Over recent years we have seen a trend towards natural products.

It is often thought that if it is natural it must be safe.

It is true that natural products do not contain the harmful man-made chemicals known to be harsh on the skin.  It is however fallacy that natural ingredients will not cause an allergic reaction.

Whilst it is true that natural ingredients are less likely to cause an allergic reaction, some people are just more prone to allergy.  This is especially so for the eczema sufferer.

Unfortunately unless you are already aware of certain ingredients that will cause a reaction there is no way of knowing how your skin will react to a product until you have tried it.  It is for this reason that any new topical application should be patch tested before being applied to the affected area.

If your skin does react to a substance it will become red, itchy and burn.  Severe reactions will result in small papules sometimes filled with a watery fluid to develop.

Sensitive skin can be aggravated by environmental influences like wind, sun and heat.  Perfumes, some essential oils and products containing alcohol will also aggravate sensitive skin.  Stress, changed diet, illness or medication may make you prone to an allergic reaction.

Sometimes it may take several applications of a preparation before a reaction occurs.  If an allergic reaction occurs immediately wash the substance off your skin.  A cold compress will soothe any resulting stinging or redness.

Despite the possibility of a natural product still causing an allergic reaction it is less likely than a product containing perfumes, chemicals or sulfates to cause irritation.  I believe it is still a good choice for your skin – a more friendly, gentle choice for your skin.  You just need to remember to take the required precautions.

Eczema is caused by stress? No

This is just another eczema fallacy.  Stress often acts as a trigger to eczema flare ups but is not the cause of eczema.

Eczema itself may cause stress, which leads to a vicious circle.  An increase in eczema leads to an increase in stress, which further worsens the eczema.

People look upon foods, dusts and climate changes as the major causes of eczema flare ups.  But one major factor – stress – is often overlooked.

Stress is often easier to identify and possible to control.

Our lives in general are far more stressful than in past generations.  Stressful jobs, fast non-stop social lives, unstable world situations and deadlines to meet.  All add stresses to our lives that will easily trigger an eczema flare up or make the overall condition difficult to control.

Take time to smell the roses

It is simple; we need to reduce the stress in our daily lives.  Take time out of our hectic day to relax – take time to smell the roses as the saying goes.

By spending half an hour each day doing something purely for yourself that you enjoy will significantly reduce the level of stress bottled up inside of you.  This may be simply reading a magazine, walking on the beach or having a massage.

Reduce you stress levels and your eczema will be much easier to control.

It’s a horrible time of year at school, you’re so close to the September holidays but you’ve still got a mountain of study and assignments to get through.  These exams are very important as the results will open up doors for their future.

Stress is everywhere

The children are well aware of the importance of these exams and feel the pressure.  Stress is everywhere and each child will experience their stress differently.  Some will have difficulty sleeping, some may experience nausea, and others may experience a flare up of their eczema.

Even eczema that has been dormant for years may resurface during this stressful time.  It is important to take good care of yourself and treat your eczema promptly so that your focus is not taken away from the major task at hand – exams.

Below are some tips on how to survive the final exams when you have eczema:

• Eat a well balanced diet, which includes plenty of water
• Get plenty of sleep
• Take time out from study to ‘chill out’ and relax
• Moisturise your skin after showering, every time, even if your eczema is controlled.  This may help to prevent a flare up
• Don’t leave study to the last minute, be sensible and spread it out so you don’t need to cram and can feel well prepared for each exam
• If your eczema causes problems with your hands making writing difficult discuss with your teacher the possibility of the exam board permitting you to use a computer or tape recorder
• If possible wear loose fitting cotton clothing that will not enhance sweating
• Request to sit in a well ventilated cool area of the room
• Make sure your teacher is aware of your condition so that they can be understanding and helpful where ever necessary

How do I know if I have eczema or psoriasis?

The answer is simple – you have to ask your doctor. Only a doctor can give you a definite diagnosis.  However there are some typical characteristics that may help to give you a clue.

Both eczema and psoriasis are chronic inflammatory skin conditions with a tendency to run in families.  Neither condition is curable however both can be controlled with medication.

Eczema, the itch that won’t go away

Eczema is most common in children but can affect any age group, both male and female. The most distinguishing feature of eczema is the unbearable itch.  Typically eczema skin is very dry and the lesion is red and scaly.  It usually appears on the face, neck and arm and leg folds.

