Beat Eczema
Beat Eczema

What Makes Eczema Worse?

The exact cause of an eczema is not yet known, but the factors that can make your eczema worse are known. These factors can be devised into two categories: allergens and irritants.

There are a lot of conditions of factors that can worsen your eczema. They trigger your immune system that is already overactive thus increasing the damage of your skin and aggravating the itch. The two main categories of factors that can make your eczema worse are allergens and irritants.

Allergens

These are substances that inflame your skin because your body overreacts to them, making your eczema much worse then it already is. These substances can be found in the air, in plants, food or animals. It does not matter how long you are exposed to them or the quantity of the substances. If your body is allergic to them, your eczema will flare up right away. It is known that these allergens can make your eczema symptoms worse, but there is still a doubt where they can harm you if you inhale these substances or the eczema triggers from the penetration of your skin by these allergens. When eczema patients are exposed to allergens, their cells produce chemicals that cause redness and itching. Because the first response of the eczema patient is to scratch, more damage can occur to the already damaged skin.

Irritants

These are the substances that affect your skin directly. Opposed to allergens, irritants must be in high concentrations and the contact must be longer for the eczema person to be affected by them. When this happens, the skin becomes more itchy and red. Certain irritants affect eczema patients in different ways. Some people that suffer from an eczema may be more sensitive to some irritants and have a more serious reaction to them, whereas others may not. In time, most of the people that have an eczema come to identify the irritants that cause trouble. For example some people may be more sensitive to synthetic fibres or wool and these materials may trigger the eczema flare up. Exposure to substances like solvents, sand or dust can trigger a flare up of an eczema in some people. Others can make their eczema worse by using make- up or perfumes. The effects that irritants have on a person that suffers from an eczema vary. This is the reason why eczema patients themselves must find out what they are most affected by and try to avoid those substances.

For more resources about eczema skin symptoms or even about eczema treatment please review http://www.eczema-info-guide.com

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Eczema Skin Care Tips

After receiving numerous queries regarding eczema, I am now dedicating a page to Eczema. Please take the following notes as in the spirit it is intended. I am not a Qualified Dermatologist or Doctor. I can only speak from my own personal Eczema experience. If you have not yet consulted with your own Doctor about a skin condition that is currently affecting you, I would strongly advise that you seek his or her advice before trying other avenues. For example, your skin condition/eczema may be a symptom of some other underlying condition. Over the years my tolerance to my skin sensitivities has decreased considerably, which in turn has led to extreme aggressive bouts of eczema. But, within the last year I have found that by being disciplined and following the below steps has helped me to cope with my very dry skin/Eczema condition. A big thank you to my husband, Nick, who helped me with words of encouragement and support and also for helping me to program this wonderful site, whereby hopefully, other like-minded individuals will find relief in the beautiful products we support.

Some helpful tips for Eczema:

1. If you are currently experiencing infected eczema, treat your eczema with the steroid treatment prescribed to you by your Doctor. Desperation usually gets the better of us in the end (it did with me). I tried many alternative remedies, but the only sure way forward was medical intervention. But saying that, its one thing getting rid of eczema temporarily, but being rid of it for good was another matter entirely. Hence, my aim was to use the steroid treatment cream for the last and final time! When your skin is inflamed, itching and bleeding, steroids seem to be the only hope and relief on offer for eczema these days.

2. Once the infection has cleared up (bleeding/weeping and general rawness) heavily moisturise your skin with natural skincare (after cleansing your skin). Keep moisturising even if large clumps of skin fall off. Constantly reapply creams/butters as eczema areas begin to dry. It is best to use products containing plenty of Essential Fatty Acids, for example body butters etc. Note: If you use any new products on your skin whilst it is in an inflamed or in an infectious state, it may create new sensitivities for you, regardless of whether the products are natural or otherwise (more specifically products containing more essential oils and herbal extracts – it is best to opt for a more basic ingredient cream/butter). Whilst constantly applying heavy thick butters to your skin, you may want to wear some old clothes for a while; the aim here is to keep your skin at optimum moisture levels. Your good clothes will become spoilt. This part of the process took me about half a week to complete. I was at the time signed off sick from work, so, back then I could take every day as it came. This is an important fact to mention, if you have worries about your work, book a couple of weeks off, so that you can focus on healing your eczema. Perhaps you have a hectic family life; maybe some kind caring individual could baby-sit for a while? There is nothing worse than worries flying around your mind. Worrying, just made my eczema states more aggressive.

