The term 'eczema' most commonly denotes a range of persistent medical conditions which are, as a rule, characterized by inflamed and irritated skin, dryness and skin rashes.
There is no unified and unanimously agreed set of clinical conditions which are classified as eczema, since the affected skin area may have one or several symptoms like itching, rubeosis, swelling, dryness and etc.
Nevertheless, the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has issued a position paper on allergy-related diseases, where the problem of non-allergic eczemas is being addressed to.
Eczema is frequently associated with the term 'dermatitis'.
In some situations dermatitis and eczema can be used interchangeably, while in other cases the first is used to describe an acute condition and the latter refers to a chronic one.
Atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis are the most common types of eczemas.
Atopic dermatitis is a recurring skin disease with a tendency to develop allergy conditions.
This is non-contagious skin irritation likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Although 65 percent of people develop symptoms in the first year of life, this type of eczema may occur at any age.
The most frequently observed symptom of atopic dermatitis is itching.
Scratching results into irritation and inflammation of the skin and in severe cases may deteriorate into skin infection.
Contact dermatitis is caused by direct contact with immunogenetic substance (irritants and allergens).
Irritants are found in various materials people may be exposed in the course of work (solvents, reagents, detergents, paint, etc.
).
They reduce the amount of natural oils in the skin causing dermatitis.
Allergens conflict with the immune system to which our body develops a specific reaction.
The list of allergens is rather wide from skin lotions to vegetable oils.
The symptoms are usually itching and dryness of the skin surface sometimes developing into cracks.
So simply speaking eczema, or dermatitis, is a state of painful and unpleasant skin conditions resulting from itching which is the reaction of our immune system to some substances or environmental factors.
Medications: corticosteroids, immunosuppresants, itch-relievers and moisturizers.
Corticosteroids are very effective, but their continuous usage may cause severe complications.
Immunosuppresants disable the immune systems in a certain area, but can also cause side effects.
Anti-itch drugs help to overcome itching reducing damage of skin from scratching.
Moisturizers are used in case of dryness of the skin relieving symptoms and accelerating the healing process.
Nowadays the cause of eczema cannot be treated.
All medications and therapies are aimed to reduce visible symptoms and itching.
There is no unified and unanimously agreed set of clinical conditions which are classified as eczema, since the affected skin area may have one or several symptoms like itching, rubeosis, swelling, dryness and etc.
Nevertheless, the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has issued a position paper on allergy-related diseases, where the problem of non-allergic eczemas is being addressed to.
Eczema is frequently associated with the term 'dermatitis'.
In some situations dermatitis and eczema can be used interchangeably, while in other cases the first is used to describe an acute condition and the latter refers to a chronic one.
Atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis are the most common types of eczemas.
Atopic dermatitis is a recurring skin disease with a tendency to develop allergy conditions.
This is non-contagious skin irritation likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Although 65 percent of people develop symptoms in the first year of life, this type of eczema may occur at any age.
The most frequently observed symptom of atopic dermatitis is itching.
Scratching results into irritation and inflammation of the skin and in severe cases may deteriorate into skin infection.
Contact dermatitis is caused by direct contact with immunogenetic substance (irritants and allergens).
Irritants are found in various materials people may be exposed in the course of work (solvents, reagents, detergents, paint, etc.
).
They reduce the amount of natural oils in the skin causing dermatitis.
Allergens conflict with the immune system to which our body develops a specific reaction.
The list of allergens is rather wide from skin lotions to vegetable oils.
The symptoms are usually itching and dryness of the skin surface sometimes developing into cracks.
So simply speaking eczema, or dermatitis, is a state of painful and unpleasant skin conditions resulting from itching which is the reaction of our immune system to some substances or environmental factors.
Medications: corticosteroids, immunosuppresants, itch-relievers and moisturizers.
Corticosteroids are very effective, but their continuous usage may cause severe complications.
Immunosuppresants disable the immune systems in a certain area, but can also cause side effects.
Anti-itch drugs help to overcome itching reducing damage of skin from scratching.
Moisturizers are used in case of dryness of the skin relieving symptoms and accelerating the healing process.
Nowadays the cause of eczema cannot be treated.
All medications and therapies are aimed to reduce visible symptoms and itching.
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