an antibody known as IgE (immunoglobulin E) to neutralize the allergy-causing substance (allergen). Now next time when the same kid eats any substance that contains peanut or has peanut as an ingredient, IgE antibodies sense it and as a threat and signals the immune system to release a chemical called histamine, as well as other chemicals, into the bloodstream. These chemicals cause allergy symptoms.
Are Food Allergy and Food Intolerance same?
In a lot of situation people often get confused between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance leading them to incorrect treatments. Food intolerance has nothing to do with the immune system and has symptoms mostly related to bowel like bloating, gas, burping, loose stools, and others like headache, nervousness, etc. The main reason for food intolerance is because the person is unable to digest a particular substance like lactose (the phenomenon called as lactose intolerance). Food Intolerance is not as dangerous as food Allergy which may in some case be life-threatening.
Although it depends upon person to person for the kind of food allergy he has and a person can be allergic to any food, but it is found that almost 90 % of food allergy is caused by the food category Eggs, Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Wheat and Soy.
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Allergies can be hereditary that means it they can be inherited from parents to their kids through genes. But it is not necessary that if one or both the parents have an allergy all their kids will have the same, it just increases the chances and many people develop an allergy even without their parents having it.
Food triggers in eczema
For sufferers of Eczema, a particular food item or multiple food items can act as triggers. Being one of the commonest triggers, food allergy often triggers a rash and a general itchy feeling, which can start the scratch-itch cycle of eczema. A sufferer of Eczema may experience a flare-up immediately after consuming the food they are allergic to. Food allergy-causing eczema is also closely related to intestinal hyperpermeability otherwise known as “Leaky Gut Syndrome”
Some of the common Food Triggers that cause eczema flares are mentioned below
Gluten and foods containing Gluten
Gluten is a protein that is commonly found in wheat, barley, rye, etc. Gluten has been shown to contribute to eczema symptoms and act as a trigger for flare-ups.
Soy Soy and its well-known forms like tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, soy ice cream, soy cheese, and soy flour can flare-up your Eczema as it is considered to be a common allergen for people suffering from Eczema
Sugar
Sugar and refined carbohydrates are pro-inflammatory by nature which is a contributing factor in eczema. Moreover, it is found that eczema is linked with the presence of bad gut bacteria and fungus such as Candida Albicans which thrive on sugar.
Dairy Whether its food intolerance or food allergy the first food group that is advised to be eliminated from a sufferer’s diet are dairy products which are considered to be pro-inflammatory in the body. This is because some of the dairy products like cows milk contain large protein molecules that are difficult to digest or recognized as an allergen by the immune system
Egg
Eggs as such have no effect on eczema unless the patient has an allergy to eggs. An egg allergy can cause increased levels of histamine in the body, which leads to an outbreak of eczema.
Processed food
Processed food contains things like food dyes, additives, and preservatives which are pro-inflammatory and may cause eczema to flare. It is shockingly sad that 60% of American’s daily calories come from processed diet as per a study published in the journal BMJ Open conducted by the University of Sao Paulo.
These apart foodstuffs which are considered to be superfoods such as avocado and Brocolli are also found to worsen eczema symptoms this is due to the rich source of salicylates and other amines.
Treatment
Food can be a trigger for worsening eczema by causing flare-ups but is not the cause of eczema. This means that avoiding the food is not likely to cure eczema but will help to reduce the eczema flares. Since Eczema cannot be cured the goal is to get rid of Eczema symptoms i.e. flareups as much as possible and prevent them from happening.
Eczema treatment is multifaceted which requires multiple things to be taken care of and doesn’t depend on anyone action.
Elimination Diet
Often Dermatologists recommend an elimination diet to identify food triggers that cause eczema flares. The standard procedure is that some food items are eliminated from the sufferer’s diet and added back to the diet. For e.g., If flares seem to occur after consuming wheat, don’t consume wheat or any wheat products for a few days or weeks. Monitor your symptoms for improvement. If your eczema improves, slowly reintroduce wheat back into your diet. If symptoms return, wheat is likely an eczema trigger for you. Removing these foods from your diet could promote healthier skin.
