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All about Eczema

James could feel it come on, though he didn't know what it was and how it came about. At 17, he had a common teen skin problem called eczema. The skin on the nape of his neck and upper chest were already red and itchy—something that demanded a trip to the doctor. Not surprisingly, the doctor declared it to be eczema, and discussed the problem with Rakesh.

According to james' doctor, a teenager's skin that protects his organs, muscles and bones and stabilizes his body temperature can come in for a hard time when a youngster begins to get acne. Acne clogs the pores and often throws up zits too.

So, what is eczema? This is a classification of skin problems that lead to the skin becoming irritated, and the development of rash. Fortunately, eczema isn't contagious, but of the many kinds of eczema, atopic eczema is the most common, though it is said to be caused due to a person's immune system reacts to things. Sometimes, skin allergies could also be a form of eczema.

If you have eczema, you might also have asthma and allergies such as hay fever, or allergies to food such as cow's milk, soy, eggs, fish or wheat or animal dander, rough fabrics, and dust.

Signs and symptoms: Amongst teenagers, itchy patches usually break out at the elbow joint, at the back of the knees, ankles and wrists; and on the face, neck, and upper chest.

The first sign of eczema is for your skin to feel hot and itchy. On scratching, the skin becomes red, inflamed or blistered and sometimes leathery in texture or dry and scaly.

Treating eczema: If you have itchy skin, go to your doctor who will refer you to a dermatologist. After a physical examination, your doctor will make a record of your medical history. He will point you to things in your environment that cause your skin to break out in a rash.

Eczema is also due to emotional stress, so your doctor will ask you if you are under any kind of stress. Ointments that contain corticosteroids, antihistamines or corticosteroids and ultraviolet light therapy are the usual line of treatment for eczema patients. You will also be tested for food allergies, dyes and fragrances.

Treating eczema means taking great care of your skin, applying moisturisers and avoiding triggers that can cause your skin to flare up.

Home remedies: There are many home remedies to treat eczema, some of which are:

1. Apply coconut oil on itchy skin. You can also apply a combination of carrot and spinach juice. Also, drink plenty of water and drink fruit juices throughout the day.
2. Make a paste of 1 teaspoon camphor and 1 teaspoon sandalwood and apply on the affected areas.
3. Make a paste of a nutmeg and apply to the affected skin parts.
4. You can also use an extract of evening primrose or Gamolenic acid to treat eczema.

Treating eczema varies from person to person as what works for one person may not work for another. It takes time and dedication to find the perfect treatment plan, but be patient as most often eczema goes away by the time you are 25-years-old.