Identifying Eczema

Millions of adults and children world-wide are affected by an inflammatory disease  called eczema.  It is typically a chronic contagious inflammatory condition that appears as dry, red, scabbed, scaly, or blistering skin. Although there is no cure for eczema, it can be managed. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis and atopic eczema. Children commonly get topic eczema which is one of the so-called sensitivity conditions which also include asthma and hay fever. These disorders tend to run in families of people who are prone to allergic reactions.

Symptoms of Eczema

• Moderate-to-severely itching skin (this symptom separates eczema from other skin rashes). Some people with the disease develop red, scaling skin where the immune system in the skin is becoming very activated.
• Recurring rash - dry, red, patchy or cracked skin. (In infants and toddlers, the rash usually appears on the face, elbows or knees. In older children and adults, the rash appears less often on the face, and more commonly on the hands, neck, inner elbows, backs of the knees and ankles)
• Skin weeping watery fluid
• Rough, "leathery," thick skin. This condition is called lichenification.
• Lesions which may be infected by bacteria or viruses.

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What is Psoriasis?

What is psoriasis is the most common question we are asked. Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the skin. It is not contagious. It is the result of an abnormally rapid multiplication of the cells of the epidermal layer of the skin. It can affect any area of the body, but is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, hands, feet, and genitals. More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have it. When you ask what is psoriasis, it is important to remember that there are different types.

Now that we have gone over what is psoriasis, we will discuss the types of psoriasis and the psoriasis cause.

Does Your Baby Have Psoriasis?

The first step is to, of course, talk to your doctor. If your baby does have psoriasis, your doctor will be able to diagnosis the disease with a simple visual exam. Psoriasis can look like severe diaper rash or a very bad case of cradle cap. Some mothers describe it as a thick, ugly, red, scaling rash. Although psoriasis is rare with babies, it is not impossible for one to suffer from it at such an early age.

There are many different types of psoriasis, so if the conditions looks like a form of psoriasis, consult your doctor immediately. There is no cure yet, but you can treat and keep psoriasis under control. To read more about psoriasis and babies, follow the provided link.

Psoriasis and Pregnancy

For the most part, people who have psoriasis go through the childbearing phase of their lives just like other people.The reproductive system of men and women are not affected by psoriasis.  Although some women report their psoriasis improves or worsens during pregnancy, the main concern has to do with the treatments needed to keep the disease under control. Many psoriasis treatments require special precautions when it comes to having children. This section covers important general information about psoriasis treatments during conception, pregnancy and nursing, and some hereditary aspects of psoriasis. Because the severity and course of psoriasis are different for each person, it is wise to seek the guidance of your doctor to make sure the treatments you use are safe for you and your baby.

Most obstetricians prefer that women who are considering becoming pregnant or those who are expecting avoid most over-the-counter and prescription medications. Many restrictions are also suggested for nursing mothers. In some situations, depending upon the severity of psoriasis, doctors make exceptions to these general treatment guidelines.

How psoriasis changes during pregnancy

Women often wonder if their psoriasis will change because of pregnancy. Studies have shown that some women see an improvement in their psoriasis during pregnancy, while other studies have shown that some women’s psoriasis gets worse. How a woman’s psoriasis changes during pregnancy seems to vary from individual to individual and can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy.

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Psoriasis Triggers

Psoriasis is not contagious—no one can "catch" it from another person. Because of their genes, certain people are more likely to develop it, but a "trigger" is usually necessary to make psoriasis appear. These triggers may include emotional stress, injury to the skin, some types of infection and reaction to certain drugs.

Stress

Stress is a proven trigger in some people. It can cause psoriasis to flare for the first time or aggravate existing psoriasis.Relaxation and stress reduction may help people with psoriasis. For example, not only does relaxation help lower stress levels, but also it gives people a feeling of control. These techniques, however, seem to work best with traditional medical treatments, instead of using the techniques alone.

Injury to skin

Sometimes psoriasis appears in areas of the skin that have been injured or traumatized. This is called the "Koebner phenomenon." Vaccinations, sunburns and scratches can all trigger a Koebner (KEB-ner) response. The Koebner response can be treated if it is caught early enough. For example, people receiving a vaccination may be at risk for the Koebner response, but the physician can bring it under control if the psoriasis occurs at the injection site.

Medicine

Certain medications are associated with triggering psoriasis.

Lithium: Used to treat manic depression and other psychiatric disorders. Lithium aggravates psoriasis in about half of those with psoriasis who take it. However, people can ask their physicians about alternatives to lithium.

Antimalarials: Quinacrine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may cause a flare of psoriasis, usually two to three weeks after the drug is taken. Hydroxychloroquine has the lowest incidence of side effects.

Inderal: This high blood pressure medication worsens psoriasis in about 25 percent to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis who take it. It is not known if all high blood pressure (beta blocker) medications worsen psoriasis, but they may have that potential. Sometimes other medications can be substituted.

Quinidine: This heart medication has been reported to worsen some cases of psoriasis.

Indomethacin: This drug is used to treat arthritis. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It has worsened some cases of psoriasis. Other anti-inflammatories usually can be substituted. Indomethacin’s negative effects are usually minimal when it is taken properly. Its side effects are usually outweighed by its benefits in psoriatic arthritis.

What are some other triggers?

Allergies: Although unproven, some people suspect that allergies trigger their psoriasis.

Diet: Although unproven, changing the diet has helped some people improve their psoriasis or avoid flares.

Strep infection: May trigger guttate psoriasis.

Weather: May make skin drier and more susceptible to a psoriasis outbreak.

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Psychological Effects From Eczema

Eczema often comes and goes in cycles, meaning that at some times of the year sufferers are able to feel normal, while at other times they will distance themselves from social contact. Sufferers with visible marks generally feel fine physically and can act normal, but when it is mentioned they may become withdrawn and self-conscious. Since it is a condition made worse by scratching, a sufferer with highly visible sores aggravated by scratching often feel as if everyone is looking at the marks and that it is self induced. Although scratching does give a sense of release, it is usually a temporary solution and can lead to problems with constant scratching. Sufferers often shy away from scratching in public, but the solution is to scratch in privacy. In cases of children with eczema, visible scars or scratch marks can lead to suspicion of home abuse or self-mutilation, which causes possible peer rejection and may add to a general level of stress.

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Evaluating Your Diet for Psoriasis

Research has shown that psoriasis lesions go through periods of responsiveness and unresponsiveness to treatment. (This means that sometimes the mildest treatment, even a change in diet, will work to clear the skin. At another time, a potent treatment will fail to produce results.) It is difficult to know from short-term experience whether psoriasis clears due to the actual treatment or because it is ready to clear anyway.

Occasionally, psoriasis will clear with an initial treatment, no matter what treatment is used. In evaluating any new treatment, it is necessary to determine whether there is a placebo effect operating. A placebo effect occurs when a person believes the treatment will work. This is a common phenomenon in treating chronic disorders. One way to avoid the placebo effect is to stop using a medication when the psoriasis clears and then resume it when the psoriasis returns. If the treatment works again, the chances are good that it is effective.

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