If you think you might be allergic to a certain food, bring this up to your doctor. They can refer you to an allergist for further testing. Avoiding highly processed foods can reduce your potential for exposure, and is thought to be beneficial for overall health as well.
Keep record
A food journal or diary will be helpful to maintain the records of everything you eat as well as your symptoms over a period of time. And when you get a flare you can quickly refer your diary to narrow down a particular meal and the food you had in that meal.
It may be little hectic and too much paperwork to keep a record of your diet and symptoms with date and time but it’s the best way to identify the culprit food. Keeping record nowadays is very easy with help of an app like EczemaLess which not only helps you to keep a record of your diet, symptoms, and flareups but also your care plan, current therapy and its effect on eczema severity just at your fingertips.
Some Tips to follow
When consuming outside food Be sure to read food labels carefully and know what you’re eating and drinking.
While dining at restaurants be sure that your server or chef is aware that you can’t eat the food that causes you flares, and you need to be completely sure that the meal you order doesn’t contain that
Plan your meals and snacks before when you travel or go to an event carrying a cooler packed with allergen-free food.
Eliminating certain foods and avoiding food can only prevent the flares but to keep the symptoms in check carry out your routine eczema treatment of moisturizing, applying topical ointments, etc.
Always Remember eliminating a group of food or diet restrictions can lead to poor nutrition adults and malnutrition and growth delay in babies and children. Speak with your health care provider about maintaining a well-balanced diet and keep her informed and get her approval before making a certain change to your diet.
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Atopic Dermatitis or as commonly known as Eczema is all about a skin condition that becomes abnormal developing cracks, bumps, red, the skin loses its ability to withhold the moisture thus becomes dry and itchy. The skin barrier becomes weak allowing certain microbes to enter leading to an immune response resulting in inflammation. This Microbes in some cases worsens the condition developing various infections in eczema. Most of the eczema treatment and care plans are external with steroids and topical treatment plans as suggested by the physician subject to the patient’s condition. But in many cases elimination of certain food categories or ingredients drastically improves the condition. This is because food may act as a trigger in resulting in eczema flare-up. But how could a food which doesn’t make any contact with the external skin like other triggers (cloth, weather, dust, etc. do) has an impact on the skin. Well, this could be due to the phenomenon which we will discuss ahead know as “Leaky gut syndrome”.
Overall identifying triggers that flares of your eczema play a critical role, manage them using an AI eczema app and keep your triggers under check.
What is the Gut?
The gut is one of the vital disease-fighting systems of the human body. Many of the body’s immune cells are located in the gut and the microbes are deeply intertwined with the immune system
Similar to the skin which acts as a barrier preventing the foreign particles to enter the body, our intestine has an extensive lining that forms a tight barrier or junctions. These tight junctions form the gateway between the intestine and bloodstream, which controls, which substance should be allowed to enter.
The main job of this junction is to maintain a balance between allowing vital nutrients to enter your bloodstream, but still remaining small enough to prevent other hazardous disease-causing substances from passing out of your digestive system into the rest of your body.
What does Leaky Gut Syndrome mean?
When this tight barrier gets disrupted, the junction becomes loose developing cracks or holes, allowing very tiny undigested food particles, metabolic waste toxins, and other microbes to penetrate the tissues beneath it and enter the bloodstream. This triggers the inflammation and, in many cases, also causes the changes in gut flora (friendly microbes) that could lead to many problems like an autoimmune response.
An immune response from your immune system which is so normal that serves to fight infections and diseases, now fighting your own cells leading to chronic inflammation, which is a root cause of major diseases like eczema, asthma, autism and the list goes on.
This action of immune response due to the disrupted intestine lining is called Leaky Gut Syndrome. In medical literature, a leaky gut is also referred to as “intestinal hyperpermeability.”
