Living in the net

What is eczema:
Etymology
From Greek έκζεμα (ekzema), from Ancient Greek prefix εκ- (ek-) “out, from”, from έκ (ek) “out of, forth from” + ζέμα (zema) “that which is boiled, decoction”, from ζέω (zeo) “to boil, to seethe”.

An acute or chronic inflammation of the skin, characterized by redness, itching, and the outbreak of oozing vesicular lesions which become encrusted and scaly. It is noncontagious.

Eczema is a form of dermatitis,[1] or inflammation of the epidermis.[2] The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes which are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Areas 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 found on the flexor aspect of joints.

Causes of Eczema:
No one really knows what causes eczema (atopic dermatitis), however, we do know of certain things that can cause eczema to “flare-up”, or get worse. A flare-up occurs when the immune system in people’s skin overreacts to environmental or emotional triggers and causes symptoms such as an itchy rash to appear.

People with eczema may have a unique set of causes, or triggers, that produce a skin rash. Some of the more common causes of eczema flare-ups include:

Changes in temperature or humidity
Chemical irritants, such as pesticides, paint strippers, alcohol, astringents, perfumes, harsh soaps, detergents, and household cleaners
Physical irritants, such as clothes made of rough or scratchy fabrics, like wool
Allergies (to dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, etc.)
Intense emotion or stress
Infections of any kind

People with eczema should work closely with their healthcare providers to determine what triggers their eczema flare-ups. They can then take steps to avoid these triggers and minimize the onset of a skin rash.

Related Posts and Content Provided by Sponsors