Eczema tends to run in families with the likelihood of a child developing eczema increasing significantly if one or both of the parents has ever suffered from eczema, asthma or hayfever.  Eczema is allergy based and it is these allergies that will trigger an eczema flare up.

The silvery scales of psoriasis

Psoriasis on the other hand is the result of an over production of skin cells.  The predisposition to develop psoriasis is passed on along the family line however it is environmental triggers that will result in an outbreak of the condition.

The psoriatic lesion is usually a discrete, bright red patch covered with silvery scales.  The lesions may be itchy but unlike eczema this is not a distinguishing feature.  Psoriasis usually affects the scalp, knees, trunk and elbows.

It is rare for a child to develop psoriasis.  The condition usually first appears in the late teen or early adult years.  Both males and females can be effected equally.

Whilst it is the itch in eczema and the silvery scales in psoriasis that are the distinguishing characteristics the only way to know for sure is to visit your doctor and have a proper medical diagnosis.

Aloe Vera is a tropical plant, which at present has little official standing in the medical community.  Despite this it is one of the most widely used substances in the treatment of burns and bruises.

Medical research is currently underway to assess the true medical value of this plant. The FDA has approved development aimed at the eventual use of Aloe Vera in the treatment of cancer and AIDS.  Despite having a long history of being used in medicine its benefits as a powerful healing agent have never been properly examined. A situation that is now changing.

The use of aloe vera has a long history spanning many countries from Africa to Egypt, Greece to Italy and even into Japanese folklaw. The Greek physician Dioscorides was one of the earliest to study the use of aloe vera. Aloe vera has drawn the attention of many of the world’s greatest minds, throughout the continents, throughout the ages and throughout the various cultures.

It has taken man thousands of years to learn what he now knows about the benefits of various plants. What can be ingested, what heels burns, warts or rashes, what calms and what aggravates, it has all evolved over a very long time.

This is the common treatment that is the foundation for all our knowledge of the world. Today’s medicine predominantly consists of combinations, variations and reproduction of formulas and methods used through time.

Aloe Vera is one of the oldest plants known to possess healing powers. A Somerien clay tablet written around 2200 BC has been found in the city of Nippur and is believed to be the first written document around 1550 BC was the first detailed document about Aloe Vera. It included 12 formulas for mixing Aloe Vera with other agents to treat both internal and external human disorders.

Around 400 BC Aloe Vera was in wide spread use in India and in Copra’s indigenous drugs of India it was written at this time “The use of Aloes, the common musahhar for external application to inflamed painful parts of the body and for causing purgation [internal cleansing] are too well known in India to need any special mention.”

And today the benefits of Aloe Vera are still commonly acknowledged. Internally Aloe Vera is predominantly used as a level 1 (over the counter) laxative, whilst externally or topically it is used to treat wounds, minor burns and skin irritations.

Fungal infections are very common, especially in humid conditions.  The most common fungal infections experienced by humans are ringworm and tinea.  Both conditions bear a resemblance to other skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

Fungal infections are characterised by their location and often have commonly used names to describe them.  Fungal infections can develop anywhere on the body but the most common locations are the scalp, nails, beard, feet (athletes foot) and groin (Jock itch).

Fungal infections vary in appearance

The appearance of fungal infections will vary depending on its location but in general small, inflamed lesions will appear on the skin.  The skin may be dry and scaly or moist and crusty.  Itchiness and discomfort is not uncommon.

Fungal infections are highly contagious and it is therefore important to obtain an accurate diagnosis and commence antifungal treatments as quickly as possible.  As they can be mistaken for other skin conditions it is advisable to seek medical consultation before commencing treatment.

Contact with infected animals or articles should be avoided

The fungal infection can be passed from direct contact with an infected lesion or  contaminated article such as towel, shower stall or shoes.  Contact with an infected animal may also cause the development of a fungal infection (ringworm).  Warm weather and tight clothing will encourage fungal growth.

Adopting the correct antifungal care is important to ensure the condition is correctly treated and ultimately cured.  When treating fungal conditions an antifungal cream that can be bought over the counter is often sufficient to control and cure the fungal infection.

