Eczema Treatment Options Do Exist
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008Eczema is a description broadly applied to a range of tough to get rid of skin conditions. These include dryness and constantly occurring skin rashes which are marked by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Regions of temporary skin discoloration may appear and are sometimes due to healed lesions, although scarring is rare. In contrast to psoriasis, eczema is often likely to be spotted on the flexor aspect of joints.
Eczema can be exacerbated by really dry skin. Moisturizing is one of the biggest factors in self-care treatments for sufferers of. Maintaining good moisture levels in moistened can promote bring skin back to normal and easing of symptoms. Dry skin and acne can be a tough combination to combat but the eczema is usually the tougher foe. Homemade acne treatments often workb ut eczema is a little trickier.
Soaps and harsh detergents should not be used on affected skin because they can strip oils the body produces naturally and lead to excessive dryness. Alternately, the use of moisturizing body wash, or an emollient like aqueous cream, will maintain natural skin oilsand may lessen some of the need to moisturize the skin. Another option is to try bathing using colloidal oatmeal bath treatments. In addition to avoiding soap, other products that may promote a lack of skin moisture such as powders or perfume should also be eschewed.
Varying products are touted as eczema cures. Products that moisten are called ‘emollients’. In general, the best option is to match thicker balms to the least moist, flakiest skin. Light emollients like aqueous cream may not have any effect on severely dry skin. Some common moistening agents for the relief of eczema include Oilatum, Balneum, Medi Oil, Diprobase, bath oils and aqueous cream. Sebexol, Epaderm ointment and Eucerin lotion or cream may also be of assistance with itching. Lotions or creams can be put on directly to the skin after bathing to retain as much moisture as possible.
Moisturizing gloves can be worn through the night while sleeping. Normally, twice-daily applications of emollients work best. It might be a simple thing to put on creams, they are quickly absorbed into the skin, and therefore need frequent reapplication. Ointments, with less water content, have a longer life on the dermis and need less applications, but they can be greasy and inconvenient. Steroids such as Betnovate may also be mixed in with ointments for eczema relief.
With skin that has not been scratched off, placing of waterproof tape with or without a moistening agent or prescription ointment can improve moisture quantities and skin integrity which facilitates skin healing. This treatment process can also help stop the skin from cracking, as well as put a stop to the itch cycle. The end result is reduced lichenification of skin from constant scratching. Taping works best on skin away from joints.
Disclaimer: Always check with your dermatologist as he or she will know what will work best with your skin.