Eczema
Eczema is the most common type of skin inflammation (dermatitis) and includes several conditions that have the same skin changes. Eczema first appears with itching and redness of the skin. It can also be irritated or blisters. When a condition becomes long-term (chronic eczema) causes thickening of the skin, scaling, dryness and discoloration.
There are many types of eczema and vary depending on the cause, shape and location of the rash. Most are related to allergies or contact with irritants. Some are associated with medical conditions that cause fluid retention in the legs. In the United States, eczema affects 10% of the population.
Atopic Eczema (atopic dermatitis): This type of eczema comes and goes constantly and usually occurs in people who are prone genetic (inherited) to suffer from allergies. In about 70% of cases, the person (or a family member) has allergic asthma, hay fever or food allergies, atopic eczema within the first years of life, usually in babies between 2 and 18 months. In babies, atopic eczema affects the face, neck, ears and torso. Also appearing on the instep or the outside of the elbows. In older children, adolescents and adults, atopic eczema usually affects the inner folds of the elbows, as well as knee, wrist joints, hands and upper eyelids.
Contact dermatitis: when the skin touches irritants, they can produce two types of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is skin irritation. This may be caused by prolonged contact with irritants such as detergents, bubble baths, abrasive soaps, perspiration, saliva or urine. The second type of contact dermatitis is allergic contact dermatitis, which is an allergic skin reaction. This occurs in people who are allergic to a particular substance. Each year, some types of skin allergies affect about 70% of people in America.
The most common allergens are poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Other substances that can trigger skin allergies include materials used to build homes and offices, cleaning products, deodorants, cosmetics and medicines. Dermatitis of the ears can be caused by an allergy to earrings containing nickel. The chemicals in fragrances, creams and lotions for the face, shampoos and shoes or clothing can cause allergic reactions.
Eczema of hands is limited to the hands, this type of eczema can be related to atopic eczema or it can occur due to repeated washing of the hands or exposure to harsh detergents. Occasionally, hand eczema is caused by allergy, for example latex.
Nummular Eczema: Eczema causes allergies that irritate the skin that is shaped like a coin, usually in the legs, arms or chest. It usually appears in adults. May be related to atopic dermatitis and often with allergic contact dermatitis. In some cases, represents an allergic reaction to a fungal infection like athlete’s foot. In this case, nummular eczema usually appears on the arms, legs or chest, even if the fungal infection is found elsewhere in the body.
Asteatotic eczema: this eczema dry skin, causing slight cracks in the skin, usually the first affects the bottom of the legs, where there are fewer sebaceous glands. Commonly occurs in the elderly, especially during the winter months when they stay longer in dry environments.
Stasis Dermatitis: appears in the calves, ankles and feet of people who have poor circulation. This type of dermatitis has leg swelling that causes itching, mild irritation, redness or darkening of the skin, and sometimes oozing sores.
Lichen simplex chronicus: This eczema is a reaction to constant scratching or rubbing a particular region of the skin. The nervous habit of scratching can lead to pigmentation or thickening in the skin of the wrists, ankles, groin or back of the neck. Touching the skin may lead to the formation of irritated areas of the same type of rash called prurigo nodularis.
Seborrheic dermatitis: allergy physicians define this as a type of eczema, but causes a rash eczema fattier than usual. This scaly dermatitis commonly appears on the scalp of infants (as cradle cap) or as dandruff in adults. Probably triggered by the skin fungus, Pityrosporum ovale, commonly affects the face or neck, around the nose and hairline.
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