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Understanding Skin Allergies

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The sudden outbreak of bumps and scales on the body is an unwelcome development, it alters, irritates and reneges on the natural look and feel of one’s skin. The disorder often triggered by physical exposure to materials or elements that affect the skin condition, due to one or more familiar instances, including reactions to costume jewellery containing nickel, certain foods and excessive hand washing among others.

Skin distressed by atopic dermatitis turns itchy and inflammation takes toll, appears red, swollen, cracked and might crust or weep. Patches of atopic dermatitis may show on different parts of the body, but does not spread to other people, it is at its most active during childhood and flares up on and off throughout an individuals lifetime.

Common categories of rash are scaly patches generated by fungal or bacterial infection, scaly patches of skin not caused by infection turn red, itchy or patches appear all over the body. Scaly itchy patches often epitomize one of the conditions called eczema – emanating from hereditary problems relating to the skin.

Atopic dermatitis usually worsens when the dry winter chills bite and irritation kicks in as a clear sign of stress. Atopic ailments are hereditary and may be linked to allergies, their line of influence includes asthma, hay fever and atopic and atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis affects minors and adults in different ways, during childhood the skin disorder runs riot as scaly patches on the scalp, arms, legs, torso, knees or elbows and as chapped cheeks, while adults contend with attacks on the hands, eyelids, genitals and the rest of the body.

Relief by treatment is administered using irritation combating prescriptions like steroids (cortisone creams), while non-steroids creams (tacrolimus, “protopic” + pimecrolimus “elidel”) fell out of favor for toxicity and efficacy reasons. The use of Burow’s solution is helpful in dehydrating the dripping stages of atopic dermatitis and is a non-prescription medication.

Avoiding the allergen is by far the greatest remedy for contact dermatitis (saliva from lip licking, solvents or water on hands). Eczema is characterized by an itchy red rash usually starting on the cheeks, and commonly entails the folds on the elbows, on the back of the knees or ears. In the advanced stages, it manifests as an itchy red, raw rash engulfing the whole body.

The tendency to scratch only serves to spread the rash and might result in the dripping formation of crusts. Other scaly rashes are psoriasis – a hereditary condition affecting elbows, knees and elsewhere; pityariasis rosea – affects teens and young adults (chest and back) and xerosis – dry winter rashes.

Written by Lexus

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Skin Rash | Skin Rashes | Skin Rash Types | Skin Rash Cures

4912154708 579c549393 Skin Rash | Skin Rashes | Skin Rash Types | Skin Rash Cures

Skin Rash is a type of red bump that forms on your body. There are many reasons for the cause of skin rash. This word is freely used in normal language to denote a number of skin conditions.

Skin Rash Types

Most commonly occurring skin rash types are:

* Non-infected scaly patches on the skin.

* Red, itchy patches or bumps all over the skin.

* Scaly patches on skin caused by fungal or bacterial infection.

Skin rashes are rarely categorized as dangerous, but still warrant medical attention. Self-diagnosis for skin rashes should not be done. Proper evaluation of the skin rash type requires a doctor visit. The following list of skin rash types may help you to categorize the condition.

Non infected scaly patches on the skin:

Scaly and itchy skin rash type usually stands for a condition known as eczema.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. “Dermatitis” means skin inflammation. “Atopic” refers to hereditary diseases. This skin rash type is normally hereditary which often starts in childhood with symptoms like scaly patches on the arms, legs, scalp and torso.

Atopic dermatitis may spread to inner elbows and knees during the teenage. Adults are affected by atopic dermatitis on the genitals, around the eyelids, on the hand and all over the body as well. These diseases may include hay fever, asthma and atopic dermatitis.

During atopic dermatitis, the skin turns extremely itchy and inflamed which may result in redness, swelling and cracking. Atopic dermatitis affects off and on for no apparent reason. It is at its worst in winter months, when the air becomes cold and dry.

Contact Dermatitis

The skin rash type caused due to contact with a specific material, which may cause allergy to the skin is know as contact dermatitis. For example poison ivy and jewelry containing nickel causes reactions. Only the touched part is affected by contact dermatitis.

Other Non-infected Scaly Patches

The other kinds of skin rash types are scaly rashes. Psoriasis is also a hereditary condition. Psoriasis affects the knees, elbows and pityriasis rosea, which forms scaly rashes on the chest and back and generally disappears in a month. Xerosis or very dry skin, may appear as rash during the cold, dry months of the year.

Red, itchy patches or bumps all over the skin:

Virus or allergy causes this form of skin rash type.

