Category Archives: Eczema

Leszek-Kobusinski/Shutterstock, Olga-Vorontsova/ShutterstockIve suffered with eczema for over 20 years. From my first year of life, the dry, scaly skin was all too familiar; every night, I would go through a nighttime routine of slathering greasy ointments and creams until the chunky layer of lotion became a whole other skin to me. The idea of short-sleeve shirts sent a shiver down my spine, and I often resorted to sweaters and jackets in 90 degree weather. When I was a kid, I even had to attend school with bandages wrapped around my inner elbows to prevent bleeding. The perpetual itch lingering on my skin was like having a series of mosquito bites you can never scratch; do it and it just gets worse. Needless to say, it was not a pleasurable condition and Idid all Icould do to relieve it. Fun fact: Pretty much every dermatologist you visit will look you sternly in the eyes and tell you there is no cure for eczema; its a chronic condition that youll just have to learn to live with. (Learn more about what common diseases you skin can reveal.) This is definitely not what anybody wantsto hear becauseits partly truethere is no official treatment … Continue reading →

Our skin is home to all sorts of different types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, and for decades scientists have hypothesised that these complex societies of microbes are at least partly to blame for common conditions such as acne and eczema. However, it now seems that bacteria could also be part of the treatment, too. Dermatologists at the University of California in San Diego recently came up with a novel microbial treatment for eczema which is thought to affect one in five children and one in 20 adults in the UK the recipe for which is actually pretty straightforward. Related Article What I now know about acne and stress ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW Lead dermatologist Dr Richard Gallo and his team discovered that Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus epidermidis two harmless bacteria of the human skin microbiome have the ability to kill off Staphylococcus aureus, which is known to play a role in eczema. Having swabbed the first two types of bacteria from the skin of several volunteers who suffered with eczema. The team then grew them in a lab and later incorporated them into an easy-to-apply lotion. Upon using the cream on their forearms, the levels of helpful skin … Continue reading →

In addition to your body, hands, and face, eczema can also plague the scalp, usually in a condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. There is some disagreement among experts about whether or not seborrheic dermatitis should be considered a form of chronic eczema or a separate skin condition, although the National Eczema Association considers it to be a type of eczema. (Eczema is a general term that includes a variety of conditions that causered, inflamed skin.) "Seborrheic dermatitis is a common form of chronic eczema on the scalp associated with a fungi," says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of Living With Itch ($19; amazon.com). In addition to the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis may also affect parts of the face (such as the nose), the back, ears, or center of the chest. It strikes parts of the body with many oil-producing (sebaceous) glands, leading to symptoms such as redness, flakes, and patches of greasy, swollen-looking skin. Unlike atopic dermatitis, a chronic form of eczema that is thought to be caused byan abnormal immune reaction,seborrheic dermatitisdoesn't usually cause severeitching. However, you can be diagnosed with bothseborrheic dermatitisand atopic dermatitis at the same … Continue reading →

Since summer is synonymous with sunscreen, sweat, and splashing around in salt water and chlorine, it can often also mean skin flare-ups especially for those with eczema , the skin condition that causes patches of cracked, scaly skin. Many people are well aware that eczema tends to flare in the winter, but it can flare even in the summertime, Sejal Shah , M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Allure . The culprits? Everything from sweaty subway rides, to romping around in the sand to sticking to your strict sunscreen routine . You May Also Like SkinI Got a Facial Every Week for a Month Here's My Before and After SkinDermatologist Tips on How to Get Rid of Blackheads In light of the fact that were officially in the heat of summer, we asked expert dermatologists how to fight an eczema flare-up without breaking a sweat. Increased sweating in the summer can definitely make your eczema flare up, particularly if you have it in the creases of your elbows or knees or on your palms, Erin Gilbert , M.D., Ph.D., Vichy consulting dermatologist and celebrity skin expert, tells Allure . Avoid being outdoors when the sun is most … Continue reading →

Eczema is incredibly common, and about30 million people in the United States are affected by some form this frustrating skin condition. Butit's not always so easy to understand how to care for your eczema. When so many substancesmay trigger an eczema flare(the long listincludes certain fibers, scented detergents, pollen, pet dander, and much more)how do you deal? There are multiple types of eczema, but the condition is generally characterized by a red, itchy,inflammatory skinreaction, saysJoshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospitals Department of Dermatology. "Eczema is a condition in which the skin cannot protect itself from the environment and, as a result, becomes inflamed," he says. "The outer skin layer develops microscopic cracks in it and loses hydration, leading to disruption of the skin barrier." While your doctor may have more tailored advice based on the type of eczema you have and your specific symptoms, Dr. Zeichner says one of thebest ways to ease symptoms ofeczema is to improve hydration and reduce inflammationboth of which start with great self-care. Here, dermatologists explain exactly how to care for your sensitive eczema skin at home. RELATED: 10 Home Remedies for Eczema A person … Continue reading →