Leaky Gut and Eczema
According to research noted down in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology with a subject Increased intestinal permeability in atopic eczema. A research study was conducted on 26 children with eczema which concluded that 14 of the participants had leaky gut and eczema. The researchers said that leaky gut was likely caused by food intolerances so elimination diets were undertaken by many of the participants.
So does that mean that the main reason is undiagnosed food intolerance?
Well, Often it could be. But sometimes it’s not – remember eczema is not caused by one single issue, it can be different for different individuals.
More studies are required to determine if leaky gut is universal in atopic dermatitis or if there are specific subtypes/phenotypes for which it is relevant says Peter A. Lio, M.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology North-western University Feinberg School of Medicine.
So leaky gut could be one of the reasons for Eczema but not every eczema is caused by Leaky gut syndrome
An unhealthy Gut means a low immune system and thereby even a small trigger or other factors make you fall sick in eczema causing eczema flare.
What causes Leaky Gut?
Though the clear cause of Leaky gut is mysterious, however, it was found that the following reasons may increase the intestinal permeability.
High Gluten consumption
Infections like candida, intestinal parasites, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Both Gluten and overgrowth of bacteria stimulate higher levels of a protein called zonulin, which is known to regulate tight junctions and an increased level of this protein may loosen tight junction causing leaky gut
Excess consumption of inflammatory foods
Long term use of Antibiotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin may also cause intestinal permeability
Low levels of Healthy Gut Bacteria
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Diagnosis
Although there are no Diagnosis for Leaky Gut Syndrome that is thought in the school of medicine which can tell you how leaky is your gut, there are certain factors which can be tested to find the condition indirectly
Lactulose and Mannitol Test for Leaky Gut
This test analyzes urine for the clearance of two sugars, lactulose, and mannitol, which are by-products of the leaky gut syndrome. The patient has to consume these sugars and the ratio of Lactulose to mannitol ratio in the urine.
Organic acid Mineral and Vitamin Deficiency Test Nutrient Malabsorption or vitamin/ mineral deficiency are some of the serious warnings that you may have leaky gut. The organic acid test helps identify nutritional deficiencies.
Blood Test for Zonulin
As discussed earlier of Zonulin effects the opening of the tight junctions so the Increased amount of Zonulin shall cause the Tight junction to loosen resulting in intestinal permeability. A blood test is to identify the amount of Zonulin level in the blood.
Stool test Just like blood test is done to see what’s wrong in the with the organs. Stool test is done to analyze the condition of the Gut. They’ll look for bacteria (good and bad), viruses, bacteriophages, fungi, yeast, parasites and all sorts of other goodies that may be contributing to my intestinal permeability, aka leaky gut.
Food Tolerance Test Although it may not help in the direct diagnosis of the leaky gut, once you diagnosed with leaky gut this test plays an important role to plan your diet and to list out which food or ingredients have to be avoided. These tests are also available as a dried blood spot collection.
Signs and symptoms of Leaky gut syndrome
Symptoms may not be the same for everyone it may differ from person to person and one may have a combination of symptoms which may include
Stomach pains, especially after eating due to undigested particles breaching the tight junction and entering the bloodstream leading to immune response
Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating, inflammatory bowel disease
Nutritional deficiencies may occur due to improper absorption of Nutrients
The Immune system weakens and a person fall sick more frequently
The person may suffer from Headaches, brain fog, memory loss, and Excessive fatigue
Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema, or rosacea may develop due to inflammation.
The person craves for sugar or carbs due to loss of sugar in Urine
Arthritis or joint pain
Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease or Crohn’s
Food Allergies are believed to be one of the most common leaky gut symptoms.
leaky gut has been shown to cause various neurocognitive disorders causing Mood issues and autism in some cases
Treatment
Whenever a person falls sick it is a common habit to change the diet may it be for a small period of time as short as a couple of days. The treatment for Leaky Gut revolves around a Healthy selective diet eliminating the foods that your body treats as toxic and Gut repairing supplement. the digestive tract is a key player in the manifestation of eczema, psoriasis, and allergy symptoms.
