ECZEMA FORUM

The eczema forum aims to provide up to date information about the subject especially in terms of both orthodox and complementary treatment approaches, and to give those interested an opportunity to share their knowledge/experiences of the subject with us. We look forward to feedback, and thank you in advance for participating.

Please note: Therapies4all are completely impartial in relation to the matter appearing and take no responsibility for the views expressed. We would always advise potential patients, where necessary, to discuss treatment alternatives with their medical doctor and/or qualified therapist.

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ECZEMA FORUM. Eczema is a general term for skin rashes which are characterised by redness, dryness, itching, crusting, oozing, blistering and possibly bleeding. The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology set out the following classification
- Atopic eczema: hereditary, often accompanied by asthma. itchy rash usually on head, neck, inside elbows, behind knees and buttocks.
- Contact dermatitis: allergic from contact with poison or allergen, and irritant (eg. contact with a chemical)
- Xerotic eczema: dry skin which turns to eczema. Worse in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most affected. More common in older people.
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis: a little like dandruff, dry or greasy peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, face and trunk.
- Dyshydrosis: only on palms, soles and sides of fingers and toes, worse in warm weather.
- Discoid eczema: round spots of oozing or dry rash often on lower legs. Worse in winter.
- Venous eczema: in areas of poor blood circulation, varicose veins etc.
- Neurodermatitis: itchy area of thickened, pigmented patch of eczema resulting from repetitive scratching.

Cause: The cause of eczema is as yet unknown, but appears to be genetic in nature. In eczema sufferers there seems to be an over-reaction of the immune system when white blood cells release excessive substances which cause swelling and extreme itching, causing the patient to scratch producing further lesions, infections etc. This is called the "itch-scratch-rash cycle". Therefore eczema appears to be an inherited condition which is underlying and is aggravated by a variety of environmental factors( including foods, emotional factors etc.) which are quite different from patient to patient.

Orthodox treatment:
Emollients (moisturisers): These are basically lotions or creams which are rubbed into the skin to help combat the dryness of the affected skin and also place a protective layer to ward off infections.
Steroid creams: such as Dioderm help to subdue the local inflammatory process. Stronger prescription drugs like Betnovate cream and Prednisolone tablets can only be obtained on medical prescription.
Topical immunosuppressants: creams such as Elidel and tablets (Sardinum) are prescribed in more severe cases. Some of the latest immunosuppressant creams do not contain steroids(which have side effects), and it is hoped they will be effective clearly produce fewer side effects.
Antibiotics are often prescribed to clear up secondary skin infections.
Antihistamine tablets can also be prescribed to help with sleep.

Natural Therapies: there are a number of natural therapies which have been effective in reducing the effects of asthma..
Homeopathy: a number of trials have shown that homeopathy can have beneficial effects in the treatment of eczema:eg. Department of Dermatology, Obitsu Sankei Hospital, 1-4 Namikinishi-machi, Kawagoe-city, Saitama-ken 350-0025, Japan, Published 4 June 2007 in Complement Ther Med, 15(2): 115-20; also "Effective Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis....." Steven A. Smith, MD,FACP, Ardith E. Baker,MS,, John H. Williams Jr.,MS in Alt. Med. review 2002, vol.7, no.1. For more information click HERE.
Herbalism: herbs have been used for thousands of years in medicine, and many modern drugs derive from them. Some research results in relation to the herbal treatment of eczema:Patzelt-Wenczler R, Ponce-Poschl E. Proof of efficacy of Kamillosan cream in atopic eczema. Eur J Med Res 2000;5:171-175; and Ross SM. An integrative approach to eczema (atopic dermatitis). Holist Nurs Pract 2003;Jan-Feb, 17(1):56-62. For more in formation click HERE.
Nutrition: some of the common recommendations:
-as eczema causes skin dryness it is generally recommended to drink plenty of water, - avocados which are full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals,
- foods with anti-inflammatory properties: fish, poultry, fruit(especially bananas), vegetables,
- honey,
- whole grains, nuts and seeds,
- yoghurt,
- evening primrose oil.
Eczema is often associated with food intolerances, which means that accurate allergy testing can be a useful weapon to relieve the effects of the disease. The foods to avoid include red meat, dairy products, carbohydratess(sugar, sweets), and caffeine.
Aromatherapy: the positive use of essential oils for eczema is well documented eg: "Biological activities of Lavender essential oil" H. M. A. Cavanagh, J. M. Wilkinson, Phytotherapy Research Volume 16, Issue 4, pages 301–308, June 2002, and "Preparation of novel apigenin-enriched, liposomal and non-liposomal, antiinflammatory topical formulations as substitutes for corticosteroid therapy", Phytotherapy Research Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 228–233, February 2011. For more information click HERE. Acupuncture: is a commonly used therapy in treating eczema, with plenty of research to back this up: eg. the anti inflammatory effects of acupuncture were shown in trials conducted by Dr. Florian Pfab at the Technical University in Munich in December 2009; "Effect of acupuncture on allergen-induced basophil activation in patients with atopic eczema:a pilot trial",published 18 April 2011 in J Altern Complement Med, 17(4): 309-14. For more information click HERE.
Some General points: there is some evidence that dust mite can exacerbate skin inflammation, and powders can be used particularly on bedding to eliminate this problem. Eczema will often improve by avoiding the following; chemical additives in food, washing powders, washing up liquids,cosmetics, soaps, shampoos and animal hair/dander.

Share your Eczema experiences

Are you a sufferer with a story to tell, have you found a way of overcoming the effects of Eczema? Or maybe you are a therapist/specialist; please write about your knowledge of the subject as it may well help others.

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