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Egzema a słońce - Jak promienie UV wpływają na skórę?
Eczema Causes
Experts aren’t sure what exactly causes eczema. Things that may make it more likely include:
- An immune response to something irritating
- Problems in your skin’s barrier that let moisture out and germs in
- A family history of other allergies or asthma
Is eczema contagious?
No. You can’t catch eczema from someone or pass it on to others.
Eczema risk factors
Stress and genes are among the most common risk factors for getting eczema. But there are more, including:
- Having very dry skin
- Using hair care or skin products with certain allergens
- Food allergies
- Living in cold, damp areas or swampy, hot areas
- Having someone in your family who has eczema
Your age may affect whether you get eczema or not:
- Eczema shows up most often before you turn 5. Most children will outgrow eczema.
- If you get eczema as an adult, you're more likely to get it either in your 20s or over the age of 50.
- Atopic dermatitis is more common in children, while forms such as nummular eczema are more typical in adults.
Eczema Diagnosis
No one test can spot eczema. Your doctor will probably diagnose it by looking at your skin and asking a few questions.
Because many people with eczema also have allergies, your doctor may order some allergy tests to look for irritants or triggers. Children with eczema are especially likely to have allergy tests.
If your doctor diagnoses you with eczema, you might want to ask them:
- What’s the best way to add moisture to my skin? Can I use over-the-counter products, or do you need to prescribe something?
- Do I need to buy special soaps, lotions, and laundry detergent? Do fragrance-free or sensitive-skin products help?
- Are there foods that I should avoid to keep flares at bay?
- Are there fabrics that I shouldn't wear? What fabrics should I wear?
- Do pets make symptoms worse?
- If sweating makes things worse, can I still exercise?
- What’s next if my symptoms don’t improve or I get an infection from scratching my skin?
- Does stress lead to flare-ups?
- Are long periods without symptoms common?
- Are there ways I can treat my skin to reduce my chances of another flare-up?
Psoriasis vs. eczema
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the person’s immune system doesn’t work right, and their skin cells grow too fast. Those cells show up on top of the skin as a white, scaly patch. Risk factors can include a person’s genes (family background) or exposure to something in the environment — or both.
Itchiness. Psoriasis causes milder itching and, sometimes, a burning sensation. Eczema itches so much that some individuals scratch until it bleeds.
Age. Both can occur at any age, but eczema affects children more often.
Sun exposure. Sunshine is a treatment for psoriasis because it slows down abnormal cell growth. (Too much sun can trigger symptoms, so your dermatologist will recommend the ideal duration for sun exposure to prevent flare-ups.) People with eczema tend to be more sensitive to heat because sweating can lead to flare-ups.
How Eczema Is Diagnosed
A healthcare provider can usually diagnose eczema based on symptoms, an exam, and
family and health history. A patch test for allergies or skin biopsy might also need to be performed.
Since there is no cure for eczema, treatments focus on managing symptoms and triggers, and reducing flare-ups.
Medication
Medications to treat skin itching and inflammation, keep skin moist, and prevent infection are sometimes used to treat eczema. They can include:
- Barrier repair creams
- Steroid creams
- Oral steroids
- Oral antibiotics
- Antihistamines
- Oral cyclosporine (for eczema that doesn’t respond to other treatments)
Specialized light therapy (phototherapy) is considered a safe treatment for eczema and can be used in adults or children. The treatment uses special light bulbs or a laser two to three times a week. It is usually done in a healthcare provider’s office, although some patients can use at-home devices.
Lifestyle Changes
To manage eczema, it’s important to work with a healthcare provider to identify possible triggers, and work on limiting exposure to them. Adopting a skin care routine that includes bathing, using moisturizer, and being gentle with the skin is also important.
You can also manage itchy skin and other symptoms by using home remedies, including:
- Using skin cleansers with low pH
- Applying cold compresses
- Taking an oatmeal or apple cider vinegar bath
Prevention Tips
There is no way to prevent eczema, but you can work to avoid flare-ups by:
- Sticking to a skin care routine
- Working with a healthcare provider to develop customized treatments
- Eating an anti-inflammatory diet
- Finding ways to decrease stress