Remove foods that cause inflammation
A common initial step most of the practitioner’s advice is to remove foods that can be inflammatory. Among the most common are
Alcohol and Carbonated Beverages
Caffeine
Dairy products
Baked goods
Gluten-containing products and Grains
Sauces
Refined Oils
Artificial Sweeteners
Mushrooms
Nuts
Potatoes and Tomatoes
Any kind of processed foods, (especially canned foods)
Certain medications,
Any foods that may cause allergies or sensitivities.
Nutrients that repair the gut lining and protect it from injury are required to heal the leaky gut. Hence Eczema Diet and Eczema Detox programs have a great success rate.
Incorporate foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect
Bone Broth is rich in amino acids and minerals with gut-healing collagen providing perfect nourishment for the inflamed gut.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property helps with the inflammation occurring in the gut lining and also acts as detox.
Coconut products such as coconut oil, milk, dried coconut, coconut water. Coconut helps fight the overgrowth of bacteria, yeast and fungus in the gut.
Fermented foods and vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut bring good bacteria into the gut.
Choose a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruits with plenty of leafy greens. Every diet should be “plant-based”.
Fruits with Low Glycaemic Index
Sprouted seeds (like chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds)
Herbal teas
Olives and olive oil (Avoid deep frying)
Most of the eczema sufferers get eczema when they consume high salicylate-containing food. An eczema diet including a low salicylate broth are gentle on the gut and good for the skin specially to those who are sensitive to salicylate
Probiotic therapy
The best way to improve the gut is to keep the gut bacteria healthy by means of diet i.e. consume probiotics. Studies have shown that an increase of probiotic or cultured foods can help in nourishing good bacteria. Incorporate Vitamins B6 and C in diet or via supplements, which are very beneficial to help the gut lining to repair.
Probiotic supplements are generally safe and are potentially effective means of decreasing immune system triggers and improving eczema symptoms. Probiotic bacteria are thought to inhibit inflammation and promote proper development of young, immature intestinal, respiratory and immune cells into healthy, fully mature cells.
For a Leaky gut, optimal digestion can be obtained through diet, therapeutic nutrition, and targeted supplementation to realize the complete resolution of symptoms. By changing what you eat and healing your gut you can clear your skin if leaky gut is the cause of your eczema
Final Thoughts
Leaky gut is associated with the disruption of the intestinal lining or tight junctions which controls the entrance of the particles from the digestive system into the bloodstream. Avoiding and including a certain type of foods with probiotic therapy helps in curing the disease.
The leaky gut syndrome is not a recognized diagnosis in the medical community yet. Eczema or Atopic dermatitis still remains a complex disease with mysteries in its actual cause and no complete treatment. Even in today’s advanced and latest medical improvements, there are still questions that remain unanswered. The connection between Leaky Gut and Atopic Dermatitis arises many thoughts with diagnostic and treatment implications but also raises many queries. Still, there are ongoing studies and more research required if Leaky gut is the key cause of eczema or just limited to certain sub-categories of Eczema and what will be the solution that needs to be approached.
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Eczema also commonly know known as Atopic Dermatitis can become so infected that the person has to go to the hospital and stay over for treatment, this can be very upsetting, especially for youngsters which means missing days of school. Some infections, such as eczema herpeticum (a viral infection), are serious and need medical attention right away, you don’t have any option and in case, if left untreated it may cause sepsis which can be life-threatening.
Some kinds of skin infections can be treated with antibiotics (in the form of tablets, creams, injections or IV drips). Other kinds of skin infections are fungal (such as ringworm) and are treated with antifungal creams or tablets.
It is very obvious that one should immediately visit the physicians for advice to fight back the infection and to find a perfect eczema cure but as it always said that “prevention is better than cure”. Let’s check out what all things can be done to avoid infections and smooth eczema management.
Prevention measure to avoid Eczema Infection
It is important to keep your skin as healthy as possible to avoid infection, especially during an Eczema flare. When flares occur, a person should follow the recommended treatment plan to help manage and reduce the flare.
