Itching All Over

Eczema is also known as dermatitis. It covers a broad range of conditions, all of which cause the skin to become inflamed, irritated, and possibly swollen. The most common specific cause of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis. Although the terms “atopic dermatitis” and “eczema” are often used interchangeably, technically atopic dermatitis is a specific cause of eczema.

Atopic dermatitis is an allergic reaction seen in the skin which has some genetic associations, and thus can be inherited. Often atopic dermatitis is seen in conjunction with other immune hypersensitivities such as asthma or hay fever.

The exact cause atopic dermatitis is unclear, but there are certainly environmental triggers as well a genetic predisposition to the problem. The immune system goes haywire and reacts very strongly to environmental stimulants, which can come from a wide variety of common household chemicals. Soaps, detergents, pollen, pet hair, jewelry, metals, and even some types of clothing fabrics have all been associated with outbreaks of atopic dermatitis. In some cases, weather and even stress can trigger an attack as well.

Atopic dermatitis is most commonly seen in children, although it can persist in to adulthood in as much as 1-2% of the population. Estimates put the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children at up to 20% – and those numbers are increasing all the time.

Eczema can effect any part of the skin, however the face, hands, neck, ankles, knees and feet are the most common locations for a rash. Infants will more often get the rashes on the scalp, forehead, neck, cheeks and legs. Often the area effected will become itchy before a rash is visible, but this is not always the case.

Later symptoms can include oozing, blisters, rashes, and any other nasty variation of skin grossness you can imagine. Needless to say, a person suffering from an outbreak of eczema can be quite uncomfortable.

Contact eczema, also known as contact dermatitis, is another common form of eczema. This is a hypersensitivity to a particular chemical or substance. When a person comes in contact with the offending chemical, their immune system overreacts and causes the eczematous rash. Soaps, nickel (or other metals) and perfumes are common causes of contact dermatitis. Poison ivy or poison oak rashes are a common type of contact dermatitis for those how have been unlucky enough to be hiking in the woods at the wrong season – which I’ve personally had the misfortune to experience.

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Dermatitis is a blanket term literally meaning ” inflammation of the skin”. Symptoms of inflammation are itching, pain, redness, swelling, and the formation of small blisters or wheals (itchy, red circles with a white centre) on the skin. There are different types of dermatitis, and the disorder can have many causes and occur in many forms. Generally, dermatitis describes swollen reddened and itchy skin. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the skin on other parts of the body such as the face and chest, and the creases of the arms, legs and groin. The inflammation is caused by an allergy or irritation as a result of substances found in the workplace that come into direct contact with the skin. Dermatitis may be a brief reaction to a substance. The hands and feet are particularly vulnerable to chronic dermatitis, because the hands are in frequent contact with many foreign substances and the feet are in the warm, moist conditions created by socks and shoes that favor fungal growth. Dermatitis is a common condition that isn’t life-threatening or contagious. But, it can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. A combination of self-care steps and medications can help you treat dermatitis.

Your skin is constantly exposed to the elements making it susceptible to a variety of problems, including the common condition dermatitis. It is usually used to refer to eczema which is also known as Dermatitis eczema . Some types of dermatitis affect only specific parts of the body, whereas others can occur anywhere. However dermatitis is always the skin’s way of reacting to severe dryness, scratching, a substance that is causing irritation, or an allergen. In all cases continuous scratching and rubbing may eventually lead to thickening and hardening of the skin. These diseases include asthma, hay fever, and atopic dermatitis. dermatitis most often affects infants and young children, but it can continue into adulthood or first show up later in life. Many children with atopic dermatitis enter into a permanent remission of the disease when they get older, although their skin often remains dry and easily irritated. This kind of dermatitis is caused by chemicals that are irritating (e.g., acids, bases, fat-dissolving solvents) to the skin and is localized to the area of contact. Another difference is that allergic dermatitis can occur in other places on the body that did not come in contact with the allergy-causing material.

Causes of Dermatitis

The common Causes of Dermatitis :

Contributing factors include genetics, concentration, duration of exposure, and presence of other skin diseases.

Most common agents are plants of the Toxicodendron genus (eg, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac).

