Symptoms - Atopic eczema
Medically reviewed eczema is not a specific disease, but rather a term that describes a group of inflammatory skin conditions that produce rash-like symptoms, such as red, itchy patches on the skin. It's also known as dermatitis (skin inflammation), atopic eczema ("atopic" means a genetic tendency toward allergic hypersensitivity), or simply atopic dermatitis. In fact, the word "eczema" is often used interchangeably with "atopic dermatitis,” though clinically speaking, atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most severe and chronic (long-lasting) form of eczema. It's characterized by inflamed skin that may crack and release a clear fluid when scratched (an effect known as weeping). Eczema is not a single health condition but a recognizable reaction pattern seen in a number of skin diseases. Atopic dermatitis , a common cause of eczema , is more prevalent in those with asthma and hay fever. Eczema signs and symptoms include tiny blisters (vesicles) that can weep and ooze, eventually producing crusted, thickened plaques of skin. It is almost always quite itchy. It is important to distinguish the different causes of eczema because effective treatments often differ. If eczema is produced by skin exposure to a specific substance, it
read more →Bandages and wet wraps
In some cases, a gp may prescribe special medicated bandages, clothing or wet wraps to wear over areas of skin affected by eczema. These can either be used over emollients or with topical corticosteroids to prevent scratching, allow the skin underneath to heal, and stop the skin drying out. Try to reduce the damage from scratching Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin, but scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur. The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching. Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred. Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead. If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin. Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching. How to use emollients Ensure appropriate potency of topical corticosteroid is being used. Inadequate control of the underlying atopic eczema is the most frequent cause of repeated infections. Consider antiseptic emollients
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