3. Are you still having trouble in trying to stop the itch? This is why eczema keeps coming back/becomes re-infected, its that unbearable urge to rip your skin off, that unbearable burning itch that you just can’t leave alone. Whilst at the stage of heavily moisturising your flaky skin, try hay fever tablets (please check with your Doctor first). When the skin starts to peel in clumps it can feel like a heavy sticky clay cracking facemask, and that can keep the itch going. The hay fever tablets were excellent for ridding the horrible urge to scratch. They worked (for me), because after the initial 7/8 hours were complete the urge to scratch came back. I must say that the only hay fever tablets that stopped the itching was Benedryl Plus. I tried the normal Benedryl, but experienced no itch relief. But please do check with your Doctor before taking hay fever tablets as they may affect whatever condition may be underlying the Eczema (if there is one). Even though the eczema itch may have stopped, keep topping up your moisture levels, this is vital. Only stop moisturising when you have stopped the hay fever medication course and your skin no longer itches without the aid of hay fever medication. However, do keep your former eczema skin well moisturised. The paranoia of eczema returning does get better, eventually, and the day that you can leave your skin free of any lotions and potions is very liberating indeed!

4. A little sunlight was very beneficial for eczema. After heavily moisturising the very dry and flaky skin (with no infection) I sat in the garden for about 10 minutes, after 3:45pm, to avoid burning. Of course, if weather permitting. Sunlight is needed for our skin to formulate Vitamin D.

5. Have you heard of Essential Fatty Acids? These are thought to be precursors for the hormones that look after your skin and reproductive systems. They can also assist in regulating hormone fluctuations. Unfortunately, by the time youve noticed that you do lack EFAs, it can take up to 6 months to get your levels back to normal. Hair and skin are always the first to be compromised when your system is running below normal. Whilst trying to increase your EFAs by eating the correct foods (avocados, nuts & seeds – Hemp being the best source) it might also be a good idea to take supplements for increased effectiveness? Such as Vitamin C (Ester C), Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin B Complex. I found that these were excellent for trying to assist skin disorders. PLEASE NOTE: Essential Fatty Acid Oils should be COLD PRESSED only. Do not purchase anything but. I personally switched brand earlier this year and bought by mistake an Oil that was NOT COLD-PRESSED. The quality is inferior as all the goodness and nutrition has been killed off by excess heat!!!! My skin started to become more sensitised and reacted. I switched back to COLD-PRESSED and noticed almost an immediate difference with my skin health).

6. NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED! Well, at least until you have the Eczema under control. I personally found that when I drank alcohol, this made the itching burn so much worse. This is due to the alcohol leaching precious nutrients from your body.

7. Eat plenty of rainbow food, these are vegetables and fruits of all colours, this will ensure that you ingest all the beneficial enzymes available for your bodily functions, best to make them Organic too.

8. Ensure that you receive plenty of rest, sleep is a wonderful rejuvenator; perhaps skip those nights out until you have the Eczema fully under control?

9. SOAP only use soap that is handmade with plenty of natural vegetable glycerine, a good oily/fatted soap is best. Avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulphates at all costs. This is a known skin sensitiser/irritant which is found in most, if not all commercial mainstream products. When using SLS on your skin (and backed up through my own personal experience) the natural acid mantle can be seriously disrupted. Of course it does depend on how much SLS is in a product, avoid commercial bubble baths, they WILL strip your natural oils, as they do tend to contain more SLS than say for example, a shampoo. Skin needs to retain a nice natural water resistant base to defend itself from invading microbes, etc. The sebum and sweat combine nicely to form this healthy acid mantle (which is also a mild anti-bactericide too). Hence, more sensitive skins will be prone to the chance of experiencing skin disorders/problems when using SLS products, such as eczema. Unfortunately, for some, the need to remove all trace of natural oil from the skin whilst showering and bathing is the only way one feels clean. Over washing can seriously damage your skin. Since using less harsh detergents my skin’s ability to heal itself has become far more efficient. Also avoiding products with petro-chemical derived emollients has also resulted in far fewer rashes & spots. Using harsh detergents means that the skin has to over compensate from an offensive attack. The skin starts to produce more and more oil (sebum) as a form of protection. Pores can become clogged and infected, resulting in spots for some. For me, the balance was constantly being tipped up until I stopped stripping my skin’s natural defence and plastering it with cling-film type petrochemical skincare. Of course, when choosing natural skincare, you still need to be aware that all base oils have differing characteristics; some are more suited to mature/dry skins whereas other base oils are more suited to more sensitive/combination type skins. But saying that, all the products on this site specify the skin type it was created for. If your skin suffers with excess oil (and is not sensitive) this skincare might help? But, do watch your skin in this respect, as oily over-production is a sure sign of an imbalance, which could lead to sensitivities for the future.

