| |
Eczema diagnosis is generally
based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in eczema
sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease
areas. Given the many possible reasons for eczema flare ups,
however, a doctor is likely to ascertain a number of other
things before making a judgment:
An insight to family history
Dietary habits
Lifestyle habits
Allergic tendencies
Any prescribed drug intake
Any chemical or material exposure at home or workplace
To determine whether an eczema flare is the result of an allergen,
a doctor may test the blood for the levels of antibodies and
the numbers of certain types of cells. In eczema, the blood
may show a raised IgE or an eosinophilia.
The blood can also be sent
for a specific test called Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST)
or a Paper Radioimmunosorbent Test (PRIST).In the test, blood
is mixed separately with many different allergens and the
antibody levels measured. High levels of antibodies in the
blood signify an allergy to that substance.
Another test for eczema is skin patch testing. The suspected
irritant is applied to the skin and held in place with an
adhesive patch. Another patch with nothing is also applied
as a control. After 24 to 48 hours, the patch is removed.
If the skin under the suspect patch is red and swollen, the
result is positive and the person is probably allergic to
that substance. Occasionally, the diagnosis may also involve
a skin lesion biopsy: removal of a small piece of skin for
microscopic examination in a laboratory. Blood tests and biopsies
are not always necessary for eczema diagnosis. However, doctors
will at times require them if the symptoms are unusual, severe
or in order to identify particular triggers.
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it is mentioned they become withdrawn and self-conscious.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.
Diet...
For some people, allergens
in the diet may contribute to exacerbations of eczema. For
these people, identifying the allergens can help to treat
the eczema. Allergies to the following foods can cause eczema:
Cow milk proteins, including Casein.
Preservatives, including: Sulphites, sulphates, nitrites,
nitrates, sulphur dioxide, sodium benzoate and many more.
It might be necessary to avoid processed foods to remove these
allergens from the diet. This is because many processed foods
contain milk-derived products such as whey powder, which is
added to the food as a filler. Processed meats (for example:
ham, salami and bacon) often contain preservatives in very
high doses. Many fizzy drinks also contain preservatives.
The first and primary recommendation
is that people suffering from eczema shouldn't use detergents
of any kind unless absolutely necessary. The current medical
school of thought is that people wash too much and that eczema
sufferers should use cleansers only when water is not sufficient
to remove dirt from skin.
Another point of view is that detergents are so ubiquitous
in modern environments and so persistent in tissues and surfaces,
safe soaps are necessary to remove them in order to eliminate
the eczema in a percentage of cases. Although most recommendations
use the terms "detergents" and "soaps"
interchangeably, and tell eczema sufferers to avoid both,
detergents and soaps are not the same and are not equally
problematic to eczema sufferers. Detergents increase the permeability
of skin membranes in a way that soaps and water alone do not.
Sodium lauryl sulfate, the most common household detergent,
has been shown to amplify the allergenicity of other substances
("increase antigen penetration"). (For example,
Corazza M, Virgili A, Allergic contact dermatitis from ophthalmic
products: can pre-treatment with sodium lauryl sulfate increase
patch test sensitivity? Contact Dermatitis. 2005 May;52(5):239-41.)
The use of detergents in
recent decades has increased dramatically, while the use of
soaps began to decline when detergents were invented, and
leveled off to a constant around the '60s. Complicating this
picture is the recent development of mild plant-based detergents
for the natural products sector.
Unfortunately there is no one agreed upon best kind of cleanser
for eczema sufferers. Different clinical tests, sponsored
by different personal product companies, unsurprisingly tout
various brands as the most skin friendly based on specific
properties of various products and different underlying assumptions
as to what really determines skin friendliness. The terms
"hypoallergenic" and "doctor tested" are
not regulated (according to Consumer Reports), and no research
has been done showing that products labeled "hypoallegenic"
are in fact less problematc tha any others.
Dermatological recommendations in choosing
a soap generally include:
Avoid harsh detergents or drying soaps.
Choose a soap that has an oil or fat base; a "superfatted"
soap is best.
Use an unscented soap.
Patch test your soap choice, by using it only on a chosen
area until you are sure of its results.
Use a non-soap based cleanser.
How to use soap when one must:
Bathe in warm water — not hot.
Use soap sparingly.
Avoid using washcloths, sponges, or loofahs.
Use soap only on areas where it is necessary.
Soap up only at the very end of your bath.
Use ReNewed fragrance free barrier moisturizer
Never rub your skin dry, elsewise your skin's oil/moisture
will be on the towel and not your body.
Limit the bath to no more
than 10-15 minutes use a moisturizing soap, and avoid harsh
or perfumed soaps. Trapping the moisture from the bath into
your skin is a intergral part in extended ezcema relief. Gently
pat dry and then liberally use a ReNewed all over your body.
Eczema severely dries
out the skin, and keeping the affected area moistened with
ReNewed can promote healing and retain natural moisture. This
is the most important self-care treatment that one can use
in atopic eczema.
The use of anything that may dry out the skin should be discontinued
and this includes both normal soaps and bubble baths that
remove the natural oils from the skin.
The moistening agents are called 'emollients'. ReNewed is
packed with naturally occuring emollients. Generally twice
daily applications of ReNewed work best. Water dries skin,
ReNewed no water. Lotions and creams are 80% to 90 % water.
ReNewed is quickly
on its way to becoming the prefered moisturiser of dermatologists.
ReNewed drastically reduces itching. By applying ReNewed proir
to going to sleep, and wearing clothing that covers the affected
areas you will create a moisturizing glove will allow our
synergistic butter blend to moisturize the lower layers of
your skin.
|
