When you have eczema it is all to easy to get bogged down in the task of finding what triggers a flare up and finding a cream that will control the symptoms.

Whilst these are both vital in helping to control your eczema and lessen the impact it has on your life there are other simple rules to remember that are the same for everyone with eczema.  Rules that are often forgotton in the quest to find the bigger answers.

1. Remember water is the best drink when you have eczema.  Avoid flavors, colorings or preservatives, as these are prone to trigger eczema.
2. Keep your skin cool as much as possible.  Overheating will irritate the skin leading to an eczema flare up.
3. Loose fitting, cotton clothing and cotton bed sheets will help to keep you cool when sleeping which will help to reduce itching and restlessness.
4. B Complex vitamins will help to combat dryness and itchiness of the skin and zinc aids healing and skin health.  People with eczema are often deficient in zinc.
5. Hand eczema is often work related.  Protect your hands from soaps, cleansers and other chemicals by wearing vinyl gloves (not latex or rubber).
6. Apply an oil to the skin before swimming in a chlorinated pool to help protect the skin from irritation.
7. Respond quickly to any eczema breakout so it isn’t given a chance to develop.  Keep the skin well moisturized even when there is no eczema visible.  This will help to keep eczema at bay.
8. Fungal infections are often mistaken for eczema.  Have any unknown rash diagnosed by a doctor so the correct treatment can be prescribed.
9. Dust mites commonly trigger eczema.  Whilst vacuuming will remove up to 70% of dust mites they will be back to their original numbers within a week.  Vacuum regularly.
10. Caffeine can irritate the gut lining making you more likely to develop a sensitivity, which may trigger eczema.  Decreasing the amount of coffee, tea, chocolate and cola type drinks you drink is therefore advisable if you have eczema.
11. If food allergies trigger your child’s eczema parties will be tricky.  Take along a bottle of lemonade or soda water, put a few safe sweets in your child’s pocket and give them something to eat and drink before they go to the party.

When you have a chronic condition it can take a lot out of you.  You are faced with the constant battle of keeping the condition under control.  It can wear you down and you often feel that you are all alone in a world of healthy people who do not know how you feel.

Psoriasis is one such condition.

A chronic, genetic, inflammatory skin condition characterised by patches of thick, silvery scales that flake off, psoriasis is uncomfortable, itchy and often unsightly . . . and you often feel all alone.

You are not alone

This week in Stockholm the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) is holding the second World Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Conference.  The IFPA is a non-profit organisation comprised of psoriasis associations from around the world.

The organizations are devoted to improving the quality of life of people who have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the purpose of the conference is to provide intense medical education, promote interaction between physicians and scientists, and facilitate communication with patients and health professionals from all over the world.
Psoriasis – Skin and Beyond

The theme for the conference is “Psoriasis – Skin and Beyond” which recognizes the many diverse and emerging issues involved with psoriasis and associated conditions and will be attended by physicians (both dermatologists and rheumatologists) and researchers alike.

Hopefully in the not too distant future I will be able to report to you some of the outcomes of this conference along with some positive steps forward in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

You are not alone – efforts are being made to improve your condition.

Eczema is most commonly an atopic (allergic) condition affecting young children.  But this is not always the case.  All eczema causes a red, itchy rash on the skin often with fluid filled blisters.  However not all eczema is atopic or allergy based.  To determine the cause of eczema doctors often prescribe allergy testing.

29%-66% of eczema patients have an underlying allergic cause of their symptoms. (1)

There are a variety of allergic triggers that can contribute to the inflammation and symptoms of eczema.  However topical treatments will only control the symptoms without getting deeper to the problem.  The only way to stop the cycle is to find the underlying problem.

Doctors Traditionally Guessed

Traditionally doctors have used educated guesses to determine if allergens are triggering eczema and what those triggers are.  Skin testing is the most commonly used method to more accurately determine the allergens.

New Improved Allergy Testing

The IgE-specific test is a new form of allergy testing and consists of a single draw of blood to measure for the blood antibody IgE.  IgE is produced when an allergic reaction takes place within the body.

The IgE-specific test is equally as effective, if not more effective than the skin test but has added advantages.
•    It consists of one single draw of blood,
•    there are no risks of allergic reactions because you are not exposed to any allergens
•    you are not required to stop taking any medications prior to the test.
•    the already sensitive eczema skin is not put under added stress and at risk of increased symptoms.

IgE-specific testing only takes a couple of days.  The blood is drawn and sent off to the lab for testing and 2 – 3 days later your doctor has the results.  The test will determine if you are allergic or not and if you are what you are allergic to and how allergic you are to each item.