If you are suffering from Eczema, avoid contact with anyone who has cold sores. Cold sores are highly infectious. Since the presence of Eczema reduces the immunity against viral infections, eczematous lesions can get infected easily.
Frequent hand washing – As we touch surfaces all the time, it is best to wash our hands frequently, especially if they get contaminated with germs.
Avoid touching your eczema lesions unnecessarily as you can introduce germs to the rash
Avoid scratching – Scratching can damage the skin and break the natural surface barrier for infections. Cut and maintain your nails so that it doesn’t hurt much in case you scratched unknowingly
Keep the rashes and skin moisturized well for extra protection.
Follow a healthy diet and avoid foods that you may be sensitive for e.g. nuts and dairy products
Keep your skin as clean as possible
Children who have eczema should be monitored closely and reminded not to scratch.
If flares of Eczema occur, seek treatment early and stick to the recommended treatment plan. The more severe your eczema, it is more prone to infection.
Keep your environment clean, free from dust and animal dander
Manage your stress – as stress is known to trigger eczema, managing your stress well can reduce flares and thus infections. Practice relaxation techniques, yoga, and meditation.
You can manage your care plan and daily routine by an eczema tool to check what care plan is working for you and stick to it for effective results.
What you can do as a home remedy?
Bath/shower
Bath or shower every day to clean the skin.
Use warm water and a soft cloth to gently soak and lift off any crusts.
Use a soap-free wash e.g. non-ionic cream, aqueous cream, emulsifying ointment. Don’t use soap and bubble baths as these make the skin dry.
Antiseptic baths two times a week can help. See bleach bath instructions.
Steroid creams and ointments
Apply steroid to all red and itchy skin (active eczema) at-least once a day. Immediately after the bath is best.
Use enough to make the skin shiny. Steroid for the face/neck: Steroid for the body/arms/legs:
When the skin is no longer red and itchy stop using the steroid but keeps it moisturized. If eczema comes back, start using the steroid again
Moisturizer (emollient)
Smooth on lots of moisturizers many times a day to keep the skin soft.
Apply all over not just where there is eczema.
Treatment for Eczema Infection
Once the infection breaches your prevention, immediately look for treatment.
On approaching the medical care, the physician may take skin from the site which will be sent for pathology testing. The Microbiological testing of the smear helps to identify the type of infection. The mode of treatment will majorly depend on the result of the test whereas empirical treatment can be started without delay. According to the results of the culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing, treatment can be modified.
If the infection is mild an antibiotic cream or ointment will be prescribed. e.g: Neosporin, Polysporin, Fucidine.
Sometimes the antibiotic is combined with a steroid. e.g: Betnovate N, Fucicort, Corticosporin.
When the infection is widespread, an oral antibiotic will be added. e.g: a course of Flucloxacillin or Co-Amoxyclav to fight the infection better.
To infants and children with infected Eczema, oral antibiotics will be given in syrup form, whereas for adults, tablets and capsules are preferred.
If the patient is ill with fever and chills, your doctor will admit you and treat the infected Eczema with IV antibiotics.
Sometimes steroids can worsen infections. Topical immune-modulators like Protopic ointment and Elidel cream are preferred to steroids by some doctors when treating infected Eczema.
Viral infections are treated with oral antiviral medications e.g: Oral Acyclovir for 1 week. Sometimes an antiviral cream (Herperax) can be applied topically over the rash. Eczema which is infected with a virus can heal spontaneously with time even without treatment with anti-viral medications. However, if it doesn’t heal seek treatment.
If Eczema Herpeticum is severe, hospital admission is required and drugs will be given via a drip.
If there is a pain, pain relief can be done by Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Advil (Ibuprofen). These are also available as over the counter products. Make sure that you adhere to the proper dose and dosage instructions.