Allergic drug rash

Allergic drug skin rashes are the skin rashes, which are caused due to drug allergy. They start in about two weeks of a new medication. It is very doubtful that a medicine which has been prescribed for a few months or years to cause a reaction. There is no specific test to prove whether a skin rash is allergic as a result of which doctors recommend stopping a suspected drug to see the results.

Viral Skin Rash

Viral infections of the skin like herpes mostly occur on one part of the body, viral rashes also occur all over the body and are symmetrical. These viral rashes usually last about a week and vanish on their own.

Other Red, Itchy Patches Or Bumps

Urticaria or Hives are red welts that are itchy. They appear and disappear on different body parts. Most people use the term “skin rash” to describe the conditions of pimples or rosacea on the facial skin, because of the vagueness of the term. They certainly do not fall into any skin rash types.

Scaly patches on skin caused by fungal or bacterial infection:

Bacterial infections

The most common skin rash type caused by bacterial infection is impetigo. Impetigo is caused by strep germs and is more common in children. This again is not due to poor hygiene.

Fungal infections

Fungal infections are common but not as frequent as rashes in the eczema category. Hygiene is not the cause for fungal infections as clean people are also prone to them. Fungal infections are not contagious. The fungal infection skin rash type is not caught from animals, nor is it transmitted in gyms, showers or pools.

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Hand Dermatitis – About Hand Dermatitis

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Hand Dermatitis is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Hand Dermatitis may occur to the people at any age. Hand dermatitis varies in severity. It may affect the backs of the hands, the palms or both sites. Often it starts as a mild intermittent complaint, but it can become increasingly severe and persistent. Bacterial infection can result in pustules, crusting and pain. Longstanding dermatitis at the ends of the fingers may result in deformed nails. Hand dermatitis can spread to affect other sites, particularly the forearms and feet.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Hand Dermatitis.

Causes of Hand Dermatitis

Genes: A tendency to develop skin reactions or a certain type of eczema is often inherited.

Allergy: An allergic reaction occurs when the bodys immune system overreacts to something that does not cause everyones immune system to overreact. Common allergens (substances that cause an allergic reaction) that lead to hand dermatitis include nickel, Balsam of Peru (added to fragrances, foods, and skin care products), rubber, and topical vitamin E.

Irritation: With repeat use or short but heavy exposure, numerous everyday items can irritate skin. Water is probably the most common irritant. Frequent hand washing or immersing the hands in water too often can remove protective oils from the skin. When the oils are removed faster than they can be replaced, the skin becomes less pliable and more susceptible to hand eczema.

Poor glove hygiene: Wearing gloves can protect the skin from substances found in the workplace and while working around the home. However, slipping gloves on and off may allow irritants or allergens to get inside the gloves. This can trigger a flare-up. If this occurs, be sure to talk with a dermatologist about best practices for wearing gloves.

Symptoms of Hand Dermatitis include:

1) Mild, itchy rash to severe itching, swelling, and blistering

2) Irritant contact dermatitis usually affects the top of the hand, often appearing as dry, chapped skin around the knuckles and tops of the fingers

3) When hand dermatitis is caused by a fungal infection, the symptoms include itchy blisters along the sides of the fingers.

4) If caused by metals, the irritation appears under a ring

5) Allergic contact dermatitis also usually appears on the top of the hand and around the fingers.

6) The affected skin initially becomes red and dry, then progresses to itchy papules (bumps) and fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), scaling, cracking (fissures), weeping (exudation) and swelling (oedema).

Treatment of Hand Dermatitis

Methods for Treating Hand Dermatitis are:

Where possible, avoid wet-work and contact with irritants.

Protect your hands using vinyl gloves, which are less likely than rubber to cause allergic reactions. Don’t wear these for long periods, as sweating will also aggravate dermatitis. Always make sure the gloves are scrupulously clean inside.

Use emollients frequently. A thin smear of a thick barrier cream should be applied to all affected areas before work, and reapplied after washing and whenever the skin dries out.

Your doctor will prescribe topical steroids to reduce inflammation. These come in various strengths and should only be applied to areas of active dermatitis once or twice daily. Generally a potent topical steroid is used for several weeks.

If your dermatitis is infected, your doctor will prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic such as flucloxacillin for about a week.

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Eczema Treatment Might Mean Getting Rid of Your Eczema Medication

4867230020 ebc43384a3 Eczema Treatment Might Mean Getting Rid of Your Eczema Medication

If youre wondering why you have eczema, you might have a look in your medicine cabinet. In fact, if you have children, theres an 80 percent chance that they were prescribed at least one eczema-causing medication this year. Although there are effective eczema treatments available, finding alternative solutions to the drugs that cause it is also a good idea.

