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Eczema Treatments Online

What is Eczema?

Eczema is the catchall description of a number of related skin conditions. The most common of these is contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis’ most obvious symptom is skin that is inflamed, red, dry and cracked. The area that is affected by the condition may also be blistered. Contact dermatitis is caused by either an allergic reaction to a particular substance or by the skin coming into contact with an irritant. The type of contact dermatitis that is caused by irritants it thought to constitute eighty per cent of all cases of the condition.

Eczema is an extremely common condition that affects between ten and twenty per cent of all school children in the United Kingdom and between three and five per cent of adults.

The number of diagnosed cases of eczema has risen dramatically over the last thirty years. It is believed that there are somewhere between two and five times as many cases being seen today as there were thirty years ago. No one is quite sure why this is, but it is generally thought to be a consequence of increased exposure to allergens such as the dust house mite and other environmental factors.

It is rare to be able to discover and remove the element that is causing the skin to react in this way. Usually the best that can be hoped for is the management of the condition and improving it rather than removing the element, which is causing it to occur.

What are the other types of eczema?

There are two other types of eczema. They are:

Atopic eczema - This condition tends to be hereditary and is thought to be caused by an allergic reaction, though the exact cause of the condition is unknown.

Varicose eczema – This condition occurs around swollen veins. It most commonly affects varicose veins on the legs.

Discoid eczema – This condition is also known as nummular eczema. It appears in round patches and is usually a chronic condition what will require careful management.

Eczema treatments

Eczema is usually treated with a cream that contains an emollient. In cases of eczema that are more complex, a corticosteroid cream will often be prescribed. If the affected area becomes infected, which is quite common, due to the patient itching or scratching, then your doctor will prescribe a cream that contains an antifungal and/ or an antibiotic.