10. After moisturising your skin heavily, whether with natural or otherwise, your skin can become clogged, especially after using so many body butters, etc. Your skin needs to breathe. Too much on your skin can also lead to that hot burning eczema itch. You now need to achieve a nice balance between using moisturisers/creams/oils/butters and a very mild and gentle soap at bath/shower time. When the eczema is at its most intense, a bath is the last thing you want. Perhaps showering might be a good option? Dont soak the affected skin for longer than is necessary. Simply Soaps Calendula & Lavender is an excellent bar of soap, it can help to achieve this balance. Very mild and effective for clearing the excess oily build-up whilst respecting my natural pH balance/acid mantle. But since my own Eczema experience, we have introduced many more wonderful/skin nourishing soaps.

11. There is nothing better when you have been suffering eczema for long periods of time, to finally have a wonderful exfoliating session when your eczema is finally under control! I can now exfoliate my skin on a regular basis, about once a week is right for me. I would only suggest trying to exfoliate once your skin has gone back to normal ensuring that about a month has passed with a good track record of healthy skin even before attempting to exfoliate. Once you have finished exfoliating, ensure that you seal the fresh bare layers of skin with a natural good moisturising lotion/cream/oil containing plenty of Essential Fatty Acids, to ensure you nourish and protect your skin.

12. Exercise on a regular basis and keep drinking plenty of water. The constant flow of fresh new liquid releases toxins from your system, sluggish lymph is able to move along far more efficiently when you exercise. Both will enable you to experience far more balance within your system.

13. Look into the type of detergent you use to wash your clothes, washing powders/liquids are usually the main source of skin discomfort/increase of eczema episodes.

14. I know it’s easier said than done, but do try and take some time to relax. I found that yoga & meditating was an excellent aid in helping me keep calm in times of stress.

My main eczema skin allergy triggers are Petroleum & SLS based products. These ingredients can be found in perfume/fragrances, and in most, if not all mainstream skincare and hair care products. The affects of petro-chemical derived ingredients suffocate the sensitive skins ability to breathe; the petro-chemical based skincare acts like a cling-film wrap, this is the best way to describe the skins inability to breathe. Hence, the skin becomes hot and itchy, and can then lead to eczema.

Of course, everyones triggers are most certainly different. Some triggers are from natural products, such as Vitamin E and essential oils.

I wish you luck in trying to overcome your skin condition.

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Eczema Defined by One Who Has Been Cured and Helps Cure Others

I used to suffer from eczema, I have cured my own eczema, and I stay cured of eczema. I have helped others cure their eczema and continue to help others today. These are my qualifications behind my definition of eczema.

What is eczema?

Eczema is a disease. Eczema, the disease, is your own body’s way of temporarily relieving itself from whatever is really wrong with it. Your human body in its wisdom has to resort to this eczema method so that your vital organs remain undamaged and that your blood remains clean. Inflammation, eczema is a good thing. This is your immune system at work. Suppressing your immune system is wrong. The proof of this theory is that cured eczemas leave no scars.

The human immune system is wise and correct. All treatments must be geared towards working with and enhancing the immune system, never suppressing it. If you suppress eczema long enough, the body will be forced to form tumors to isolate toxins which should have been expelled as eczema.

The terms eczema and dermatitis are often used interchangeably to denote an inflammatory process in the skin. The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. An eczema diagnosis can be made for something as trivial as a localized minor infection, some germ or parasite infestation, or something as systemic as blood toxemia.

Suppression of symptoms is a recipe for harm and great future damage. The usual medical advice will usually be to prescribe a cream, ointment, or pill that will suppress the symptoms by suppressing normal human immune system action. These items are usually steroids. These steroids give you the illusion of a cure by suppressing the symptoms. When you stop using the steroids, eventually the eczema returns… as it should.

In the light of this new information, we should even be thankful for the eczema for saving our life. But this cannot go on forever. The eczema condition cannot save our health for long. If a cure is not found soon, this may result in total body breakdown. We must now analyze the underlying reasons for the eczema.

Why is eczema itchy?

