Those who suffer from eczema or know someone who does, would know it’s not a pretty situation. Sufferers can experience redness, itchiness, and skin so dry that it actually forms a hard crust because it is so sensitive.
Though it is most common in children from the age of 5, eczema can happen at any age, and many adults suffer from this skin condition. Some have it at an early age but see it disappear, while others can live their whole lives without it and have it show it show up in adulthood. Also, for people whose parents or anyone else in their family has eczema, there’s a good chance they may also experience it.
Types of Conditions that Could Cause Eczema
While eczema may be long-term, not all forms of the skin condition last forever. Less severe types of eczema can lead to frequent flare ups brought on by stress or anxiety. So it is vital to note that there are at least 11 different types of skin conditions that could cause eczema. They include:
- Atopic dermatitis: Atopic eczema is chronic and can last a lifetime. This skin condition produces a common type of eczema and has a genetic basis. “Atopy” is the likelihood to suffer hypersensitive reactions like eczema, asthma, hay fever, and asthma. Although, not all eczema is hereditary, however, atopic dermatitis usually begins early in life. Some of its characteristic symptoms include rashes on the cheeks, neck, elbow and knee, and ankles.
- Nummular eczema: This is a term used in describing coin-shaped plaques of scaling skin commonly found on the lower legs of older people.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: This skin condition produces a rash on the scalp, ears, face, and sometimes, the mid-chest in adults.
- Stasis dermatitis: It often happens on the swollen lower legs of people who do not have circulation in the veins of the legs.
- Scabies: This is characteristically caused by an infestation by the human itch mite. Interestingly, it produces a rash very identical to some types of eczema.
- Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema): This is quite prevalent but an often misunderstood skin condition which usually affects the hands and sometimes, the feet. It does this by producing an itchy rash made up of little blisters (vesicles) on the sides of the fingers or toes.
- Irritant dermatitis: This skin condition happens when the skin is constantly exposed to too much washing or toxic substances.
- Fungal infections: The pattern of this skin condition is quite similar to many other types of eczema, but the fungus can be seen with grown culture or by the aid of a scraping under the microscope.
- Allergic contact dermatitis: Repeated exposures to the same substance cause the body’s immune recognition system, an allergen, to get activated at the exact spot of the next exposure and produce dermatitis. A good example of this would be poison ivy allergy.
- Lichen simplex chronicus: This skin condition produces thickened plaques of skin usually found on the neck and chins.
- Xerotic (dry skin) eczema: With this eczema, the skin cracks and oozes if dryness becomes severe.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
It is very important to remember that eczema and its symptoms are distinct for everyone. One person’s eczema may not look exactly the same as it does on another adult, or on your child. Eczema may even show up in different areas of the body at different times.
Eczema is characteristically itchy. For some, it could be a mild itch, while for others, it is moderate. However, there are cases where this itch can become severe and might lead to the inflammation of the skin. Occasionally, the itch becomes so bad that people scratch at it until it bleeds, making the eczema even worse. This is commonly called the “itch-scratch cycle.”
What symptoms to look out for:
- Dry and sensitive skin
- Inflamed and red skin
- Severe itching
- Rough and scaly patches of skin
- Dark colored patches of skin
- Crusting of the skin
- Areas of inflammation
Some people experience all of these symptoms of eczema, while for others; it is only just a few. There might be some flare ups or symptoms could disappear entirely. However, the only way to determine if you have eczema for sure, is to consult your doctor and talk about your symptoms.
When Should Someone Seek Medical Care for Eczema?
There are a variety of treatments for eczema. But of course, severe eczema would require a physician or dermatologist’s care and treatment. Mild to moderate cases can find comfort in over-the-counter treatments with only non-prescription ingredient approved for eczema. Alternatively, eczema sufferers can explore the use of supplements like biotin.
If it gets to the point where eczema starts making sufferers so uncomfortable in their sleep or disrupting their work other daily activities, then they need a more powerful treatment and should see a qualified health-care professional.
Thankfully, in most cases, eczema is not an emergency and sufferers may likely not get to a hospital emergency department. However, exceptions include the following:
- If the skin becomes so irritated that it breaks down and gets infected;
- If the skin rash becomes red, hot, and painful;
- If sufferers see red streaks oozing from the rash;
- If an individual with eczema suffers a fever, it may be necessary to see a healthcare professional within 24 hours.
- People with a compromised immune system, the aged, those on chemotherapy or with certain medical conditions like as diabetes, AIDS, alcoholism, who suffer symptoms of eczema should immediately visit a hospital.
Biotin and Eczema
If you have any of the eczema symptoms or any other similar skin condition mentioned above – dry skin, itchy skin, scaly or flaky skin – try adding biotin rich foods to your diet. These include brown rice, egg yolk, green peas, sunflower seeds, oats, cracked wheat, walnuts, lentils, soybeans. It is important to remember that raw egg whites can inhibit its absorption of biotin.
To be sure you’re getting enough of this vitamin B for the treatment of eczema; your best option is biotin supplements. Luckily, you can’t really take too much of it, so we think it’s worth a try. Biotin supplementation is a really simple, easy and inexpensive way to treat dry skin problems like eczema, and it may just end your search for the perfect skin care lotion or other treatment options.
The Bottom Line
No matter how careful you are about the skin care products you use, your efforts to stop eczema flare-ups can be defeated by hormonal changes (especially in women). Now, if you happen to notice a trend in getting eczema patches at the same time every month, it’s time to talk to your dermatologist. Additionally, if the body does not produce and maintain new skin cells or protective oils in the enough quantities, skin problems like eczema may occur.
To minimize the risk of eczema in children, mothers should breastfeed their infants as opposed to giving them formula. For sensitive skin conditions like eczema, adults can take biotin supplements– they are perfect for skin problems. Biotin contains antioxidants and nutrients that combat free radicals that ravage the skin. Look out for them in drugstores!
