Dr.APARNA.S. BHMS, Thiruvananthapuram INTRODUCTION Dermatology is one of the most important disciplines of medicine, where a disease apprises itself over the skin .The diseases affecting the skin always create mental stress to the patients because of external appearance. So its study, have an important place in the practice of medicine. Eczema is one of the most common skin diseases affecting humanity from time immemorial. Eczema can very well be called the first illness man could have suffered. We find its descriptions even in the most ancient writings. Perhaps the primitive men feared skin diseases more or less the way we do nowadays with regards to Cancer or AIDS. Eczema or dermatitis is a reaction pattern that presents with variable clinical and histological findings and is the final common expression for a number of disorders including atopic dermatitis, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, dyshydrotic eczema, nummular eczema etc. Primary lesions may include papules, erythematous macules and vesicles which can coalesce to form patches and plaques. In severe eczema, secondary lesions from infection or excoriation, marked by weeping and crusting may predominate. Long standing dermatitis is often dry and is characterized by thickened, scaling skin (lichenification). According to Homoeopathy, it is the … Continue reading →

Most types of eczema require a combination of treatments and medications. Your dermatologist will choose the ones that will work the best to control your condition. The three main steps of eczema management involve: Antihistamines that cause sedation may be prescribed in those whose symptoms are interfering with sleep. Moisturizers and emollients decrease dryness and scaling, leaving the skin feeling more comfortable. Barrier repair moisturizers also known as physiologic moisturizers, contain some of the essential oils that are missing from eczematous skin, most commonly ceramide. Coal tar is an old remedy but still effective. It soothes inflamed skin and helps reduce itching, flaking and redness. It is available in bath oils, shampoos, gels, creams, ointments and in combination with corticosteroids. Bleach baths in a solution of bleach and clear, warm water for 5-10 minutes twice weekly can be effective in those susceptible to frequent infections which can worsen eczema. Cool compresses relieve inflammation and itching. Antibiotics are used to treat secondary skin infection, which is a common complication of any type of eczema. The skin barrier is broken both by scratching and the inflammation allowing bacteria to penetrate the skin. Corticosteroids are the most effective anti-inflammatory agents. They come in … Continue reading →

Atopic Eczema, otherwise known as Atopic Dermatitis or Infantile Eczema is a chronic relapsing itchy skin disease. Atopic Eczema is usually the first clinical manifestation of allergy in atopic families.By Dr Adrian Morris It usually commences about the third month of life as a weepy rash on the face and outer surfaces of arms and legs and then progresses in later childhood as a dry scaly and itchy rash commonly of the inner creases of the elbows and knees. Some children may not outgrow their eczema and the condition can persist or recurs in adulthood. General allergy prevention measures will help in high allergy-risk newborns. These include avoidance of parental smoking during pregnancy and after birth, breast feeding until at least 4 to 6 months of age if possible. Common allergy-provoking foods such as cows milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, wheat and soya may be avoided in the breast-feeding mothers daily diet (but proof that this helps is lacking). Avoidance of solid foods in babies up to 6 months of age followed by the careful introduction of the potential allergy-provoking foods one at a time over a period of weeks. These allergy risk foods include cows milk, wheat and egg, nuts … Continue reading →