Eczema is itchy because there are toxins that are being expelled through the skin and your body wants those toxins OUT! Your body has called upon the help of your fingers to finally get the job done.

As we have defined, your body chose the skin to expel those toxins, the dirt, the poisons through your skin. The best we can do when this happens is to allow, to help this expulsion of toxins. You can do this be scratching, by dunking in hot water, by getting a clean absorbent cloth and absorbing the eczematic fluid. Do your best to help your body expel these toxins through your skin and you will feel itch relief.

The best way to finally stop itching is to fix your primary detox organs so that toxins are expelled through them instead of your skin.

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Classifying Your Eczema

Eczema is a type of chronic skin condition in which areas of your skin can become inflamed, itchy, and sore. While doctors have yet to unlock the deep secrets regarding the reasons behind eczema, they have plenty of good information that can help calm eczema flare-ups and prevent future ones.

Before you can begin treating your eczema, however, you must know what type you have. Though your skin is one large organ, different areas of your body may acquire eczema, and each one can be different from another.

It is important for you to know what type your eczema is classified as and where it can be found before you start treating it. Having all the information possible can help you get the most out of your treatments and free you as much as possible from the annoyances of eczema.

Adult Seborrheic Eczema. If you are between 20 and 40, you can become affected by this type of eczema. Some specialists think this can be caused by yeast. It can begin as mild dandruff, but can spread to other areas such as your face, chest, or ears.

You may find your skin becoming red, inflamed, flakey, and you may also find patches of skin that are scaly, and yellow. You may have also heard this type referred to as seborrheic dermatitis.

Varicose Eczema. If your legs have poor circulation, you could acquire this form of eczema. Late in life you may find itchy and inflamed areas on your lower legs and ankles that appear dappled. It has also been referred to as stasis eczema.

Discoid Eczema. Found in adults, this form of eczema has also been called nummular eczema or gravitational eczema. Patches of skin that can appear almost anywhere on the body, but usually on the torso and lower legs. It appears in disc-shaped itchy spots that can potentially exude fluid.

Dyshidrotic Eczema. This form appears on the hands, fingers, and feet and will arise as blisters that are particularly itchy. Though the cause is not known, there is some speculation on various reasons, and it is believed that stress assists in aggravating the condition further. It can become more serious and lead to fluid seepage and cracking in the skin.

Contact Eczema. Dry flaky and itchy areas can appear due to constant contact with items that continuously irritate your skin or if you happen to be allergic to the item. Chemicals and latex are two possible allergens that can affect people. Avoiding prolonged contact with items that bother your skin can help you recover from this form of eczema.

Light Sensitive Eczema. This is a rare form of eczema that affects a persons hands, arms, and face. Though caused by sunlight, some products such as soaps, creams, and medications can act as catalysts to eczema appearances in sunlight.

Juvenile Plantar Eczema. A form that is more common in males and caused by constant irritation on the soles of feet due to footwear that is not fitting correctly. You may find that the sole of your foot has become sore, red, feels hot, and has a glazed appearance to it. Switch your footwear to make sure feet do not rub against the inside of the shoe to help clear up any problems, wear cotton socks to aid in further prevention, and if necessary, put ointments or other soothing products on feet.

Eczema Craquele. People who are older tend to develop this form of eczema as their skin is thinner and more prone to becoming dried out. It is also known as asteatotic eczema and creates large itchy scales on the skin, sometimes produced because of lingering soap from a shower or bath.

Eczema Herpeticum. When a person already has a form of eczema and he or she becomes infected with the herpes simplex virus, they can develop eczema herpeticum. Small groups of blisters or ulcers appear on the skin and can occur anywhere on the body. If left untreated and allowed to spread, this form of eczema can become fatal.

Atopic Eczema. This is the most common form of eczema and believed to be caused by allergens and other various skin irritants. It can be hereditary and affect both children and adults and appears as itchy, flaky patches of skin that are inflamed, red, and when scratched too often can lead to fluid seepage.

Remember, it is important for you to completely understand your particular form of eczema in order to give yourself the best treatment. The more you know, the closer you are to steering clear of problems now and in the future.

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What is the best way to rid eczema on the legs?

eczema25 What is the best way to rid eczema on the legs?
samsterga asked:


I have had eczema on my legs my whole life and have tried every cream, foam, and lotion possible. I also tried to get a tan to cover it but, my legs either stay white or burn, and burning worked a little. Is there a spa treatment that will help? Or any prescriptions that could get rid of it?

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