Eczema in Children

When a skin rash cannot be blamed on poison ivy or chicken pox, the culprit is eczema. In this condition, the skin turns red, scaly and develops sores. The itching is beyond the limit and the skins starts to shed in the form of scales. Dermatitis is the other name for eczema. Dermatitis actually means inflammation of the skin and the skin turns pink and sore. Eczema is a common child problem as out of ten kids at least one kid gets eczema and majority of them get it before they turn five years old. Children who are above five years are also at a risk of developing eczema, but once they become teenagers, the chances are negligible.

Not only does eczema dries the skin, it also makes it itch horribly. The skin break out can even take the form of rashes. Eczema is a condition which comes and goes frequently and therefore it is chronic. When any foreign bodies come in contact with the skin, a special kind of cells present in the skin will react to them. Basically, they inflame the skin as a measure of protection. The harmful foreign objects trigger the reaction and make these special cells to over react. This turns the skin itchy, sore and red. Children, who get eczema frequently, have a larger quantity of these special cells.

Usually, people who have family members with asthma, hay fever or any allergies are more prone to getting eczema. It is in their genes to get eczema and this problem is passed over to them by their parent. Some scientists say that people, who as children have had eczema, are at a higher risk of developing asthma or hay fever later in their life. Allergies can only make eczema worse. The good news is that eczema is not contagious, so children can be happy about not catching the infection. The first symptom of eczema is rash development. These rashes may seem to go away in the beginning, but will return back. Although eczema itches badly, not all rashes will itch. Eczema will start to develop behind the knees and inside of the elbows. It will slowly spread to the face and other body parts.

Because rashes can be caused due to many other reasons apart from eczema, the doctor will examine the rashes and its cause very carefully. If eczema is confirmed, the child may have to use a moisturizing cream or lotion to stop the itchiness and drying of the skin. In serious cases, the patient will be recommended corticosteroids. It is a steroid cream or ointment which needs to applied to check skin inflammation. If the itching is really irritating, antihistamine can be taken in either liquid or pill form. And if the scratching had resulted in an infection, antibiotics will also be prescribed. The problem doesn’t get solved forever, but it makes the condition better for the time being.

There are certain things which trigger eczema and should be avoided by children who get eczema frequently. Perfumes, detergents, soap, dry air in winters with very little moisture, and sweaty and hot skin. Also when coming in contact with dust mites and scratchy fabrics can increase skin irritation. The child must abstain from scratching even if the skin is itching badly, as that will make the skin itch more badly. The skin can also get infected with bacteria because of skin breaking and bleeding. A washcloth can be dipped on cool water and placed on the area of itchiness. The parents should cut the nails short of the child so that he/she doesn’t hurt himself while scratching. Lastly, lots of water should be consumed to provide moisture to the dry skin.

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Eczema in Children

When a skin rash cannot be blamed on poison ivy or chicken pox, the culprit is eczema. In this condition, the skin turns red, scaly and develops sores. The itching is beyond the limit and the skins starts to shed in the form of scales. Dermatitis is the other name for eczema. Dermatitis actually means inflammation of the skin and the skin turns pink and sore. Eczema is a common child problem as out of ten kids at least one kid gets eczema and majority of them get it before they turn five years old. Children who are above five years are also at a risk of developing eczema, but once they become teenagers, the chances are negligible.

Not only does eczema dries the skin, it also makes it itch horribly. The skin break out can even take the form of rashes. Eczema is a condition which comes and goes frequently and therefore it is chronic. When any foreign bodies come in contact with the skin, a special kind of cells present in the skin will react to them. Basically, they inflame the skin as a measure of protection. The harmful foreign objects trigger the reaction and make these special cells to over react. This turns the skin itchy, sore and red. Children, who get eczema frequently, have a larger quantity of these special cells.

Usually, people who have family members with asthma, hay fever or any allergies are more prone to getting eczema. It is in their genes to get eczema and this problem is passed over to them by their parent. Some scientists say that people, who as children have had eczema, are at a higher risk of developing asthma or hay fever later in their life. Allergies can only make eczema worse. The good news is that eczema is not contagious, so children can be happy about not catching the infection. The first symptom of eczema is rash development. These rashes may seem to go away in the beginning, but will return back. Although eczema itches badly, not all rashes will itch. Eczema will start to develop behind the knees and inside of the elbows. It will slowly spread to the face and other body parts.

Because rashes can be caused due to many other reasons apart from eczema, the doctor will examine the rashes and its cause very carefully. If eczema is confirmed, the child may have to use a moisturizing cream or lotion to stop the itchiness and drying of the skin. In serious cases, the patient will be recommended corticosteroids. It is a steroid cream or ointment which needs to applied to check skin inflammation. If the itching is really irritating, antihistamine can be taken in either liquid or pill form. And if the scratching had resulted in an infection, antibiotics will also be prescribed. The problem doesn’t get solved forever, but it makes the condition better for the time being.

