Eczema Allergy, Eczema Symptoms, Treatment

Atopic eczema is a condition that usually starts in infancy and often clears up during childhood, but may persist into adult life. The word atopic suggests that the condition is the result of an inherited tendency to develop allergies, and close relatives often have eczema, asthma or other allergic conditions. The term eczema simply means dry, inflamed skin, which is normally itchy.

Most adults try not to scratch affected areas, but frequently do so in their sleep, which makes the skin weep, causing it to become infected. As the skin heals, it becomes itchy again and the scratching often restarts. This cycle of scratching and healing leaves the skin thickened; there may also be changes in the pigmentation, resulting in patches of unusually dark or pale skin. Although eczema usually starts in infancy it can occasionally surface in adult life. However, many children with eczema become free of it by the time they are adults, even though their skin often remains dry and they may be prone to contact allergic dermatitis .

What causes Eczema

Unfortunately, we do not know the cause of eczema, which can come and go for no obvious reason. Recent research suggests that in some people eczema may be linked with either a lack of essential fatty acids in the diet or a reduced ability to process them.

Eczema Precaution

No child with eczema should be put on a mini-elimination diet to test for food intolerance, unless they are under the direct supervision of a doctor experienced in this approach. Children with eczema often grow rather slowly and it is important that they do not become malnourished. In addition, some children, especially boys, have, on rare occasions, reacted severely when foods have been reintroduced and, for this reason, doctors often advise that testing be done in hospital.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Nutritionists class certain oils as 'essential', which means that they cannot be made in the body, but have to be obtained from the diet. Deficiency in these oils, chemically known as essential fatty acids (or EFAs), can cause dryness and inflammation of the skin, as a healthy skin needs plenty of oil to remain supple and waterproof. Even when the diet is adequate, some people with eczema appear to have a deficiency in the way they process one of these essential oils, known as gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). Evening primrose seeds are a rich source of this oil, and evening primrose oil supplements have been found to reverse this deficiency in some people, when taken regularly, but you will probably need to continue for a few weeks before you see an improvement.

Treatment for Eczema Allergy

Keep the skin well moisturized and cool to reduce itching and minimize the risk of infection . Preparations rich in essential fats can also help, but they have a short shelf-life, as the oils soon become rancid. When necessary, use low-strength steroid creams to contain the symptoms.

Avoid skin irritants. You can become sensitive to the constituents of almost any cream or ointment, so stop using those that appear to be aggravating your skin. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend alternatives.

Ask your doctor to arrange skin or blood tests to confirm or exclude allergy to house- dust mites, pollens or pets. Allergy to these can occur when they come into contact with skin that has already been damaged by eczema. If the tests are positive, take appropriate avoidance measures. For a few weeks, avoid foods that contain or release histamine, as you may have a false food allergy. If your skin improves, you may find that not eating them when the skin is particularly inflamed brings some relief. Adolescents and adults should consider the possibility that they have contact allergic dermatitis rather than eczema.

Make sure you eat a healthy diet containing an adequate supply of essential fatty acids and consider taking an evening primrose oil supplement for a few weeks to see if your skin improves. For dosage, follow the manufacturer's advice. Consider the possibility of food intolerance. The extent to which foods cause eczema is unknown, but there are undoubtedly some people whose eczema responds dramatically when the foods to which they are intolerant are removed from their diet. If you wish to try this approach, start the mini-elimination diet

Helpful alternative therapies include stress management, aromatherapy and hypnotherapy. Homeopathy can sometimes be very helpful, but it can also make eczema much worse, so you should always consult a homeopathic practitioner, preferably one who is also a doctor