Improved antifungal care

However it is not an antifungal cream alone that will cure the condition.  Improved personal hygiene and general antifungal care will also be required.  The term antifungal care simply refers to general rules that will help to reduce the risk of developing fungal conditons.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling pets
• Ensure feet, especially the toe webbing, are well dried before wearing shoes
• Keep under finger and toe nails clean and cut regularly
• Don’t share towels, shoes or socks
• Use an antifungal powder to treat mild cases on tinea
• Avoid going bare foot in public places, especially communal showers

Some forms of fungal infections will require more than an antifungal cream to be controlled.  Fungal infections of the nails and scalp routinely require oral antifungal medications as they do not respond well to the antifungal creams.

Look out, here comes the pollen.

Pollen is commonly associated with allergic reactions, especially those involving asthma and hayfever.  It can be a problem for eczema sufferers as well.   It is from mid spring until the end of summer that pollen is a major problem.

Pollen causes most problems for people when it leaves the flowers an becomes airborne.  We breath it in without noticing when we venture outdoors.  Of course it would be easiest just to stay inside with the doors and windows shut.  This would eliminate the problem of pollen causing eczema flare ups, however it would also pretty well eliminate any sort of life style you may have as well.

The idea is then to minimize your exposure to pollen.

This can be done by:

• Changing clothes when coming inside and shower to remove any specks of pollen.
• Keeping windows shut during the summer months.
• Consider replacing lawns with pebbles or paving
• If you must keep your lawn have some one else mow it for you.
• Avoid having plants in your garden that are known allergen–producing plants.

Is Spring a trigger factor for eczema sufferers?

The short answer is yes.

Eczema flareups can be associated with allergic reactions to environmental substances known as allergens.  In Spring we see a natural increase in environmental allergens.  An allergy is simply a hypersensitivity to often a combination of allergens.  Eczema is a common allergic reaction, so it’s beneficial to understand the environmental substances that trigger a flareup.

A variety of tests now exist to diagnose allergic conditions; these include testing the skin for responses to known allergens or analyzing the blood for the presence and levels of allergen-specific IgE. Treatments for allergies include allergen avoidance, use of anti-histamines, steroids, natural remedies, immunotherapy to desensitize the response to the allergen, and targeted therapy.

Most often you can identify your trigger allergens by eliminating suspected triggers one at a time and monitoring your bodies response.  If you would like to identify the allergens that affect you more quickly, you may want to consider seeing a specialist for a skin test.

Skin Testing

Skin testing is also known as ‘puncture testing’ or ‘prick testing’ due to the series of tiny puncture or pricks made into your skin. Small amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin.

Common areas for testing include the inside forearm and the back. If the patient is allergic to the substance, then a visible inflammatory reaction will usually occur within 15 – 30 minutes. This response will range from slight reddening of the skin to a full-blown hive (called “wheal and flare”) when the skin is more sensitive to a particular allergen.

Results of the skin prick test is normally done by allergists on a scale of severity, with +/- meaning borderline sensitivity, and 4+ being a large reaction.

Start with your diet

If you want to avoid the ‘prick test’ and think you may know what’s causing your eczema to flare up, spend some time testing yourself.  Eczema sufferers tend to be allergic to a wide range of substances in everyday life that the non-eczema sufferer is not.  For example, food, dust mites, pollen, animals, moulds, drugs, solvents etc to name but a few.

One of the most common and frustrating allergies that an eczema sufferer will face is intolerance to certain foods.  The most common foods that cause problems seem to be dairy products, citrus fruits, fish, eggs, tomatoes and wheat.

Undertaking an elimination diet is a good way to identify suspect foods.  Specialists believe that any food elimination diet should show positive results within about 6 weeks.  If the eczema is improving, it is usual to continue to eliminate the particular food for about a year.  It is advisable however to consult with your GP or dermatologist before undertaking such a change.

Good luck finding out which allergens affect your eczema and once you’ve identified them, try hard to avoid them so you can manage your eczema effectively.

1st September – 7th September 2008

Eczema Awareness Week is a nationally recognised week to raise awareness of eczema and its impact on sufferers of the condition.  You are bound to see some reference to eczema in the media and you may even hear the word floating around your childrens school in the effort to help reduce school yard bullying that eczema sufferers often receive.

It’s all about raising awareness so if you have any questions regarding eczema, please feel free to drop me an email.

Mel