Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, Effects, and Its Prevention

Along with proper healthcare, skincare should form a major part of your daily routine as well. Proper skin care is necessary for you because the skin comprises one of the major parts of the body the longest portion of your body is covered by your skin, and the skin is also one of the most important sense organs of the body that responds to touch and external conditions. Different types of skin conditions can occur to your skin and when these types of skin disorders occur, then you might start feeling a sense of itching and discomfort in your body, along with other skin issues. One such type of skin disorder is known as eczema. Eczema is a condition in which the skin surface usually becomes itchy, and the person who develops eczema might have a feeling of irritation with the appearance of rashes on the surface of the skin.

Are you someone who is looking for some guidance on eczema and its related causes and symptoms? If so, then this one might be one of the most useful articles for you, because this article will help you to get a complete idea of what is all about eczema, the different types of symptoms that people all over the world have when they develop this type of skin condition, the cause behind the occurrence of eczema, and many other related details about this disease.

Know about eczema:

As we all know, eczema is quite a common skin condition, and it can also be treated quite easily. Eczema, according to dermatological terms, is known as atopic dermatitis. Though it is also found to occur among adults, eczema is a condition that is more common among children and infants. It can affect young children and can continue till their adulthood. When someone suffers from eczema, the most common condition that occurs is a sudden dryness of the skin surface and the skin becomes flaky with some itchy rashes. The color of the rashes will differ based on the type of eczema that you are having. When the skin is affected by disorders like eczema, then it can also become inflamed and rough, and the skin texture might become cracked, and flaky, and there may be appearance of blisters on the skin.

What are the general symptoms of eczema?

In general, when eczema occurs on your skin, the first and foremost signs that appear on the skin are dryness of the skin and the skin has an unusually flaky and rough texture. Some of the most common and primary symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis can be listed here as follows:

• Itchiness on the skin
• The skin becomes flushed
• Skin becomes dry and rough
• Itching of skin
• There are scaly surfaces on the skin
• Blisters might appear on the skin
• The skin develops open, crusted, or weeping sores

Eczema is quite a common condition that can occur to anybody and it is mostly known to affect the skin that is present in the inner parts of the arms, inner parts of the elbows, on the cheeks, and scalp of the head, on the back of your knees, and so on. Though eczema is not contagious, it should be treated in time. With proper care and treatment, the conditions of eczema will start becoming less fatal with age.

Apart from these, there are some other symptoms as well, such as:

• The appearance of red and brown patches on the skin surface
• Skin becomes thick and scaly
• Tendencies of skin infections
• The yellowish ooze that comes out dries in crusty patches on the skin
• Skin becomes sore and there is a raw feeling in the skin
• There are small raised bumps that contain fluids

Though these are some of the most common signs and symptoms on the skin when you have eczema, some people are also known to report that they feel that the symptoms of eczema tend to become more and more severe at night. This causes difficulty in falling asleep and the discomfort increases as the night progresses. As eczema already produces a feeling of itchiness and irritation on the skin surface, it is also true that when you start scratching eczema, the feeling of itchiness and irritation further increases and it further inflames the skin. In this case, dermatologists usually recommend the use of antibiotic gels and ointments on the skin’s surface to soothe the irritation and reduce the risk of infections.

Symptoms of eczema among young children and infants:

As mentioned earlier, eczema is most commonly found to occur among young children and infants, though adults can develop signs of eczema as well. In the case of infants, who are babies and generally belong to an age below 2 years or so, can develop the following symptoms of eczema:

• Appearance of rashes on the scalp and cheeks
• Extreme itchiness and rashes on the skin
• Rashes bubble up and leak fluids
• Babies find it difficult to sleep at night due to these painful symptoms.

What are the symptoms of eczema among children?

Other than infants, eczema is also common among young children, especially those who belong to an age group above 2 years. Some of the signs and symptoms of eczema among young children can be listed below:

• Appearance of bumpy rashes
• Patch of rashes that can be both lighter and darker
• Rashes appear behind the creases of the knees and in the inner parts of the elbows
• Rashes can appear on different body parts like wrists, ankles, legs, buttocks, and so on
• Skin becomes thick as a result of the process known as lichenification and can result in itching

Signs and symptoms of eczema in adults:

Though more common among babies, infants, and children, eczema can also affect adolescents and young adults. Though the signs and symptoms of eczema can differ from one person to another in adults, there are certain common symptoms as well, such as follows:

• Rashes become permanently itchy
• Skin surface becomes increasingly dry and rough, especially in affected areas
• Rashes occur on elbows, hands, wrists, and inside other creases of the body
• Major parts of the skin might get covered with rashes
• Rashes may appear red in color and can be quite irritating
• Rashes become scaly and the skin can peel off

What are the symptoms of eczema when it affects people of color?

Eczema is a condition that can affect almost anybody and people of color are no exception. When eczema affects people of color, then the skin rashes will start appearing grey or brown in color, as a result of which, it is difficult to notice these symptoms. In fact, eczema is more common among African American and Hispanic children. As a result of skin conditions known as hyperpigmentation and depigmentation or hypopigmentation, the skin develops patches for a long time, even after the conditions of eczema are healed. In many cases, these patches might be cured by using steroid creams and ointments.

When to see a dermatologist?

Though eczema can be treated quite easily and there is no such risk factor related to this type of skin condition, you should never linger in the treatment of eczema once the signs and symptoms of eczema become visible on your skin surface. In most cases, when eczema occurs in mild conditions, the condition can be managed by different types of home remedies, such as applying skin lotions, antiseptic gels and ointments, and so on. But when the disorder becomes serious, it is highly advisable that you must seek the opinion of an expert dermatologist to get it treated. Consult your doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• The layers of your skin are peeling
• Skin is becoming too thick in texture
• There are blisters on the skin with weeping fluids
• The symptoms are not healing even after having over-the-counter medicines
• The skin becomes red and warmth with the appearance of pus on the skin
• The conditions of eczema are gradually turning into skin infections.

What are the possible causes of eczema?

There might be a number of factors that might contribute to the development of eczema in your body. In most cases, it has been found that genetic history and the surrounding environmental conditions can be some of the major causes that result in the occurrence of skin disorders like eczema. Apart from that, there are some other causes of eczema. Some of them are given below:

• If you have an allergic reaction to pollens, mold, pets, dust, and mites and it can cause allergen eczema
• Irritants in soap, shampoos, detergents, and disinfectants can lead to skin allergies and eczema
• Hormonal imbalances, especially during puberty and menstruation
• Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can lead to eczema.

How can you prevent eczema?

The following are the ways to prevent the occurrence of eczema:

• Keep yourself clean
• Keep your skin moisturized
• Concentrate on proper skincare schedules
• Reduce stress
• Do not itch your skin