Treatment of Fungal infections of Eczema – Use of a cream or ointment containing antifungal and steroid combinations. e.g: Candacort (Clotrimazole and Hydrocortisone) Ecocort (Econazole and Triamcinolone) Candid B (Betamethasone and Clotrimazole)
Once the inflammation is controlled you may be treated with a pure antifungal cream or an ointment. Sometimes your doctor may first control the fungal infection with a pure antifungal cream or ointment rather than a combination.
e.g: Clotrimazole (Lotrimin), Lamisil (Terbinafin), Tolnaftate
Once the fungal infection is controlled treatment will follow with usual topical products that control the Eczema rash.
Sometimes fungal infections can be widespread especially in immune-compromised patients such as those who suffer from immunity disorders, AIDS, Cancer, etc. Then a course of oral or intravenous antifungal medication will be added depending on severity.
In addition to the specific treatment of infection, the usual treatment for Eczema should also be followed, such as;
Moisturizing the skin well – Moisturize your skin adequately with a good emollient twice a day, especially after a bath, while the skin is still damp. Emollients with minimal fragrance, which are alcohol and paraben-free, are the best. Ingredients in a good moisturizer are glycerol, Dimethicone, aqueous cream, Lanolin oil, Shea butter, Argon oil, cocoa butter, etc. Moisturizers are best when used in the Ointment form rather than a cream form. Choose the best emollient which is suitable for your skin or get a prescription from your doctor which will be the best for you.
Management of itching with an antihistamine – These are also available as over the counter products. e.g: cetirizine (Alerid, Cetzine), Loritidine (Claritin, Claratyne), fexofenadine (Allegra) or Chlorpheniramine (Piriton) to reduce itching.
As antihistamine products prevent you from the urge of scratching it will help the control of further skin damage and infection.
Wet dressing or bandages to cover and treat eczema rash – This helps to maintain moisture and to prevent further damage to the skin by scratching. However, bandages are preferred once the infection is controlled. Avoid applying bandages when eczema is infected.
When to look back to your physician
If you find that the infection is not at all improving after 2–3 days of treatment
If your child is missing school due to severe skin infections or not sleeping well because of eczema
Once you complete the course and find the symptoms are recurring
GET IN CONTROL OF YOUR ECZEMA
Use our AI tool to check the severity of Eczema and keep track of your Eczema progress.
Eczema, also known as Atopic Dermatitis, a term marked by Dry, Red, Itchy and inflamed skin, itself a chronic condition that requires proper management, But When Such condition is caught by an Infection it only worsens it. The routine Eczema Treatment will not be effective in such condition and requires special care.
Infection is more common in wet eczema than Dry eczema because the former provides the Infection causing germs (Micro-organisms) a favourable environment to survive, grow and multiply.
One of the other common reason for the infection is the habit of uncontrolled scratching. Continuous scratching damages the layer of the skin which acts a barrier causing bruises.
Atopic Dermatitis
These Open bruises from scratching dermatitis permit germs and microbes resulting in infection.
Hence you might have noticed that the Eczema Infection is more common amongst the children because they don’t have control over scratching and also their skin has less resistance to germs.
Atopic Eczema in Children
Adults on the other hand somehow control the scratching, tempted by the itch in eczema. It is also common with the individuals who are currently on eczema treatment but have frequent sores and open wounds related to their eczema condition.
Atopic Eczema itself is not infectious or contagious (it cannot be spread to another person), but it can become infected if germs set in, which can pass on to person nearby as well. There are different kinds of infections that can develop with eczema also known as Atopic Dermatitis and these Infections can develop in or on eczema anywhere on the body right from the scalp to toe.
Causes of Eczema Infection
Infections in Atopic Eczema are caused by a variety of potential, bacteria, fungi or viruses. Coming up next are some of the common microbes which accounts for causing Eczema Infection.
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium which is found in almost all people with Eczema. They cause colonization, although may not infect the lesions. In 20% of healthy adults without eczema, Staphylococcus aureus lives as a commensal organism (The microorganisms which live on the skin without harming the host). However, when eczematous skin gets damaged these bacteria can get in and cause infection.
