Eczema
- Overview
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Complications
- Homoeopathic Treatment
- Do's and Don'ts
- Diet and Nutrition
What Is Eczema?
It is a kind of inflammation of the skin which shows typical features of itching on skin.
The itching is associated with formation of patch and it may be either dry, or wet with oozing of watery or sticky fluid.
Eczema is also used synonymously with the term dermatitis. Click to read about Causes of Eczema.
Eczema can be acute or chronic and typically affects creases of arms, knees, wrist, face and hands.
What Happens In Eczema?
- Dryness of skin
- Recurrent skin rashes with itching usually more in the night
- Swelling, inflammation, crusting, flaking or blistering of skin
- Papules and vesicles may also be present
Click to know more about Symptoms of Eczema
What Can Eczema Lead To?
- Lichenification: In chronic cases of eczema, the skin becomes thick, leathery and high-colored as a result of the constant irritation and itching.
- Infections: Skin can break up and cause open wounds leading to the possibility of bacterial infections.
- Eye Complications: Eczema around the eye can cause permanent damage to the cornea because of constant itching and inflammation of lids.
- Exfoliative Eczema: This involves oozing and crusting all over the skin with fever, leading to toxicity and generalized water loss.
- Other: Lack of proper sleep and psychological disturbances may occur because of the embarrassment and stress of appearance.
How Well Homeopathy Works In Eczema
Homeopathy, today, is the most effective treatment for Eczema. It works towards balancing the susceptibility of the individual by prescribing a remedy which is most suitable to his or her constitution.
We treat the patient taking all the symptoms in detail after investigating the whole case. We have many medicines in homeopathic treatment for Eczema. Some of them include:
- Rhus toxicodendron: Very good remedy for Eczema with red, swollen, blister-like eruptions that itch intensely, and are relieved by hot application.
- Mezereum: Eruptions which start with blisters followed by oozing and formation of thick crusts. Intense itching ameliorated by cold application. Skin is thickened due to scratching.
- Thuja: Dry skin with brown, thick spots. Eruptions on scratching mainly on covered parts. Very sensitive to touch.
- Apis Mellifica: Thick, rose-coloured rashes, can be felt as rough rashes under fingers. Aggravated by heat and skin is sensitive to touch.
- Graphites: Eczema with thick sticky discharge, dirty looking skin, chilly patient with marked aversion to sweets.
Get Clean, Healthy & Lustrous Skin With Homeopathy!
Eczema is a chronic skin condition which presents with itching, redness, dryness and inflammation of skin.
It shows a vicious cycle of itching, scratching and itching again, along with burning and bleeding from affected skin.
There is a saying that "No one develops Eczema, people are born with it"- this is because it is mostly a genetically inherited condition.
Eczema is more common in infancy and in females during reproductive age group.
The manifestations of Eczema differ depending on the type of the disease, though itching, redness and inflammation of the affected area are common to all types.
Location:
Eczema most commonly manifests on the wrist, face, knees, ankles and elbows.
Types:
Depending on the precipitating factors, there are various types of Eczema that have been described:
Atopic Eczema
- The term Atopic in Greek means "strange".
- It is an inherited kind of eczema where the patient is hypersensitive to many various substances.
- Itching is intense and intolerable.
- The skin is extremely dry and can break down and ooze.
Seborrhoeic Eczema
- Mainly affects areas rich in sweat and sebaceous glands, including scalp, face, nasolabial folds and torso.
- Yellowish or white scales along with red rash characterise this condition.
Diaper Eczema
- Also called Napkin Dermatitis, it is mainly seen in babies and those adults who wear adult diapers due to incontinence problems.
- Occurs due to irritation by urine and stool coupled with the presence of moisture and warmth inside the diaper.
Contact Eczema
- Occurs when the skin comes in contact with a foreign substance that either induces an allergy or acts as a local irritant.
- When allergy to a substance causes eczema, it is called Allergic Contact Eczema, as can occur to nickel-plated jewellery, chromium-containing cosmetics, certain sunscreen lotions, topical steroids, perfumes, etc.
- When eczema occurs as a result of an irritant substance, it is called Irritant Contact Eczema. This type usually occurs after contact with detergents, strong soaps, acetone, kerosene, etc.
Neurodermatitis
- Also called Lichen Simplex Chronicus.
- Typically presents with a chronic itch-scratch cycle.
- Characterized by thick, leathery, brownish area of affected skin
Exfoliative Eczema
- Also called the "Red Man Syndrome" or "Erythroderma", it is a type as well as complication of other types of Eczema.
- It results in universal scaling of the skin with intense redness, and usually occurs in presence of another skin disease such as another type of Eczema, and even in cases of Psoriasis and Leukemia.
- Allergy: This is one of the commonest causes of eczema, and triggers include dust, detergents, rubber, nickel plated jewellery, etc.
- Environment: Eczema is more common in urban areas due to high pollution levels. Extremely dry, cold weather tends to make skin scratchy, precipitating eczema.
