{"id":203,"date":"2019-12-06T12:11:47","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T02:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gregkeilychemist.com.au\/blog\/?p=203"},"modified":"2022-07-11T14:10:01","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T04:10:01","slug":"what-is-eczema-and-how-to-treat-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gregkeilychemist.com.au\/blog\/2019\/12\/06\/what-is-eczema-and-how-to-treat-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Eczema and How to Treat It"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suffering from itchy, irritable skin? Dry and cold weather can result in several skin diseases, including eczema. This condition is neither life-threatening nor contagious, but it can cause severe discomfort to anyone affected.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first step to treating and relieving this skin condition is finding out for sure if you\u2019re suffering from eczema, or is it something else. This guide is meant to help you identify the condition through its symptoms, possible causes, and ways to treat it.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is eczema?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a medical condition that causes redness and irritation on the skin. Eczema-infected areas of the skin are red, dry, and scaly. This makes them more prone to irritants, which causes the skin to release chemicals that will make it very itchy. Severe cases of eczema are called \u201cflare-ups\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes and triggers<\/h2>\n

The causes of eczema are still unknown, but the triggers that make the condition worse are well-documented. One of them is the dry, cold weather that\u2019s present every winter in most parts of Queensland. The other triggers of eczema include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Allergic disorders \u2013 People with pre-existing allergies like asthma, hay fever, and food allergy are more likely to develop eczema.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Family history – The most common type of eczema is called atopic eczema, which is a hereditary condition and found in families with a history of allergies.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Stress \u2013 Though the relationship between stress and eczema is not clear, most people with eczema experience flare-ups when they are stressed.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Irritants \u2013 Detergents, disinfectants, shampoos, and other chemicals can make eczema symptoms worse.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Allergens \u2013 Substances that activate people\u2019s allergy also intensifies eczema. These include house dust mites, pollens, pets, and moulds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Who can be affected?<\/h2>\n

    Eczema is a chronic skin problem that can affect people of all ages, including newborn babies. Infants up to two years old can have <\/span>infantile eczema<\/span><\/i>, <\/i><\/b>forming red and itchy patches on very dry skin. Meanwhile, <\/span>childhood eczema <\/span><\/i>can affect kids and will start around two to four years of age. Dryness and rashes may appear on the face, neck, behind the knees, on the elbows, and across the ankles.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As for adults, eczema can make the skin rough and thick, in addition to the usual symptoms of dry, red, and itchy skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Treatments and Management<\/h2>\n

    If you or any of your family members show symptoms of eczema, don\u2019t worry. This skin condition is manageable and treatable. It is also important to take the following steps:<\/span><\/p>\n