ECZEMA OVERVIEW Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a skin problem that causes dry, itchy, scaly, red skin. It can occur in infants, children, and adults, and seems more common in certain families. Eczema can be treated with moisturizers and prescription ointments. More detailed information about atopic dermatitis is available by subscription. (See "Treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema)" and "Management of severe refractory atopic dermatitis (eczema)".) ECZEMA CAUSES The cause of eczema is not completely understood, although hereditary factors appear to play a strong role. In most people, atopic dermatitis is caused by a genetic dysfunction in the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis). The epidermis is the first line of defense between the body and the environment. When the epidermis is intact, it keeps environmental irritants, allergens, and microbes from entering the body. Despite popular belief, in children, eczema is rarely linked to food allergies. If a food allergy is suspected, the child should be evaluated by an allergy specialist. (See "Patient education: Food allergy symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)" and "Role of allergy in atopic dermatitis (eczema)".) ECZEMA SYMPTOMS Most people with eczema develop their first symptoms before age five. Intense itching of the skin, … Continue reading →

Eczema is the term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, is known as the itch that rashes. It usually appears on the face, hands, and limbs, and is accompanied by an intense itch. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It affects approximately 15% of infants and children and 3% of adults in the U.S. Many people outgrow the condition during childhood, although some suffer with it throughout life. Atopic dermatitis affects the skins barrier functionits ability to keep moisture in and irritants out. It also disturbs the formation of natural skin oils and reduces sweat secretion. As a result, skin loses moisture and can eventually become so dry that it cracks and fissures develop, allowing bacteria and irritants to penetrate the skin and possibly cause infection. While the exact cause of the disease is unknown, the good news is that it can be managed and treated with a good daily skincare regimen. Eczema is a condition that can be managed with a physicians assistance. Your dermatologist or pediatrician may prescribe medications to help you manage your eczema or atopic dermatitis, but he … Continue reading →

Eczema patients had more Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (golden colonies) on their skin during active flare-ups. A.L. Byrd et al / Science Translational Medicine (2017) And the team at the National Institutes of Health narrowed down the bad bacteria using genetic sequencing. The hope is to figure out if the staph bacteria are causing the eczema or are a side-effect, and whether they worsen the symptoms. Eventually, it might be possible to use the knowledge to develop better treatments. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common inflammatory skin disorder in industrialized countries, affecting 10 to 30 percent of children, Julia Segre of the NIHs National Human Genome Research Institute and colleagues wrote. Patients with atopic dermatitis suffer from chronic, relapsing, intensely itchy, and inflamed skin lesions and have an increased likelihood of developing asthma and/or hay fever. Bacteria are a longtime suspect, and one treatment for eczema is a bleach bath to kill them off. But its not usually a long-term fix. Related: One team at NIH is working on But its important to figure out just who the bad actors are, and thats what Segres team did. They tested 18 children, 11 of whom had eczema. They scraped off the microbes … Continue reading →

July 6, 2017 by Bob Yirka report Eczema patients had more Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (golden colonies) on their skin during active flare-ups. Credit: Carla Shaffer / AAAS (Medical Xpress)A team of researchers with the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. has found what appears to be a link between eczema flare-ups and a certain strain of bacteria. In their paper published in Science Translational Medicine, the group outlines their study of the connection between the skin ailment and bacteria and what they found. Eczema is a skin condition causing patches of skin to become itchy and discolored. Besides being an irritant, it also causes emotional problems because most patients are young people, including children. Some studies have also shown it can lead to an increased likelihood of developing allergies. Prior research has suggested it might be possible that the condition is caused by some type of bacteriasome researchers have even found possible candidates. But despite evidence of higher numbers of certain bacteria existing on the skin during flare-ups, no one has been able to figure out if they were a cause or a side effect. In this new effort, the researchers sought to prove they were a likely cause. … Continue reading →

Men's Health How To Treat Eczema on Your Face Men's Health As someone who has struggled with facial eczema since childhood, I can say that dealing with it, let alone treating it, can be hell. It wasn't until I started to notice the hallmark symptomsitchy red, scaly patches that I realized my generic ... Go here to read the rest: How To Treat Eczema on Your Face - Men's Health … Continue reading →

Sedalia dermatologist Dr. Julian Cannaday achieved fame and wealth treating eczema, a skin disease marked by rough, itchy, scaly patches on the skin. In the book he wrote advocating his treatment for eczema, he questioned the currently available treatments and the doctors who prescribed them. He also offered his own cure. Cannaday proposed that eczema was difficult to cure because most physicians treated the effects and ignored the cause. He believed he knew the cause, which he claimed was the buildup of acid in the blood and the inability of the body to cleanse the blood, forcing the acid to be excreted through the skin, which developed itchy patches where the acid seeped out. His explanation, and the certainty with which he pronounced it, is interesting, in that the exact cause of eczema remains unknown. The website of the prestigious Mayo Clinic suggests several contributing factors, including dry irritable skin caused by too much exposure to hot or cold water or harsh cleaning agents, allergies to dyes or perfumes in soaps or lotions, and environmental conditions such as exposure to hot dry air. Cannaday explains that these factors may aggravate eczema by irritating skin already damaged by the acid excreted … Continue reading →