- Genetic influence: Eczema is most likely in individuals who have a family history of Eczema and even other allergic conditions like Asthma, Hay Fever, etc.
- Obesity: According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, United States, obese children are 3 times more likely to get Eczema. The reason has been linked to inflammation in fat tissues that spills into other parts of the body, as well as due to poor circulation because of excess fat.
- Smoking: is one of the leading causes of eczema especially on the fingers that hold the cigarettes.
- Stress: Physical or emotional stress has been known to cause enhanced sensitivity and inflammatory skin changes.
- In babies, diaper rash or napkin eczema occurs because of chemical effect of urine/faeces on sensitive skin.
- Neurodermatitis: It is a condition where the skin becomes thick and leathery due to prolonged itching. This condition is also called as lichen simplex chronicus.
- Impetigo: It is an infection of the skin that occurs because of invasion with a type of bacteria called Staphylococci.
- Impetiginization: Skin can break up and cause open wounds leading to various infections.
- Eczema around the eye can cause watering of the eye, inflammation of eyelids, and if ignored, even permanent damage to the eye
- Psychological consequences: All said, your skin's health enhances your appearance and appeal. Eczema can mar one's confidence and morale, so much so that depression can set in.
- Eczema is one of the trickiest diseases to treat because it takes a great deal of study to understand its cause and the way it manifests itself.
- Homeopathic treatment for eczema involves a systematic assessment of all the aspects of the disease and the patient. The homeopathic physician carefully analyses each case of Eczema, which is unique in itself, carefully considering the cause.
- For e.g.: if the eczema has precipitated because of obesity, the physician will not just treat the skin complaint, but will also give a remedy that deals with excess weight. In short, homeopathic treatment for eczema adopts a truly holistic approach.
- Our aim is to eliminate the disease right from its roots, so that you would not have to take homeopathic treatment for eczema for your entire life!
- Homeopathy can tackle eczema occurring as a result of many different causes, including vaccination, specific metal allergy, cement, etc. Have a look..
ECZEMA in Rheumatic complaints: 1Alum, 1Arbu, 1Dulc, 1Form-ac, 1Lac-ac, 3Rhus-t, 1Ur-ac, 1Urea
ECZEMA, Cement, caused by: 2Cem, 2Dicha
ECZEMA, Vaccination, after: 3Ammc, 3Kali-m, 1Maland, 3Mez, 1Sil, 3Skook, 1Thuj
ECZEMA, Moist: 1Kreos, 1Lappa, 1Sul-i, 1Vinc
ECZEMA, Metals, contact with body: 1Cadm-s, 2Nicc-s, 1Sil, 1Stront-m
- 4 Marks- most effective
- 3 marks- quite effective,
- 2 marks- less effective,
- 1 mark- least effective.
Do's
- Non-medicated skin relaxants like petroleum jelly can be applied to soothe the itching and irritation. Applying them immediately after bathing on softly dried skin for better effect.
- Drink plenty of water. This will keep skin hydrated and help to combat the disease better.
- Go for Yoga/ Pranayama. The exercises help to relax the mind, improve circulation and enhance immunity.
Don'ts
- Do not scratch especially with long nails. It may lead to secondary infection.
- Avoid foods you are allergic to.
- Avoid nickel plated jewelry, cosmetics, and other articles that give you skin complaints.
- Avoid dairy products, sugar, white flour, fried foods and processed foods.
- Avoid the excess fat from meat- buy lean and preferably organic.
- Avoid sugar, gluten (wheat, barley, rye and oats) and raw eggs.
- Avoid soft drinks and oranges (if allergic to oranges).Avoid eggs, fish, peanuts and soy.
- Do not use your bath soap excessively. Soap tends to dry the skin and can aggravate eczema.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Consume lots of fresh and raw fruits and vegetables.
- Eat a generally healthy diet, including five portions of vegetables per day, brown rice, millet, oily fish and a little fruit (no oranges).
- Consume diet rich in vitamin A and zinc, helps in regeneration of the skin.
- Diet rich in vitamin A: Liver oils of fish, egg, milk and milk products,
- Yellow orange colour fruits and vegetables; green leafy vegetables are good source of - carotene.
- Foods rich in zinc: Shellfish, beef and other red meats, eggs and seafood, nuts, sea plants especially Japanese sea plants.
- Increase intake of vitamin C, it helps maintain healthy skin: Milk and milk products, citrus fruits, green vegetables
- Fruits and vegetables when fresh have maximum of vitamin C.
- Have coriander leaves frequently, its high in vitamin C and helps to maintain healthy skin.
- You can have 3-4 strands of saffron in milk, it is beneficial for skin.
- Basil leaves (Tulsi) are said to be helpful in skin ailments, eat 3-4 fresh leaves daily.
- Breast feed your child; breast milk increases the immunity of your child and helps preventing eczema in future.