Viruses – commonly Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1)
Presence of Eczema lowers the resistance to viral infections. HSV 1 virus spreads from skin to skin contact. HSV which commonly causes Cold sores can cause severe infection in eczematous rashes. This is also known as Eczema Herpeticum. It is an extensive skin eruption with vesicles which occur on eczema rash. Eczema Herpeticum commonly occurs in infants and children with severe eczema. These clusters of small blisters are itchy and painful.
Fungal infections – Candida (Thrush) can develop in warm and moist skin folds. When the eczema is in flexures such as elbows, behind knees or around abdominal folds, candida can freely infect eczema especially when the skin is damaged by scratching. If the person lives in warm and humid climates, increased sweating can cause infection to spread.
Tinea (Dermatophytes) or Ringworm can also infect eczema rashes causing ring like reddish patches or infect in between toes leading to Athletes foot.
When Eczema rash is infected, it worsens Eczema and allowing it to spread more quickly and making the Treatment and healing process difficult.
Diagnosing infection in Atopic Dermatitis is not always straightforward. But there are a few signs and indications which you can look up to and take prompt actions once you notice them. It’s critical for people with eczema or caregivers of children with eczema to get familiar with the indications of infected eczema so you can look for the proper treatment. Proper treatment at the right time during the infection will help to avoid further complication.
The symptoms of infected Eczema will be very different from normal eczema which suddenly starts getting worst spreading the rash across the body in no time.
Signs and Symptoms of infected Atopic Eczema
The skin area becomes more inflamed (swollen, hot and red)
The eczematous lesions get blisters, ‘boils’ and cysts with red or yellow color spots with pus
pus/weepy fluid (often yellow or green) coming out of the skin and crusts or scabs
painful skin – “like you’ve got cuts everywhere”
Very tired and unwell feeling drains the person
Sudden flaring of eczema all over the body.
Lesions become sore and painful with a tender to touch in Eczema Herpeticum.
A person with infected eczema will also experience extreme Itching and burning
In more advanced cases, a person may experience more severe symptoms including fever, chills, aches, and fatigue
Complications in Eczema Infection
Atopic Eczema Infection may also lead to more dangerous complications such as a serious staph infection that may cause a blood infection known as sepsis (A life-threatening condition) if left untreated.
Some of the other complications include
Resistance to the topical steroids due to continuous and prolonged use
Increase in blisters and Itching out of control
Prolonged Eczema flare and Scarring
It may cause a growth problem in some children’s too.
When to Approach a Physician?
Because it’s not always obvious if eczema is infected, it’s important to get help from medical professionals.
If an individual is suffering from chronic eczema, he should approach the physician immediately in case he develops a fever, experience chills, Experiencing tiredness/fatigue, or develop signs of infection, such as oozing blisters and excessive itchiness.
Infants and young children with infected Eczema should be taken for medical care as soon as possible and monitored for a clinical outcome more carefully when encountered with Eczema Infection.
Check your Eczema score to understand about your condition well. Manage your eczema by planning the eczema treatment that best suits you.
GET IN CONTROL OF YOUR ECZEMA
Use our AI tool to check the severity of Eczema and keep track of your Eczema progress.
Introduction
Have you ever heard people complaining about “Disphan hands”, a condition usually marked by dry, red, and scaly skin in the hands mostly resulting due to long contact with water, or dipping hands too often in kitchen sink, or repeated exposure to, sensitivity to, or overuse of cleaning materials (such as detergents). When you come across this term, that is nothing but Hand Eczema and also called as hand dermatitis.
20 to 35% of all dermatitis affects hands and in general 2 to 10 % of the population develops Hand Eczema in some or other stages of their life time.
More than 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of eczema. Eczema can effect any part of the body but it is more trouble some if it appears in hand and foot as these are the constantly used body part.
Causes
It is the Most common occupational skin disease, comprising 9% to 35% of all occupational disease.
In many cases, hand dermatitis occurs due to direct damage of the skin by harsh chemicals or irritants, especially soap, detergent and constant contact with water. This is called irritant contact dermatitis.
