by Nicole Williams

Created on: April 08, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

What is eczema?

Eczema, also called "dermatitis", is an allergic condition that affects the skin. It's a non-contagious disease that is suspected to be hereditary and goes hand-in-hand with hay fever or asthma. Eczema often preludes hay fever or asthma and sometimes occurs years before. It's seen mainly in children and some people outgrow it. For others, this is a chronic disorder that they will have for life.

What causes eczema?

Just about anything can cause an outbreak. Soaps, laundry detergents, and cleaning agents are among the culprits that are easily detected. Jewelry, rubber, adhesives, bacteria, food handling, perspiration, rubbing, and even stress can also cause eczema outbreaks.

Symptoms

The first sign of eczema is severe itching. At first, there will be no other physical evidence. It will appear as if the itching is for no reason at all. Within 12 to 48 hours, a rash will appear. The rash normally looks like dry, flaky skin on top of an inflamed and/ or reddened area. Some people get red bumps or fluid-filled bumps that may resemble tiny blisters.

Eczema can be found anywhere on the body, but the most common area are in places that collect perspiration such as behind the knees and in the crease of the arm (the opposite side of the elbow). Other places that are quite common include the creases of hands and feet and the face. The reason for this is probably because these are the areas that are exposed to irritants more than other parts of the body.

Treatment

Prevention

The best form of treatment is prevention. It's not fool proof, but in many cases, it can save a lot of discomfort. If it appears that a particular brand of soap or laundry detergent may be causing outbreaks, remove those brands. Avoid taking baths, but instead take showers. Take warm showers rather than hot showers and use a mild soap instead of heavily scented soaps. After taking a shower, blot yourself almost completely dry, leaving just a tiny bit of moisture on your skin. Immediately apply lotion. The reason for leaving a tiny bit of moisture on your skin is so that when you apply the lotion, the moisture will be locked in. The lotion used shouldn't have a heavy fragrance and even aloe can be an irritant to the skin. Lotions such as Eucerin are ideal. You can also ask your doctor for recommendations.

Also, avoid wearing rough or tight fitting clothing. When symptoms appear, avoid scratching. The itching can be so intense that this may seem impossible. If this is the case, cover the affected

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