Avoid the Allergens

This is a wealth of information that enables the doctor to plan a whole treatment regime that is specific to the individual.  If the IgE-specific test results are negative it is unlikely that the eczema is atopic in origin.  The symptoms are from another cause.  If the IgE-specific test results are positive a range of treatment options become available including allergen avoidance.

Atopic people generally have more than one allergic trigger and it is often not possible to avoid all allergens.  Fortunately this is not necessary as exposure to a single allergen may not cause symptoms of eczema to appear.  Atopic people tend to have several allergic triggers that stack up on top of each other until the individual reaches their allergic threshold (point at which symptoms appear).

To keep the eczema at bay it is important to stay below the individual’s allergic threshold. Avoiding as many allergic triggers as possible, as often as possible will help to keep the individual below their allergic threshold.  This will result in the eczema symptoms disappearing or at least becoming significantly reduced so that they are more easily managed.

(1) Spergel JM. Immunology and treatment of atopic dermatitis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2008;9:233-244

The skin is the largest organ of the human body.  Its primary function is to keep out harmful environmental elements and keep in the bodies organs and fluids.  It is waterproof and protective, and can heal itself if it gets damaged.

The average adult has approximately 1.7 square metres of skin. It is not surprising then that there are so many different skin disorders and that research is revealing new information about the causes behind various skin disorders all the time.

Dermatitis The Most Common Skin Disorder

The most common skin disorder suffered by man is dermatitis, which covers a huge range of conditions and presents in a variety of forms. The symptoms of dermatitis may include itching, redness, inflammation, dryness, blisters, scales, crustiness, watery discharge, fissures or any other variance from the normal condition of the skin.

Dermatitis conditions include eczema, contact dermatitis, poison ivy, prickly heat, seborrheic dermatitis, and the list goes on.

Luckily the majority of skin disorders can be managed quite easily and good skin care will prevent many ever occurring.

Did You Know?

The thinnest skin on your body is on the eyelids where it is less than 1mm thick.

The thickest skin on your body can be 5mm thick or more and is found on the soles of your feet.

An article in the BostonHerald.com earlier this year (16/2/09) talked about a craze hitting the UK – Cryotherapy.

People for years have plunged into freezing waters around the world to celebrate one event or another.  Now it is possible to expose yourself to the 166 degrees below zero conditions by passing through a specially designed chamber.
The Boston Herald reports that “The English operators limit customers to three minutes in the minus-166 chamber after passing through two others at plus 14 and minus 76 (you could call them warm-up rooms, pardon the expression) clad in a bathing suit and special shoes.”
An account in the London Telegraph said that if you stay in for eight minutes you’ll be dead.
Devotees say “the massive hormone rush from the freezing temperatures can benefit anyone suffering from stress, burn-out, insomnia or depression,” and it reportedly helps psoriasis, arthritis, rheumatism and boosts athletic performance.
I have heard of exposure to sunlight helping psoriasis but this is a new one – and one I wouldn’t be so keen to try myself.

The most common question I get asked by parents is what foods should I take out of my child’s diet to help their eczema?  The answer is simple – None.

Food may trigger Eczema

Whilst it is true that eczema may be triggered by certain foods it is important to remember that eczema is a very individual condition and each child is different.

Children with eczema have hypersensitive skin which reacts to many different environmental conditions, one of which may be various foods. The pattern of allergic reactions from one child to another is not consistent and may alter as the child gets older.

Exclusion diets may be harmful

It is therefore generally accepted that children with eczema should not be automatically put on a special diet and in fact exclusion diets can prove more harmful than helpful as a child needs a balanced diet to grow and remain healthy.

Diets should be reserved for children displaying severe eczema symptoms that are non-responsive to the standard treatment regime and for children who have a clear history of food intolerance.  These diets should only ever be under the strict guidance of a dietician and for a trial period only to ensure the child is not at risk of nutritional deficiency.

The majority of children with eczema will be able to tolerate a normal diet however when weaning a baby each item of food should be introduced one at a time, in small quantities and gradually increased, slowly varying the diet.  The odd food may need to be avoided if it causes a problem.

Don’t forget Environmental Factors

When trying to determine the triggers of your child’s eczema it is important to look beyond the foods they eat to the environment they live in.  Some of the more common environmental allergens include grass pollens, house dust mite, dander from cats and dogs, and feathers.

