Types Of Eczema And How To Treat Eczema

Eczema, which is also called as “dermatitis,” is not just one particular skin condition. A number of types of eczema are present, and at times an individual can even develop more than one of the types of eczema.

Types of Eczema:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis
• Hand dermatitis
• Neurodermatitis
• Nummular dermatitis
• Occupational dermatitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Stasis dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis

Also called “eczema,” atopic dermatitis is chronic that is long-lasting skin’s condition. Atopic Dermatitis is known to cause dry, irritated skin, itchy that requires daily care. Studies have shown that people that are 90% develop atopic dermatitis before the age of 5.

Atopic dermatitis is not known to be contagious; there is no worry about catching or giving to someone. Atopic Dermatitis is known to run in families. People with atopic dermatitis generally have some family members who had eczema or asthma or maybe hay fever.

Other Names

• Eczema (Atopic dermatitis is mostly called “eczema.”)
• Dermatitis
• Atopic eczema

Contact Dermatitis

Contact with everyday things or objects — from soap, shampoo, jewelry, food, and maybe even water — causes eczema. When contact causes irritated skin, eczema is called irritant contact dermatitis. If an allergic reaction is developed on one’s skin after exposure, eczema is called as the allergic contact dermatitis.

Repeat exposure to some thousands of objects or things that is frequently touched by us may irritate one’s skin. The lists include:

• Adhesives/ glues
• Bacteria /fungi
• Bleaches or detergents, or polishes
• Cement
• Fiberglass
• Foods
• Glass fibers
• Hair dyes or shampoos
• Metals like nickel or mercury or zinc
• Oils or greases
• Plants
• Sawdust
• Soaps
• Tar and asphalt
• Turpentine
• Water

Dyshidrotic Dermatitis

In these types of Eczema, skin condition occurs only on palms of hands or on sides of fingers, or on soles of feet, this eczema typically causes burning and itching sensation with a blistering rash. Some patients have expressed that their blisters resemble tapioca pudding.

Other Names

• Hand eczema
• Pompholyx
• Vesicular eczema
• Vesicular palmoplantar eczema

Did you know?

Dyshidrotic dermatitis can be:

• Short-lived that is resolves on its own in some 2-3 weeks.
• A disabling skin condition is preventing a person from his working as well as performing his everyday activities.

Hand Dermatitis

Hand dermatitis is rather not specific types of eczema, but eczema developing on one’s hands is also classified as the hand dermatitis. This special classification is given because Hand dermatitis mostly has unique causes frequently related to the job and also requires consideration of special treatment.

Other Names

• Hand eczema

Did you know? Studies have shown that in every six people with a chronic form of hand dermatitis, one doesn’t seek any kind of medical attention. Treatment is known to ease discomfort, and preventive measures can lead even to the clearing.

Neurodermatitis

In this itching is so intense that nothing prevails. That is how much ever you scratch, you get no relief. This type of eczema develops when the nerve endings in the skin become irritated, triggering a very severe cycle of itch-scratch-itch. Common causes for the nerve irritation are maybe because of some insect bite or due to emotional stress.

Other Names

• Lichen simplex chronicus

Did you know?

Another name of neurodermatitis: “lichen simplex chronicus” this is named so because the condition is chronic, and because of repeated scratching, skin becomes thicken and also darkens, which is called lichenification.

Nummular Dermatitis

In this type of eczema, happens mostly after a skin injury, like because of burn, or abrasion, or due to insect bite. The hallmark is a unique or coin-shaped (nummular) or of oval lesions that could be present in one or many patches, lasting for weeks or even months.

Other names

• Discoid eczema
• Nummular eczema
• Nummular eczematous dermatitis

Did you know?

Studies conducted were not able to solve a mystery about causes of nummular dermatitis though researchers have reported that condition doesn’t run in families and also not caused because of any food allergy.

Occupational Dermatitis

Occupational dermatitis is not one specific type of eczema. It is any type of eczema caused by a person’s workplace. This distinct classification came about because occupational dermatitis has unique causes, and a large number of people develop eczema on the job.

Other Names

Occupational eczema

Did you know?

Studies conducted on this type of eczema have shown that, in general, persons who have developed eczema because their jobs don’t need to change their jobs.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Mostly this type of eczema is known to begin on the scalp, it is like oily or waxy patches, and sometimes may even spread to one’s face and even beyond. If it becomes an as severe case, though rare, it produces widespread lesions. Seborrheic dermatitis, like other common types of eczema, usually flares during cold and dry weather.

Other Names

• Seborrheic eczema
• Cradle cap (occurs in infants aged 0 to 6 months)
• Dandruff
• Seborrhea

Did you know?

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or Parkinson’s disease or having congestive heart failure are most vulnerable and also develop seborrheic dermatitis.

Stasis Dermatitis

Develops in lower legs, occurs when one’s circulation has become sluggish. Poor flow of blood causes fluids to build up, and legs swell. Eventually, building up of fluids starts affecting the skin, causes a rash that leads to itching, also painful sores, and causing the skin to be discolored and thinning. Effective treatment is not only treating dermatitis but must also involve a circulatory problem.

