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Eczema is a common skin problem that can affect people of all ages. It usually starts during early childhood, and some forms may continue into adulthood. Eczema occurs when the skin becomes dry, itchy, and inflamed, leading to red rashes on the body and limbs. A dermatologist treats eczema by prescribing medications such as topical corticosteroids or topical tacrolimus, or pimecrolimus. Prescription-strength moisturizers may also be recommended to unclog blocked pores and replace the skin’s natural oils affected with eczema. If you would like more information about eczema, read this article.
What is meant by eczema:
Eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become red, itchy, and dry. It occurs when the outer layer of skin does not function normally, causing cracks in the skin, leading to infections with bacteria on the body.
What things can cause eczema:
Many things can cause eczema, such as:
- Stress
- Skin irritants such as harsh soaps and detergents.
- Allergies to food or environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and mold spores.
- Hormonal changes in women that occurs during their menstrual cycle or pregnancy
- Asthma
What are some symptoms of eczema:
Symptoms of eczema include:
- Dry, flaky skin.
- Redness
- Itching, bumps that look like blisters filled with fluid.
- Scaling patches on the elbows or behind knees, darkening in spots affected by eczema due to a build-up in melanin, etc.
What are the types of eczema:
There are several different types of eczema:
Atopic dermatitis-Â which is the most common type of eczema. It involves dry skin that may appear to look like scaly patches.
Contact dermatitis-Â happens when the skin becomes inflamed by exposure to irritants or allergens such as soaps, perfumes, latex gloves, etc…
Dyshidrotic eczema-Â a unique type of eczema that appears as large blisters filled with fluid.
Nummular dermatitis-Â causes round dry spots on the skin that looks like ringworm or coin-shaped.
Neurodermatitis –Â long-term itchy rash mainly likely to occur in men over 40, often affects the thighs and trunk of the body.
Seborrheic dermatitis-Â a long-term type of eczema that causes a dry, scaly, red rash on the scalp, face, chest, or upper back. It usually affects infants but can also occur in adults.
Stasis dermatitis -Â occurs when fluid from the legs doesn’t flow back up to the heart properly, which causes blood to pool just under the skin of the lower legs.
How is eczema diagnosed?
A dermatologist can diagnose eczema by identifying the types of rash
Conducting allergy tests: if you think that substances such as food or medications may be causing your skin to become inflamed.
Taking a biopsy of the skin: if the dermatologist thinks there is an infection on the body due to cracks in the skin affecting its usual function.
How does a dermatologist treat eczema?
As per the condition, dermatologists treat eczema in different ways
- Topical Ointments: Dermatologists may recommend ointments to help relieve itching and prevent further damage to the skin.
- Oral Medications: If the condition is severe, your dermatologist may prescribe oral medications such as antihistamines to help control inflammation
- Light Therapy: This involves exposing eczema patches to ultraviolet lights, which helps reduce symptoms of eczema by decreasing inflammation.
- Allergen Tests: Testing for allergens that cause itchiness can determine if they are triggering the outbreaks of rashes on the body etc
- Moisturizers: Dermatologists may also recommend moisturizers to unclog blocked pores and replace natural oils on the skin affected with eczema
- Skin Care: Skincare is essential for treating eczema by keeping the skin moisturized or avoiding irritating the skin. Also, dermatologists recommend using mild soaps and shampoos such as Dove rather than harsher products such as dish soap which can further damage the skin.
Dermatologists also treat eczema by advising lifestyle changes like:
- Changing laundry detergents and staying away from harsh soaps and fabric softeners
- Avoiding hot showers as it can dry out the skin
- Increasing water intake to keep the skin hydrated, avoid caffeine as well as alcohol as they dehydrate your body quickly
- Use humidifiers at home during winter months to prevent the house from being too dry
- Avoiding scalding baths, which can irritate your skin even more
- Staying indoors during extreme weather conditions to reduce sun exposure or other elements that may further irritate the skin.
Dermatologists also treat eczema by advising dietary changes:
- Allergen-free diet: Eating an allergen-free diet is very important for eczema patients by reducing exposure to potential irritants such as dairy, soy, eggs, and nuts, which can trigger itchiness.
- Fatty acids: Dermatologists recommend incorporating fatty acid supplements into your diet either through eating fatty fish, taking supplements, or adding flaxseed oil into your diet
- Vitamin E: Dermatologists recommend eating vitamin-E rich food such as almonds, spinach, and olives
- Probiotics: Eating probiotic foods is also essential for eczema patients to make the gutless acidic by boosting good bacteria, which can be found in yogurt, kefir, or miso soup
- Fruit and Vegetables: Eating more vegetables can provide your skin with more antioxidants which help fight free radicals that cause skin inflammation etc
- Drinking Water: Staying hydrated is essential to keep the body moisturized, so drink at least eight glasses of water every day
- Avoiding Caffeine & Alcohol: As mentioned earlier, caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating, so they should be avoided because they can cause your body to become dry, which adds to the itchiness of eczema, etc
- Eating whole grains: Eating whole grains such as brown rice and oats is essential in healthy digestion and boosts the immune system, which reduces the risk of infections etc
- Omega-3 rich Foods: There are other fatty acids besides omega-3, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), found in dairy products, beef, and lamb. Eating more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps reduce inflammation of the skin etc
When a person has eczema, the immune system overreacts to allergens and triggers inflammation which can cause chronic itching, redness, and scaling on the skin. Dermatologists who treat eczema are medical doctors specializing in diagnosing, treating, and preventing skin diseases, hair, and nails.
