What many people don't understand about chronic eczema is that it is not really one condition but rather several skin conditions that together are what we know as eczema or dermatitis. It can affect anyone of any age and commonly occurs during the second year of life, and for many, continues to the end of their life. Chronic eczema can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. It can cause itchy patches, redness, inflammation, and even blistering on just about every part of the body depending on the trigger.
Eczema Triggers
Even those with chronic eczema can go months without a flare up depending on what their triggers are. Though they can differ from person to person, there are some common triggers that can bring on the red, thickened patches of skin and the uncomfortable itch in most sufferers. They include:
HeatStressExtreme coldSun exposureSoaps and beauty products containing perfumes and dyesChemicals in cleaning productsWool clothing and other "itchy" fabricsFabric softeners and laundry detergentsCertain foods and medicationsYeastChlorine in swimming pools and hot tubsSeason changeEczema Is Not an Allergy
It is a common misconception that eczema is an allergy. This is not true, though it's easy to see why people would come to this conclusion given that certain allergies trigger eczema break outs. There has been evidence to suggest that having a family member who suffers from hay fever or other allergies could increase someone's risk of suffering from eczema.
The Different Types of Eczema
Chronic eczema refers to regular flare ups of dermatitis, which basically means different types of dermatitis on different parts of the body. One example of this is what is known as "cradle cap" on small babies. Most people know that cradle cap is a common occurrence with babies, but few know that it is actually a form of eczema called infantile seborrheic eczema. There is also adult seborrheic eczema which can range from mild dandruff to more severe with red, scaly patches of skin on the scalp. And varicose eczema affects the lower legs and is caused by poor circulation.
Dozens of other types of eczema exist and like with atopic eczema, which is the most common type, all of these have their triggers and can occur when you're exposed to them.
Symptoms of Chronic Eczema
Most people learn very early in life what their symptoms of eczema are. They can differ in severity from person to person or flare-up to flare-up, but in the end the symptoms are pretty much the same and include:
Small reddish bumpsThick patches of skin, usually with rednessItchinessScaling and flakingDry patchesCrusting inside the elbows and in skin foldsLearn the root causes of your skin problems and more on my blog at: http://www.getridofdryskin.com/ I have lots of great information as well as natural solutions to many skin problems.
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