How to Get Rid of Eczema
What It Is Eczema
Eczema is a common skin condition where the skin becomes reddish, itchy, irritated and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema and can show up anywhere in the body. Eczema affects adults, children and infants so even if you never had one as a child, you could still have eczema as an adult. Some children and infants affected by eczema eventually outgrow them later on in their lives while others won’t and will continue to suffer its effects as long as they live. There is no cure for eczema but it can be controlled with proper eczema diet, care and treatment.
Eczema could appear in any part of your skin. It can appear in small areas or it can show up all over the body. For infants they appear mostly on the face. The cheeks and chin are the most common affected areas for babies. Adults and children get affected mostly in the neck, ankles, wrists and other areas that bend.
What Causes Eczema
There is no definite cause as to where people get eczema (see Wikipedia: eczema) from. In fact, the actual cause of eczema could not be pinpointed exactly until now. What doctors do know about eczema is that these are the reactions of the body’s immune system to irritants and external factors that the body thinks is harmful.
Harsh soaps and detergents, industrial cleaning products, dusts and allergens are some of the irritants that could cause eczema to appear on the skin. Extreme temperatures can also trigger eczema in some individuals. Stress also contributes to worsening this skin condition. Germs that get inside breaks in the skin surface can also cause eczema in some people.
Spotting Eczema
Eczema manifests itself on the skin as red, itchy rashes and tiny bumps that could sometime ooze clear liquid when ruptured. If you or any family member has or had asthma or allergies in the past, you are also more likely to get eczema. Like asthma (also read: How To Prevent Asthma Attacks Naturally) and allergies, this skin condition is not contagious so it is safe to touch others even if you have eczema. These rashes clear up eventually for some while others need medication to stop the redness and the itchiness.
Most individuals with eczema grow up healthy and with no untoward effects in their body. The only problems they have are recurrence of eczema and scars that it leaves behind especially when these were scratched when they were children.