Skin contact with allergens such as perfumes, rubber or leather can also cause dermatitis in people with an allergy to these substances. This is called allergic contact dermatitis.
In many cases, however, the cause of hand dermatitis is unknown, and there is no trigger. It is also common for someone to have more than one cause of their hand dermatitis, for example a combination of in-built and irritant contact dermatitis.
Hand Dermatitis likely affects the people who have had eczema in childhood and are in constant contact with water in their daily routine.
Symptoms and How Hand Eczema appears?
Hand Eczema has a huge impact on people’s lives when it’s severe or even in mild cases. Like other forms of dermatitis, the affected areas of skin feel hot, sore, rough, scaly and itchy. There may be itchy little bubbles or painful cracks. The skin may also appear like following
Dry, chapped skin (often the first sign)
Patches of red (or dark brown) irritated skin
Scaly and inflamed skin that may itch
Burning sensation
Itchy blisters
Deep, painful cracks
Bleeding or weeping skin
Crusts, pus, and pain
Eczema Management
The rule of the 4 R’s can be applied in the management of hand eczema.
The Key in managing Eczema is finding the cause, the triggers and Allergens once you figure out them it becomes a lot easy to manage your Eczema just avoiding them solves major part of the disease. Finding the cause often takes time, and lot of efforts but finding the cause is essential to get relief. Once you know what’s causing the hand eczema, appropriate treatment can bring relief. Treatment includes avoid what’s causing the hand eczema.
Here, a few smart strategies that may help keep hand eczema at bay.
House hold tips to Manage Hand Eczema Reduce Washing Hands
Avoid washing your hand too often, wash it only when they’re dirty or have germs, like after you use the bathroom. Each time you wash up, you rinse away some of the nourishing oils that your skin makes.
Handling Food
Avoid handling raw food items (raw vegetables, especially onion and garlic, raw meat, and fish) with bare hands. Use a protective gloves Instead while handling such foods.
Handling Solvents
Direct contact with solvents, polishes (metal, shoe, furniture, car, etc.), adhesives, and epoxy resins has to be avoided. Use protective gloves. Vinyl gloves can be used for these jobs. Do not use latex gloves since solvents pass through latex rubber gloves. Vinyl gloves are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
House hold Work
Use cotton-lined gloves for protection while doing household course or using cleansers and chemicals. Latex gloves can cause allergic reactions, so it’s best to avoid them. Don’t wear waterproof gloves for too long, though. They can make your hands sweat and lead to an itchy eczema flare-up.
Avoid Soap
Use lukewarm water and mild cleansers without perfume, colors, anti-bacterial agents for washing hands. Take off rings before washing. Pat hands dry, especially the finger-webs and wrist.
Ointments and Creams
Use corticosteroid ointments and emollient creams as advised. Do not use any other hand creams. Repeat application of emollients (Vaseline) as many times as possible. Thin polyethylene gloves at night after applying corticosteroid ointment will provide occlusion and enhance the effect of ointment.
Cold Weather
Protect hands from cold weather and prevent damage to your hands from the whether. Use leather gloves; thin cotton gloves may be first worn.
Educate people
As a preventive measures High risk groups such as those with history of atopic dermatitis, hairdressers, health-care workers, food-handlers, and those working with solvents and cutting oils should be identified and educated.
With preventive measures and treatment, however, most people with hand dermatitis recover completely.
When to see a dermatologist
If you have extremely dry, painful hands and using moisturizer throughout the day fails to bring relief, you may have hand eczema. Without treatment and preventive measures, hand eczema tends to worsen.
It’s also a good idea to see a dermatologist, because he may suggeststronger topical or other treatments to treat underlying inflammation, depending on your symptoms.
Get your Eczema Score using our Eczema Score checker and see what impact it has in your life by getting DLQI score.
GET IN CONTROL OF YOUR ECZEMA
Use our AI tool to check the severity of Eczema and keep track of your Eczema progress.
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