There are certain things which trigger eczema and should be avoided by children who get eczema frequently. Perfumes, detergents, soap, dry air in winters with very little moisture, and sweaty and hot skin. Also when coming in contact with dust mites and scratchy fabrics can increase skin irritation. The child must abstain from scratching even if the skin is itching badly, as that will make the skin itch more badly. The skin can also get infected with bacteria because of skin breaking and bleeding. A washcloth can be dipped on cool water and placed on the area of itchiness. The parents should cut the nails short of the child so that he/she doesn’t hurt himself while scratching. Lastly, lots of water should be consumed to provide moisture to the dry skin.

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Acne in Teenagers

Acne is one of the most common problems in adolescent teens affecting nearly seventeen million people in the United States. Acne is nothing but a disorder involving sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Acne results from the clogging of sebaceous glands leading to the formation of pimples and cysts. The condition usually begins with the onset of puberty. Going by the facts, as teens attain puberty the androgens also called male sex hormones are produced in high number leading to sebaceous glands becoming over active which results in sebum being produced in high proportions.

Sebum, which is nothing but oil is produced by sebaceous glands which travel to the skin surface through hair follicles. But, skin cells block the follicles which results in oil also being blocked. When these hair follicles are blocked it results in the development of skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium Acnes within the follicles which in turn results in swelling of the skin called Acne. If the hair follicles are partially blocked it results in blackheads. If the follicles are completely blocked they result in whiteheads. But if these plugged follicles are not treated they ultimately burst causing the oil, bacteria and skin cells to spill all over the skin resulting in irritation and formation of pimples. Acne can be shallow as well as deep in various individuals depending on the nature of skin and amount of oil produced.

There can be various causes why Acne forms. Apart from rising hormone levels due to puberty it can also be attributed to certain other factors like intake of drugs which contain lithium, barbiturates and corticosteroids. Acne can also be caused due to excess grease and oil in the scalp, due to cooking oil and use of some cosmetics can actually alleviate the acne problem. Acne problem many times is inherited also. Acne problem is worsened if the pimples are squeezed or scrubbed too hard.

Acne can form at any place of the body but they most commonly form in the areas where there sebaceous glands are present in high proportions like face, chest, shoulders, neck and upper back. The symptoms may differ from person to person but commonly seen symptoms are: formation of blackheads, whiteheads, lesions filled with pus and which are very painful and lastly nodules. One may get confused sometimes as symptoms of acne may be like some other skin condition and it is always advised to consult a doctor in this scenario.

There are lots of treatments available today to treat acne. The primary goal of the treatment is to reduce scars and better appearance. There are various treatments and the doctor decides which specific treatment you need based on: the extent of acne problem, age, medical history, overall health, tolerance to specific medications and procedures, expectations and last but not the least what patients prefer.

Treatment of acne is classified into topical and systemic drug therapies which are given based on extent of severity. In some instances the combination of both the methods might be the way to go for acne treatment. Topical medication is nothing but creams, gels, lotions, solutions etc. prescribed to patients for acne treatment. Some of the examples of topical medication are: Benzoyl Peroxide which kills the Propionibacterium Acnes bacteria, antibiotics helps in stopping or slowing down the growth of the bacteria and also reduces inflammation, Tretinoin helps in stopping the formation of new acne lesions and Adapalene reduces formation of comedo.

Systemic drug therapies involve prescription of systemic antibiotics primarily for the treatment of acne problem which is moderate to severe in nature. The examples of antibiotics prescribed are Doxycycline, erythromycin and tetracycline. In some cases an oral drug called Isotretinoin is prescribed for teenagers with severe acne problem which shrinks down the sebaceous glands that produce oil. The results are pretty good and almost ninety percent of the teenagers have success with this oral drug. But the drug has some serious side-affects and thus it is very important that one consults a doctor before use.

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18 potentially harmful ingredients in cosmetics

Cosmetics from anti-perspirants to lotions often contain ingredients of which the longterm effects are not known. Because the skin is so good at absorbing chemicals and nutrients into the bloodstream, you should not underestimate the potential of cosmetics applied to the skin to affect your overall health.