I was five years old when the first patches of eczema started appearing on my skin, but it would be another five years before I was officiallydiagnosed. At first, no one knew what the rash was. Even the doctors weren'tmuch help; they prescribed me all kinds of creams, but nothing worked. When I look back now, Im not sure if the doctors were stumped,or if they simply were havingtrouble communicating with my mother (at the time, her English wasn'tvery strong). When the medications didn'twork, my mom tried home remedies. She would rub aloe vera on my skin, and I vaguely remember drinking something that was made of seeds.Neither worked. It wasn'tuntil I was 10 years oldat which point the patches had spread to my arms, legs, and facethat I sawa dermatologist, who gave me a shot. I cant remember what the shot was; the memory is kind of fuzzy, but I do recall that my skin got better afterward. I also left with a prescription for cortisone cream and the name of the condition that had been plaguingme for years: eczema. My eczema was bad when I was young, but my middle-school years weremuch worse. There were times during my … Continue reading →

"Dont scratch" is probably one of the bestand worstpieces of advice an eczema patient can receive. The skin condition, which is causedby an abnormal immune reaction that results in dry, red, cracked patches of skin, is only made worse by itching. Your nails damage the skin barrier, which then ramps up inflammatory molecules that exacerbatethe itch, explains Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Whats more, chronic scratching may make you more susceptible to infections, since it's easier for bacteria to invade the crackedskin. But heres the rub: itching an eczema rashfeels good. "Scratching induces a short term pain response that suppresses the itch," says Dr. Silberberg. "Patients feel the short-term gain, but dont realize how it actually harms skin." Your best way to dampen down the itchis to see your doctor for treatments, prescription or over-the-counter, thataddressthe underlying problem that causes the itch. Although it may not be possible to stop itching once and for all, here are eightstrategies that may help you keep your hands off. Jeffrey S. Fromowitz, MD, a dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida recommends holding an ice cube or cool compress on the itchy area. "The … Continue reading →

Who doesn't love beauty tips? From makeup tutorials and skin care solutions to hairstyle inspo, the HOW-TOs are all you need to get from beauty rut to head-to-toe renewal. From finding the perfect red lipstick to nailing your eye makeup, learn how to apply makeup like a true professional (yes, flawless smokey eye makeup or the elusive natural makeup look is finally within reach). When it comes to nails, weve nailed it. Whether you're a nail art fan, cant go past acrylic nails or adore a classic French manicure with nuder-than-nude nail polish, our step by step HOW-TOs and trend round ups have you covered. Hairstyles can be particularly hard to master - so we have the definitive edit of short hairstyles and stunning hairstyles for long hair, wedding hairstyles, bob hairstyles and easy hairstyles - perfect for giving yourself a fresh new look. And since we get that choosing the best cosmetics can be daunting, we have done the legwork for you so you can confidently shop for skin care like a Facialist. Finally, since we know beauty begins on the inside we have collated our favourite health and fitness tips including healthy recipes and super healthy snacks with … Continue reading →

Dealing with eczema is hard enough on its own. But because the skin conditionwhich causes an itchy, red, painful rashis so visible, people with eczema often also have to cope with insensitive comments from those around them. As a result, the condition can take a real emotional toll in addition to the already-frustrating physical symptoms. "[Eczema] really doesn't help in terms of the patient's emotional wellbeing and confidence," says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of Living With Itch ($19; amazon.com). We asked people to weigh in on how you can be more thoughtful when it comes to talking about skin symptoms (if you have to say anything at all). Here, five things you should never say to someone with eczema (or any skin condition, for that matter). Karina, 24, a medical student in Brooklyn, N.Y. who has had eczema since she was a child, tells us she was asked this question often growing up. "It's really a frustrating thing when you're a kid, and you don't even understand it much [yourself]," she says. "It's really hard to be confident." Eczema is not contagious. Although experts don't know exactly … Continue reading →

Eczema is a skin condition that can occur anywhere on the body, leading to itchy, red patches of skin that may become cracked or have blisters. The condition is frustrating wherever it occurs, whether on the arms, back, or hands. But eczema can be especially painful and debilitating when it appears on the face. Take it from social media star and fitness expert Carys Gray, who bravely shared a photo on Instagram last February to convey how serious an eczema flare-up on the face can be. Gray's photo showed a side-by-side comparison of her skin on a "normal" day versus how it looks in the middle of a bad flare. "When my eczema isnt under control, its very blotchy, sore, and I cant wear any makeup," Gray told her followers. She added that she hoped her photo would act as a reminder that things aren't always what they seem on social media. In a more recent post, the Instagram star shared another side-by-side photo of her face before and during an eczema flare. "Eczema (or any insecurity) is such a small part of my life and I shouldn't allow it to control me," she wrote. It can be difficult to … Continue reading →