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Home | Health And Fitness | Diseases And Conditions
Eczema - Causes and Treatment
By: John Morris
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is characterized by a red itchy rash that is scaly and is oozing in some cases. The
condition can appear on the arms and legs, cheeks, forehead, and in body parts such as knees and elbows where there are creases.
In some cases, skin will have a leathery feel and even crack or blister. Some people also experience a thickening of the skin, red
patches and even a slight color change when they have eczema.
1. Skin Conditions
This refers to the skin's inflammation, while atopic means an allergic, and usually genetic or inherited, tendency. The condition is
common for infants, although eczema is typically outgrown. The child's condition could be chronic, or recur with regularity, if the
problem persists beyond the second birthday, when eczema usually disappears. Eczema can worsen during winter, when dryness
pervades the house, and summer, when temperatures could rise to extremes.
2. Treatment
The rashes are easy to eliminate, although they return sometimes even with proper treatment. To prevent eczema, bubble baths,
exposure to extreme heat, strong soaps and other triggers must be avoided. In cases where these triggers are sometimes hard to
avoid or identify, moisturizers may be the most important weapon one can use to prevent any flare-up of the condition. Since atopic
dermatitis can accompany dry skin, individuals with this skin type will benefit from taking a daily bath - of about 5-10 minutes - with
lukewarm water and using only a mild soap with moisturizing properties. This helps locks the moisture into the skin, limiting the
likelihood of eczema development. Some people benefit from having topical medications as the first layer of treatment, with
moisturizers or lubricants applied on top as the second layer, following a bath. Th