1. Toluene is found in most commercial nail polishes. It’s a petroleum by-product which is believed to damage the nervous system, causing fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and confusion.
2. Formaldehydes. If the fact that they’re used for embalming isn’t enough to turn you off, formaldehydes cause contact dermatitis and other skin problems.
3. Aluminum. Found in most anti-perspirants, aluminum blocks the pores to prevent sweating. It’s thought to be connected to Alzheimer’s.
4. Fragrances can mean anything - it’s a catch all term for up to 200 different substances. Fragrances can irritate the skin, cause allergic reactions, and even cause headaches or dizziness. Many people report instant headaches just from walking past cosmetic counters where perfumes have been sprayed.
5. DEA, MEA, TEA cause allergic reactions in the eyes and can cause the skin and hair to become dry.
6. Dibutyl phthalate is added to cosmetics to make your skin absorb other ingredients more thoroughly. It is known to have caused birth defects in animals and damage to the male reproductive system.
7. Artificial colors are often derived from coal tar. They pose a risk for asthmatics, people with eczema and those who are sensitive to aspirin. Some of the dyes are believed to cause headaches, itchy eyes and blurred vision.
8. Alpha hydroxy and retinoid acids. These are marketed as if they’re good for everyone, but they’re very abrasive and used in skin peels. Sensitive skin is likely to react very poorly to these products, and even normal skin may suffer damage. They break down the outer layer of skin, which enhances the bad effects of the sun on skin.
9. Rosemary can be dangerous for people suffering from epilepsy.
10. Sage may be harmful for pregnant women.
11. Soy is a leading allergen used as a filler in tons of products and a main ingredient in many. It’s cheap and easy to produce, hence its popularity, but in sensitive individuals the genetically modified versions of it currently in use can cause sinusitis, stomach aches, skin troubles and other allergic symptoms.
12. Sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate. The main cleansing ingredient in many “soaps”. Can irritate skin, lungs and eyes.
13. Parabens come from petroleum. They can cause skin irritations and may have to do with increases in breast cancer and decreases in sperm count. Watch out for these even in “naturl” products.
14. Isopropyl Alcohol can dry out the skin, and is made from petroleum.
15. Methylisothiazolinone is a known allergen and irritant.
16. Propylene Glycol is believed to increase the amount of acid in the body, when used in large enough amounts.
17. Parraffin is another petroleum derivative. It tends to block pores.
18. Tallow may be a skin irritant. It’s derived from animal fat, and is therefore not appropriate for vegans.

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The facts about eczema

Eczema refers to several inflamed skin conditions which are not contagious and can affect anyone at any time. Somewhere between ten and twenty percent of people experience eczema as children, but in most cases the disorder disappears with age.

It most commonly presents as dry, red, patches of skin that itch severely. In severe cases, the skin may crack and bleed or bubble and ooze. Healing can take a long time. The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it’s believed to be the immune system overreacting to irritating substances. Fortunately, this means that if you can determine the source of irritation and avoid it, the eczema will (in many cases) go away.

While you’re trying to figure out what’s triggering the eczema episodes, the best thing to do is prevent scratching. Moisturize immediately after bathing. Additionally, Caladryl can be very soothing; also, it will dry “weeping” sores. Some individuals find more relief from corticosteroid creams. Antihistamines can be helpful with itching, too.

It’s not easy to find what’s triggering eczema. You may need to undergo allergy testing, or your doctor may advise keeping a journal in which you list your activities during the day and then your outbreaks to see if a pattern can be found. If you’re aware of any family allergies to certain products or substances, that might form a starting point for self-testing, in which you avoid certain products or substances for a while and see whether or not you have breakouts. If not, you’ve hopefully found your trigger and can avoid it in the future.

If you’re really having trouble figuring out what triggers your eczema, there are some common triggers you can try avoiding. Wear cotton and use cotton linens; avoid synthetics which don’t allow the skin to breathe as well as cotton, and wool which can irritate sensitive skin. Use “natural” laundry detergents rather than the synthetics; you may need to seek out a health food store to find “natural” detergents. Fabric softeners can also make eczema sufferers itch more, so avoiding it may be necessary. Regular dusting and vacuuming may reduce contact with dust mites and their droppings (common allergens), as might changing your bedding regularly. Curtains also attract a lot of dust, so wash them regularly, or replace them with blinds that can be dusted frequently.

Some people find relief by avoiding certain foods, even though it has not been proven that eczema can be the result of food sensitivities. Consult your doctor before eliminating certain foods you suspect of causing allergies; you must make sure you’re replacing the nutrient content of that food with something else in your diet.

When purchasing lotions and soaps, you may think organic and all-natural products are best. But some dermatologists recommend choosing the products with the fewest ingredients, whatever those ingredients may be. If your skin is very sensitive, exposing it to fewer ingredients minimizes your chances of developing new sensitivities.

Stress can also be a factor in eczema. While getting rid of stress is impossible - even children, who are constantly confronting new and uncertain experiences - you can try to relax. Find activities that make you forget about stress and engage in them. Or take a couple of minutes to breathe very deeply, pulling in as much air as you can and also forcing out as much as possible. This oxygenates the blood and gives you a feeling of energy, reducing stress at least for the moment.

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