How long does it take for eczema to heal?
Eczema is a type of skin inflammation that can go away on its own, but it takes time and patience. Repeated outbreaks are common. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition and which parts of your body are involved. You may need to try more than one treatment before finding something that works for you etc
Things to keep in mind while undergoing eczema treatment:
- Take a break from hot showers, baths and avoid using boiling water for long periods as it can further irritate your skin
- Moisturizing creams are available over the counter from your pharmacist, but if you want to consult with a dermatologist, then moisturizers can be prescribed by them
- Use a humidifier at home during winter to add moisture into the dry air
- Wear loose clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton and avoid wearing wool or polyester, also keep your nails short, so you don’t scratch yourself more
- Itching is a common side effect of eczema, so that anti-itch cream can be used, but if the itchiness is severe, then your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to be taken orally, or itchy skin can be treated with anti-itch cream such as calamine
- Drinking water throughout the day and staying hydrated help reduce itchiness in eczema etc
At times, if an eczema patient is sensitive to certain medications, a dermatologist can recommend alternative treatment like homeopathy. Homeopathic treatment is the best eczema treatment is to avoid triggers and treat flares when they happen. If a person doesn’t make drastic changes in their life, severe eczema outbreaks can be avoided. The symptoms of eczema can be very uncomfortable, and at times it can affect sleep too. It is suggested that you use homeopathic treatment for eczema:
Benefits of using Homeopathic treatment for eczema:
- Homeopathic remedies are safe and free from any side effects
- Homeopathy treatment is holistic because it treats the body as a whole to restore health rather than using medications that might suppress symptoms by treating one problem at a time
- If you choose homeopathy for eczema, then you will be encouraged to make changes in your life to promote overall wellness, which may also help reduce flare-ups in future
- Homeopathic remedies work according to the individual’s biological makeup, so they are very effective for treating eczema after consulting with an experienced homeopath, etc
Homeopathic medicine used for Eczema treatment:
-Sulphur 30C:Â Â For itchy rash on the back, chest, ears, face, groin, hands and feet, etc
-Hepar sulph 30C:Â Â For eczema that causes crusting, weeping, oozing or redness of the skin, etc
-Graphites 30C:Â For dry or scaly skin on the scalp that causes eczema and dandruff etc
-NitricumAcidum 30C:Â Â For red rash with sharp, burning pain and small blisters during flare-ups that appear on the face, hands, feet, genital area, etc.
-SulphuricumAcidum 30C:Â Â For dry, thick, and cracked skin, especially the soles of feet, etc.
-Arsenicum album 30c:Â Â Useful for children who have an itchy rash with crusting around their eyes and nose. They will also feel weak all over but worse from warmth. The child may be irritable when exposed to heat. etc
-Apis 30C:Â Â It’s beneficial for children who have a swollen red rash around one or more joints. Their skin may be bruised easily, and the child will tend to cling to their mother, etc
-Pulsatilla 30C:Â Â For children with itchy blisters that burst and produce yellow crusts that may leave scars after they heal. The affected area of the skin is usually on the inside of the elbows and knees, sometimes on their cheeks and fingers, etc.
-Chamomilla:Â For itching, heat, and inflammation in children, especially before menstrual periods, etc
Consulting a homeopathy doctor can help you get rid of eczema permanently without any medication and its side effects.
When to visit a homeopathy doctor for eczema treatment?
- If you have a child below the age of 1 and have an itchy rash with crusting around their eyes and nose, blisters on their cheeks or hands, then visit a homeopathy doctor.
- If your child develops rashes in the knee, elbow, or behind knees, then take him to a homeopathy doctor.
- If your rash is not healing even after traditional treatments for long periods, then consider consulting with a homeopath because most eczema patients are sensitive to certain chemicals so that they may do more harm than good, etc
- If you are sensitive to certain chemicals like perfumes, pollens, dust, or latex, consult with a homeopath before trying traditional remedies.
- If you are sensitive to certain medications, in that case, consider consulting with a homeopathy doctor because he may recommend alternative treatment like homeopathy for eczema, which is safe and free from any side effects, etc
- If you are looking for the complete cure for your eczema, then consider consulting with a homeopathy doctor because he can treat you holistically, which means he will recommend changes in your life that may help alleviate symptoms and reduce future flare-ups, etc
- Homeopathic treatment can show some side effects if you are self-medicating, which is not suitable for your health, so it’s better to consult with a homeopathy doctor, etc
- Visit a homeopathy doctor if you are keen on natural remedies for eczema treatment because most homeopathic remedies are made from minerals, plants, and other natural sources that are less likely to cause any adverse effects in the long term.
- Always visit a registered homeopathy doctor so that you get maximum benefits from eczema treatment.
It would help if you also changed your diet to include more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken instead of red meats, plain yogurt or milk, garlic, and onions. Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea, carbonated beverages, chocolates, chewing gum, etc. A homeopathy doctor can guide you with your diet and lifestyle changes etc. Book an appointment now through OHO Homeopathy and get affordable consultation for your homeopathic treatment.