Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis / Atopic Dermatitis:

Eczema:

A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typically vesicles(tiny blister-like raised areas) in the first stage followed by erythema(reddening), edema (swelling), papules(bumps), and crusting of the skin followed, finally, by lichenification(thickening) and scaling of the skin. Eczema characteristically causes and burning of the skin.

Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, is a very common skin problem. It may start in infancy,later in childhood, or in adulthood. Once it gets underway, it tends not to go quickly away.

Causes:

Exact cause is unknown.

Predisposing causes are:

• Individual susceptibility to offending agent.
• Familial predisposition.
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight.
• Exposure to ultra-voilet rays.
• Trauma.
• Infection.
• Psychogenic stress.
• Pre-existing disease.
• Poor general health.
• Hyperhydrosis.
• Focal sepsis.
• Exposure to allergen.
• During hormonal immbalance.
• Sedentry life.
• Constipation.

Types of common eczemas:

• Atopic eczema.
• Contact dermatitis.
• Xerotic eczema.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis.
• Photodermatitis.

Less common eczemas:

• Dyshidrosis.
• Discoid eczema.
• Venous eczema.
• Dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Neurodermatitis.
• Autoeczematization.

Common eczemas:

Atopic eczema: (infantile e., flexural e., atopic dermatitis) is an allergic disease believed to have a hereditary component and often runs in families whose members also have asthma. Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on head and scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks.It is very common in developed countries, and rising.

Contact dermatitis:

Two types:

Allergic (resulting from a delayed reaction to some allergen, such as poison ivy or nickel)

Irritant (resulting from direct reaction to a detergent, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, for example).

Some substances act both as allergen and irritant (wet cement, for example). Other substances cause a problem after sunlight exposure, bringing on phototoxic dermatitis. About three quarters of cases of contact eczema are of the irritant type, which is the most common occupational skin disease. Contact eczema is curable, provided the offending substance can be avoided and its traces removed from one’s environment.

Xerotic eczema: (winter itch, pruritus hiemalis) is dry skin that becomes so serious it turns into eczema. It worsens in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most often affected. The itchy, tender skin resembles a dry, cracked, river bed. This disorder is very common among the older population. Ichthyosis is a related disorder.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis or Seborrheic dermatitis. (“cradle cap” in infants) is a condition sometimes classified as a form of eczema that is closely related to dandruff. It causes dry or greasy peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, and face, and sometimes trunk. The condition is harmless except in severe cases of cradle cap. In newborns it causes a thick, yellow crusty scalp rash called cradle cap, which seems related to lack of biotin and is often curable.

Less common:

Dyshidrosis (vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, housewife’s eczema) only occurs on palms, soles, and sides of fingers and toes. Tiny opaque bumps called vesicles, thickening, and cracks are accompanied by itching, which gets worse at night. A common type of hand eczema, it worsens in warm weather.

Discoid eczema (exudative e., microbial e.) is characterized by round spots of oozing or dry rash, with clear boundaries, often on lower legs. It is usually worse in winter. Cause is unknown, and the condition tends to come and go.

Venous eczema (gravitational e., stasis dermatitis, varicose e.) occurs in people with impaired circulation, varicose veins and edema, and is particularly common in the ankle area of people over 50. There is redness, scaling, darkening of the skin and itching. The disorder predisposes to leg ulcers.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring’s Disease) causes intensely itchy and typically symmetrical rash on arms, thighs, knees, and back. It is directly related to celiac disease, can often be put into remission with appropriate diet, and tends to get worse at night.

Eurodermatitis (lichen simplex chronicus, localized scratch dermatitis) is an itchy area of thickened, pigmented eczema patch that results from habitual rubbing and scratching. Usually there is only one spot. Often curable through behavior modification and anti-inflammatory medication. Prurigo nodularis is a related disorder showing multiple lumps.

Autoeczematization (aka id reaction, autosensitization) is an eczematous reaction to an infection with parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses. It is completely curable with the clearance of the original infection that caused it. The appearance varies depending on the cause. It always occurs some distance away from the original infection.

There are also eczemas overlaid by viral infections (e. herpeticum, e. vaccinatum), and eczemas resulting from underlying disease (e.g. lymphoma). Eczemas originating from ingestion of medications, foods, and chemicals, have not yet been clearly systematized.

Symptoms:

Usually symptoms vary from person to person in presentation, place, intensity and suffering. The lesion may remain in one place or have the tendecny to spread to other places adjacently or otherwise. Likewise, after remission, the lesion may recur in the same place or in a different place.

The common symptoms are:

• Dry, itchy, scaly rash
• Raised patch with ill-defined margin
• Unpleasant feeling – like tickling, pricking, creeping, pinching, annoying, etc.
• Uncontrollabe tendency to scratch
• Scratch provoking cracks
• Burning pain after scratching
• Redness with odema (swelling)
• Exudation – sticky discharges
• Ends in crust formation, thickening (hyperkeratosis – leathery in appearance)
• Discolouration of the skin

Restlessness and irritability due to itch which disturbs work and sleep.

Prevention and management:

Since cause is unknown and suspected to be inherited, no one can aim/claim to prevent eczema. But caring skin even in a simple manner can prevent triggers and flare-ups. Preventing flare-ups is more important since no one can guarantee total cure even after prolonged medication. This means that people should take care of their skin (for moisture) in a continuous manner, even after active medication.

The do’s and don’ts for preventing flare-ups of eczema are:
Do’s:

• Control scratching
• Wash and keep the parts clean
• Use moisturiser to avoid dryness of skin especially in winter
• Keep nails short and trim
• Maintain personal hygiene.
• Dry the sweat fast

Take:

• A lot of water to maintain good hydration
• Fresh fruits and vegetables for healthy skin especially carrot, apple, pineapple, papaya, cherry,ginger, beetroot and spinach
• Vitamins A, C and zinc supplements for healthy skin

Avoid:

• Dryness
• Scratching, to avoid infection
• Irritants or allergic substances – food / pollens / chemicals / drugs
• Long time exposure of extreme temperatures / direct sunlight
• Swimming pool water
• Excessive sweating
• Cosmetics – strong soaps, powders, perfumes
• Stimulants -coffee, alcohol, smoking & chewing tobacco
• Preservative added tin-packed foods / drinks
• Animal proteins i.e. meat, fish, egg, also mil in high concentration
• High sugars, i.e. chocolate, pastry, cakes
• Emotional or mental stress
• Unnecessary medication
• Woollen clothes

Suggestion about homeopathic treatment:

Homoeopathy treatment for any disease is essentially based on the understanding of ‘treat the patient and not the disease’. Well, when you treat the patient as a whole, the disease gets automatically treated at a deeper level. That is what precisely happens when one undergoes homeopathic treatment for eczema, where the chances of relapse are minimized after a thorough treatment.The Homeopathic treatment prescribed considers the overall susceptibility of the individual to factors such as family history (genetic predisposition), sensitivity to certain food, allergens, metals and chemicals and prescribe internal remedies capable of correcting those factors.

The treatment works towards correcting the immune response and not
suppressing it.The only medicines prescribed are internal homeopathic medicines.
No Steroids or External Medicated Lotions used as they suppress the condition.
Safe for All Age Groups and has No Side effects or Contraindications.