A common, chronic skin condition that can affect the Dermatitis area as well as other locations on the body.

The inflammation causes the skin to become itchy and scaly.

The most common cause of dermatitis. The condition is usually caused by exposure to certain chemicals in combination with extreme heat or moisture, which can cause a breakdown of the skin.

An irritant produces direct local cytotoxic effect on the cells of the epidermis, with a subsequent inflammatory response in the dermis.

Exposure to environmental irritants can worsen symptoms, as can dryness of the skin, exposure to water, temperature changes and stress.

Dermatitis caused by a fungal infection in the Dermatitis area.

Symptoms of Dermatitis

Some Symptoms of Dermatitis :

Skin lesion or rash at the site of exposure

Atopic dermatitis

Skin redness or inflammation in the exposed area

Neurodermatitis

Localized swelling of the skin

Perioral dermatitis

Itching ( pruritus ) of the skin in exposed areas

Treatment of Dermatitis

Your doctor will recommend antibiotics such as flucloxacillin or erythromycin if infection is complicating or causing the dermatitis. The infection is most often with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes .

Antihistamine tablets may help reduce the irritation, and are particularly useful at night

Systemic steroids , azathioprine , phototherapy , and other complicated treatments may also be used for severe cases.

Ultraviolet light treatments (UVA, UVB)

Protect your skin from dust, water, solvents, detergents, injury.

Apply an emollient liberally and often, particularly after bathing, and when itchy. Ask your doctor or dermatologist to recommend some to try; avoid perfumed products when possible.

Wear soft smooth cool clothes; wool is best avoided.

Hospitalizaton for treatment of severe dermatitis that is not responding to the above treatments.

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• Perioral Dermatitis Facts and Perioral Dermatitis Treatment

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that causes intense itching and then a raised, red rash. It usually develops in small children and continues into the teen years. Adults also may suffer it or have milder problems than they did as children, along with sensitive-skin problems.
If you suffer atopic dermatitis, your skin is very sensitive to irritants and is likely to developing a rash and becoming itchy. The itch may seem to be relieved by scratching, but it often ends in a rash and produces a vicious circle of itching, scratching, and rash.
Skin affected by dermatitis must be kept well hydrated. Although scientists have yet to fully understand the causes of atopic dermatitis, it is known that dry skin plays a big part in worsening symptoms.

Good skin care is an essential part of controlling the itch and rash of dermatitis. To help prevent a cycle of itching, scratching, and rash, keep your skin hydrated and recognize and avoid skin irritants.
Follow these tips to care for your skin: – Soak in warm (not hot), clean water for 3 to 5 minutes. Your skin will assimilate water and still keep its biological oils. Losing the biological oils will result in dry skin. You may shower when an outbreak is mild or when atopic dermatitis is under control.
- Avoid washing with soap during every bath. When soap is needed, use a gentle, non-drying product. Soap should be regularly used only on the underarms, groin, and feet, rinsing immediately afterward. Children affected by atopic dermatitis must not stay sit in soapy water.
- Don’t add bath oils and bubble bath to the bathwater, because they can alter your skin’s capability to assimilate water.
- Don’t use scrub brushes or washcloths.
- After a bath or shower, pat your skin dry. With your skin still moist or even wet, immediately apply a moisturizer, within 3 minutes of leaving the shower or bath. Your skin will dry out if you wait longer. For severe dryness, try mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or an all-vegetable shortening. Also apply the moisturizer several times a day.
- Talk to your personal doctor about using a wet bandage over the affected area. It can help relieve symptoms but it can be troublesome if some skin treatment is being administered on the skin.
And, of course, avoid skin irritants at all costs, such as certain cleansing solutions, scratchy bedding or clothing, sudden changes of temperature, excessive sweating, places with low humidity, sunburn, damp hands or feet, and emotional stress.

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Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease which in some countries is also known as eczema. The ailment is one of the many forms of dermatitis or skin disease.

Atopic dermatitis most of the time occurs with some other atopic diseases, or ailments whose exact infected locations are not really traceable. Some of these diseases include asthma, hay fever and conjunctivitis.