Some day to day factors that should be taken into consideration when caring for a child with eczema include:

•    Avoid synthetic and woolen fabrics.  Dress children in cotton clothing.
•    Use non-biological detergents and fabric conditioners and always double rinse to remove detergent residue.
•    Avoid cigarette smoke in enclosed spaces as it will irritate the skin.
•    Avoid cats and dogs in the house as the dander they leave behind almost always irritates the skin of children with eczema.
•    Minimize dust mite in the house by vacuuming regularly, damp dusting, avoiding carpet where possible and washing furry toys regularly.
•    Most children with eczema will react to grass pollen so keep them away from freshly cut grass and out of the garden when the lawn is being mown.  Keep windows shut on windy days especially in summer.

Of course if you determine certain foods that do definitely trigger your child’s eczema you should avoid them in their diet.  If there are several foods triggering the eczema or a whole food group causing a problem professional guidance is required to ensure a safe and balanced diet.

Recently I had a conversation with a customer who suffers from what her doctor has diagnosed as Varicose eczema.  I directed her to the below article which was hidden in one of the deep dark pages of the website.  I thought I would bring it to the forefront so that others in with the same condition could have a read also.

I hope you find it beneficial.

Varicose Eczema

When we think of eczema we usually think of the familial, atopic eczema that affects many of our children. There are however literally hundreds of different types of skin inflammation. Many are classified as eczema yet have little resemblance to atopic eczema.

Varicose Eczema is one such skin inflammation.

Also known as Gravitational Eczema or Stasis Eczema, Varicose Eczema affects the lower legs and is more common in middle aged to older people who are female and overweight. And usually those who have had varicose veins or a deep venous thrombosis in the past.

Poor circulation in the lower legs causes the skin in this area to become blotchy, inflamed, swollen, itchy and discoloured. Poor circulation is frequently the result of a weakness or damage to the valves of the leg veins.

A lack of nutrients in the skin causes the skin to be thin. Healing is poor due to the decreased circulation and varicose ulcers may form if the skin splits.

The treatment of the symptoms of varicose eczema are the same as for atopic eczema. Keep the skin well moisturised and use a good treating cream to control the inflammation, redness and itching. The condition will also require medical supervision to treat and monitor the cause of the eczema, which is the poor circulation. Any break in the skin requires prompt medical attention to prevent an ulcer or infection developing.

We all know that stress is considered a major trigger of eczema flareups.  A survey carried out by Canadian researchers earlier this year indicated that the troubled economy should be added to the list of things triggering eczema flareups.
The survery showed that emotional factors — including stress — were reported to be the most common cause of flare-ups in three out of four eczema sufferers.
The national online survey developed in consultation with Dr. Marlene Dytoc, an Edmonton dermatologist produced some interesting results. Below are the results as reported in MarketWatch.com on the 10th February2009:
“Eczema was reported to have far-reaching effects on sufferers’ lives, with 36 percent of adults reporting that they attempt to conceal their eczema. In addition, 29 percent reported problems concentrating at work or school, 28 percent were unable to sleep at night and 27 reported difficulty playing certain sports.
Difficulty sleeping at night was the primary complaint of 43 percent of the children.”

There is nothing better than to end a long, hard day with a wine…or maybe two. It never did anyone any harm. In fact recent studies suggest that

Read the rest of this entry »

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that requires constant attention to be kept under control.  Whilst choosing the right creams for your skin are important adhering to your treatment regime is equally as important.

Dr Steven Feldman, M.D., from Wake Forest University School of Medicine wrote in an issue of Archives of Dermatology “non-compliance can explain why some skin conditions may seem resistant to treatment.”

Eczema is an individual condition

Eczema is a very individual condition and similarly treatment is also individual.  However, success of a treatment will often depend on how compliant the patient is with following the instructions.  Treatments need to be used for several days before they can safely be ruled out as ineffective.

Dr Feldman went on to say,  “Physicians must develop practical measures to improve patients’ compliance: establishing strong, trusting physician-patient relations, choosing medications that can fit patients’ lifestyles, using patient education materials designed to motivate without overly stressing risks and scheduling a follow-up visit shortly after initiating new treatment.”

Consider lifestyle when selecting treatments

A person’s lifestyle needs to be considered.  Some people find applying creams several times a day difficult but are able to take oral medication without any trouble.  Others find that treatments applied only at bath time or bedtime are easiest to comply with.

It is not only the type of treatment the patient is going to use that is relevant in the patients’ compliance but also the patient-doctor relationship.

Feldman noted that “Patients who are more satisfied with their visit are more trusting of their doctor, worry less about adverse effects and use their medication more regularly.”

These studies indicate the importance of doctors developing good relations with their patients and frequent follow-ups to ensure treatments are being used as instructed and offering the results required.

Patients using over the counter treatments to control their eczema need also to take these factors into consideration and select treatment forms that they feel they can comply with.

Having a positive outlook about the treatments being used will also assist in compliance and increase the chances of success with the treatment.