Other Names

• Gravitational dermatitis
• Venous eczema
• Venous stasis dermatitis

Did you know?

When stasis dermatitis comes on quickly, it may even mean that there might be a deep vein thrombosis, which is a type of blood clot, that’s lethal. Visit your doctor immediately.

Eczema treatment: Treating skin condition which is persistent

Eczema is such a skin condition that is persistent; that is, you can say kind of obstinate or stubborn. Even though for eczema, there is no cure, still there are many such treatments, which have shown effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of eczema. Form managing eczema and eczema treatment, it is important to follow good and sensible skincare. Eczema treatment depends on the type of case as well, i.e., is eczema mild or very severe.

Eczema treatment: Medical Treatments

• First-line eczema treatment: Moisturizing is vital and one of the most important types of self-care treatment for patients of eczema. Moisturizing is effective in keeping affected area moister, thus promoting skin’s healing as well as reliving from symptoms. Dermatologist starts eczema treatment with patients with the most simple treatment. Such as on room-temperature like water, a bath helping to remove the crusted skin, after that is immediately applying good moisturizer, in turn, this helps in the skin to retain its natural moisture.
• Corticosteroid creams: Corticosteroid containing creams as well as ointments has been a mainstay for the eczema treatment for many years. Many OTC creams are non- prescribed which are available for treating milder cases. But if eczema is of more severe case, the doctor can suggest prescription creams also. Corticosteroids are mostly for external application treatment creams, but when the case is most severe, and when other methods of treatments of eczema have failed, then the doctor may also prescribe oral corticosteroids.
• Immunomodulators: Topical immunomodulators are new drugs that have been made which are available for help in treating eczema. This new drug helps in controlling inflammations as well as in reducing immune-system reactions when the medicine is applied to the skin. Talk about this with your doctor regarding is these medicines be right for you or not.
• Oral antihistamines: Oral antihistamines that are effective in controlling itching and scaling of skin are at times helpful for relieving eczema symptoms, especially useful during night-time. This is because these medicines are known to have their side effects as drowsiness, thus helps you to sleep despite your persistent itching.
• Other Treatments: If eczema is of most extreme cases, thereafter, your dermatologist can suggest treatment using ultraviolet light therapy that is clinical exposure to UV light. Also, drugs that can suppress the immune system are available, which could be tried only on adults for treatment. Your dermatologist is the best person to consult if traditional forms of treatments have yet not helped.

Eczema treatment: Nutritional treatments

• Food exclusion in diet: Studies have given evidence that suggests food sensitivity is also one of the common causes of eczema in children. Supervised food exclusion in diet can help in identifying eczema triggers, thus eliminating such foods from one’s diet. The food exclusion diet for children must be supervised by an expert like a dietician and under one’s doctor only.
• Anti-Candida diet: Some nutritionist experts have a belief that causes of eczema may have related to the overgrowth of the candida or the yeast organisms. While the rash is being itchy as well as if you also have upset bowel, else other symptoms of candida, then anti-candida diet can be worth trying. That is, you need to avoid food that is fermented or has yeast like that in baked food.

Eczema Treatment: Supplement treatments

Even though there is not much conclusive evidence, which can prove supplements help with treating eczema, most people with eczema have reported that these do help. Research conducted, had suggested that persons with eczema might not be able to process the vital fatty acids from the food normally, which leads to a low level of fatty acid known as gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is known for helping the immune system to work properly; therefore, taking supplements can help in reducing the skin’s inflammation because of eczema.

• Evening primrose oil, or starflower oil or blackcurrant seed oil: These oils contain the GLA. A number of studies have reported, taking these oils as a supplement not only reduces the numbers of the eczema flare-ups, but studies reported that it has been effective about reducing the severity of eczema rashes and also the length of the time eczema’s last. An analysis conducted on nine scientific trials reported that GLA was helpful for reducing the itching.
• Borage Oil: Also, a source of fatty acid GLA has shown in some of the studies as able to reduce skin’s inflammation, scaliness, dryness, and even itching in the eczema patients.
• Fish Oils: May help in eczema, though the largest study conducted to study fish oil’s effects as treating eczema, didn’t show much of positive improvements, but there were other studies, which has shown fish oils are known to help in reducing the severity of the symptoms.
• B Vitamins: Plays a supportive role in managing eczema. Studies have shown evidence, such as that it suggests: eczema can get worse because of deficiencies of Vitamin B12. Moreover, studies have also suggested that deficiency of other types of Vitamin B, such as riboflavin, can be involved. Therefore taking vitamin B complex supplements can be worth as a trial for a month.

Eczema Treatment: Herbal treatments

Herbal treatments consisting of some herbs have been traditionally used in helping to relieve symptoms of eczema.

• Licorice root: This has a substance called glycyrrhizinic acid, and it is believed that it helps in reducing symptoms of eczema. It could be consumed internally or even applied directly on to the skin.
• Witch hazel: A cream that is made up of witch hazel as well as containing phosphatidylcholine shows to be effective like cream, which has 1% of hydrocortisone creams.