This skin disease is most of the time chronic and symptoms and manifestations can further develop, continue to exist or disappear over some time. When you say chronic, it means the disease is treatable but not really curable.

Treatments like ointments and other forms are generally used to ease or relieve the itchiness or discomfort brought about by atopic dermatitis. These treatments are also used to reduce or diminish the affected area in the skin.

In the past, and even presently, atopic dermatitis is mistaken for psoriasis, another skin disease.

Atopic dermatitis usually shows up or affects infants whose ages may range from one month to six months. In the US, about 60% of atopic dermatitis patients experience their first onset of this skin disease when they were just one year old.

Approximately 90% of atopic dermatitis patients in the country got the skin disease when they were about 5 years old and below. There are cases of an atiopic dermatitis onset during adolescent years but they are very uncommon and rare.

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis

Be aware that manifestation or symptoms of this itchy and uncomfortable skin disease vary with age.

Generally, atopic dermatitis is characterized by the presence of lesions which occur or can be found in different areas of the body, depending on age.

For example, an infant has eczema if he has lesions in the extensor surfaces, the face or in the trunk. For young children, they are found in ankles and wrists. In adults, these lesions may be found in the upper chest, in the neck, in the face and in the genitals or sex organs.

For infants and children with atopic dermatitis, rashes also occur during warmer weather. These rashes will surely worsen with the climate change from warm to winter or colder climate.

Skin areas infected with atopic dermatitis also is characterized by unusual and unaesthetic skin drying.

Treating atopic dermatitis

Modern medicine believes that atopic dermatitis may be worsened or complicated by stress or emotional and psychological anxieties.

The dryness in the infected area in the skin can be practically reduced by avoiding and preventing further contact with the allergen that may have caused or triggered the onset of atopic dermatitis.

Moisturizers are available and easily accessible in local drug stores and retail chains but it is important to seek a doctors or a dermatologists prescription and consultation first. Self-treatment or self-prescription should be avoided for it may only worsen the skin disease.

Use of strong and harsh soaps must also be reduced to help prevent further drying of the skin. Most soaps today have chemicals that wash away and put out the natural oil produced by the skin. These natural oils contain substances that will help prevent skin drying.

Prevention

Of course, jut like other skin diseases, the most basic and general prevention for atopic dermatitis is through proper and practical hygiene.

Avoid skin contact with allergens like skin irritating chemicals, solvents and clothes. As much as possible, also avoid too much exposure to extreme climates like very high or very low temperatures.

It can be hard to explain but emotional stress can also be a factor causing atopic dermatitis so as much as possible avoid it, as well as exposure to excessive or little tobacco smoke.

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If you suffer from atopic dermatitis, you know how irritating – and even painful- it is. Yet, you don’t have to live always suffering because this condition can be managed and controlled. There are millions of people around the World that have this type of dermatitis and it is commonly known as eczema.

Atopic dermatitis seems to have its origin on a genetic predisposition, and it poses no threat to your life nor is contagious. In the majority of cases, the triggers are allergens or food.

Although it has a greater occurrence on babies, atopic dermatitis can be present throughout the life of a person with episodes called “flare-ups”. The symptoms can vary in intensity and they are different in different people. For a doctor, it is easier to identify this condition in children, because in adults it can be easily mistaken for psoriasis.

How to Prevent Atopic Dermatitis

Sufferers from atopic dermatitis really have to suffer a torture at times – just ask anyone suffering from it! It is important to know how to find relief and prevent the “flare-ups”, because this condition is not curable yet.

The first step to effectively treat atopic dermatitis, is learning about what triggers the skin inflammation, maybe is an irritant, maybe is a food, the complicated thing about this is that the trigger varies from patient to patient. According to some studies, there are trigger-foods present in many atopic dermatitis cases: nuts, milk and wheat.

Finally, we know that the environment can also influence the appearance of this condition, places where there is a lot of smoke and dust, seem to trigger flare-ups. If you have an animal allergy, you will have a skin reaction when a cat or dog is nearby, in these cases you should stay away from the animal.

As you see there can be different triggers for the rash, you may need to do some trials and testing in order to determine your won specific trigger.

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