What are these drugs? There is a very, very long list: antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics, antihistamines, phenothiazines (once restricted to use as pesticides and industrial chemicals and now the largest of the five main classes of antipsychotics go figure), non steroidal anti inflammatories, anesthetics, anticancer drugs and, yes, the drugs your doctor is most likely to prescribe for you as eczema treatment steroids.

The sad thing is that eczema is not the worst side effect of many of these drugs and there are often natural alternatives available. The 80 percent mentioned above, for example, refers to the number of children and adolescents who are prescribed antibiotics each year eight out of 10. Many doctors will offer safe alternatives if you ask for them.

Another good candidate for substitution is the prescribing of steroid drugs as eczema treatment. Steroids prescribed to treat one of the exact conditions they are known to cause doesnt seem like the optimal way to go about things. Come to think of it, antibiotics that suppress the immune system and thereby leave us more susceptible to bacterial infection doesnt make a lot of sense either.

As an alternative to steroids for eczema treatment, you might try shielding lotion. Hundreds of dermatologists are now recommending it as eczema treatment, (should be a dot)In fact, shielding lotion has enabled some people to completely eliminate steroids and other harmful drugs. How does it work? A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that keeps the moisture in and the chemicals out. As dry skin and contact with harsh chemicals are major causes of eczema, keeping the skin moisturized and protected against those chemicals is the most direct eczema treatment you can get. Why mess around with harmful drugs when a natural alternative will do the job?

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Skin Rash – Part 1

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You know when you have a rash. Its an outbreak of red bumps on the skin. The most common types of rash are as follows. Scaly patches of skin not caused by infection. Scaly patches of skin caused by a fungus or bacterial infection. Red itchy bumps scattered randomly on the skin.

Rashes are seldom dangerous self diagnosis is not a good idea. The proper evaluation of a rash should be done by a doctor. A doctor can determine what type of rash you have and prescribe proper treatment. Scaly patches of skin that are not caused by an infection are usually referred to as eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. This type is hereditary and often appears in childhood as chapped cheeks and scaly patches on the hands, legs torso and arms. This type of eczema appears on adults on the hands, genitals, eyelids and can appear almost anywhere on the body.

This type of eczema is inherited from your parents. Atopic dermatitis can apear and disappear for no apparant reason but things like the weather can have an effect on it.

The word “dermatitis” means inflammation of the skin, “atopic means hereditary. Hereditary means that it runs in your family.

Diseases that are hereditary often occur together, that is they can tend to make their appearance simultaneously. In atopic dermatitis the skin can become inflamed and itchy with swelling and cracking and can include weeping, crusting and scaling. People afflicted with this type of rash may also have allergies but most cases of this type of rash are not the result of an allergic reaction. This type of rash is not contagious even though spread patterns may make it apear as though it is.

Another type of rash is “contact dermatitis”. This type of rash is brought on by contact with a substance that is irritating to the skin. This can be any one of a number of things including allergic reactions to substances or contact with chemical irritants.

This type of rash can be causes by poison ivy or poison oak as well as prolonged contact with something like gasoline or strong cleaning products. Frequently it is caused by exposure to nickel in costume jewelry. Almost everyone has experienced this type of rash at some point in their life.

Topical treatments such as ointments along with avoidance of what caused the rash in the first place are the usual prescription for this type of rash.

Another type of rash is red or scaly patches of skin caused by fungus or bacterial infection. Fungus infections are the most common. They have nothing to do with hygiene clean people get them as well as those who might not be so clean. In contrary to the myth they are not highly contagious.

They are not easily transmitted in gym shower or locker rooms or on toilet seats. Antifungal creams are the usual course of treatment. Many of these types of creams can be purchased over the counter at your local drug store.

Another type of rash is a bacterial infection. This type of rash is caused by a bacteria rather than a fungus. Again hygene plays little or no part in this infection. Treatment for this type of rash might include oral antibiotics and a perscription strength topical ointment. The over the counter treatment that are effective on fubgus caused rashes are just not very effective on bacterial rashes.

Viral rashes are caused by a viral infection. They can come as a symptom to a disease like chicken pocks or herpes or a number of other diseases. But this is not always the case the viral infection can also be just the rash itself. Many diseases do have a rash as one of their symptoms though

Allergic drug rashes are caused by an allergic reaction to a drug. Many people are allergic to a specific drug and a rash can apear days or weeks after taking the drug they are allergic to. A common drug that people are allergic to is penicillin.

Treatment for this type of rash is to discontinue the use of the drug and wait for it to go away. Topical treatments to sooth the itching are available over the counter. In extreme cases you may require a perscription strength topical treatment.

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