Eczema, also known as Dermatitis, is a condition of the skin, which can affect people of any age. The severity of the disease can vary - in mild forms the skin is hot, dry and itchy, while in more severe cases the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Although Eczema can sometimes look unpleasant, it is fortunately not contagious. With treatment of the affected skin area, the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive and will require extra care in order to avoid and control flare-ups.

Eczema comes in various forms, and can have several causes, depending on the particular type of eczema that a person has. One type of eczema is thought to be hereditary, while other types of eczema are caused by irritants coming in contact with the skin; for example detergents. Eczema can also be caused by blood circulatory problems in the legs, with older people.

Atopic Eczema: The most common form of eczema. It can be found in both children and adults and often runs in the family. Symptoms of Atopic Eczema include unbearable itchiness, overall dryness of the skin, redness and inflammation.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis: A form of Eczema which develops when the immune system reacts against a substance in contact with the skin. Such reactions may occur when the skin is in contact with substances like nickel in earrings, belt buckles, or buttons. Some people also suffer these symptoms when wearing certain perfumes. Once a substance irritation is discovered, contact with the offending substance should be avoided.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis: This is a type of eczema caused by regular contact with everyday substances, such as detergents or chemicals which are irritating to the skin. Irritant Contact Dermatitis is best avoided by keeping the irritant away from the skin, and keeping any sensitive skin areas well moisturized.

Infantile Seborrhoeic Eczema: An eczema which commonly affects babies under one year old, also known as Cradle Cap. It often starts on the scalp or nappy area and can quickly spread, although it is neither sore nor itchy. Creams and bath oils can assist the healing process.

Adult Seborrhoeic Eczema: A form of eczema which generally affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40. Often appearing as mild dandruff, it can spread to the face, ears and chest. The skin affected turns red and inflamed, and then starts to flake. Infected areas can be treated with anti-fungal cream.

Varicose Eczema: Caused by poor circulation, Varicose Eczema often affects middle-aged to older people, causing the skin to become speckled, itchy, and inflamed. The affected areas should be treated with emollients and steroid creams before the skin breaks down, often resulting in ulcers.

Discoid Eczema: An Eczema generally found in adults. It can suddenly appear as several coin-shaped patches of red skin, normally on the trunk or lower legs. These areas become itchy and can weep fluid. Discoid eczema is usually treated with emollients, and steroid creams if necessary.

SUMMARY: Pharmacies offer a wide range of products for the treatment of Eczema, yet eczema sufferers should also look for ways of minimizing environmental allergens commonly found in the home.

Visit the Eczema resource site to read more about Eczema, Dermatitis, Skin Rashes and Conditions, and effective treatments available.

Most people troubled by this condition in the first place would be asking this question whenever they can. Is it really a matter of preventing acne from occurring at all, or of curing it first, then preventing its return?
In the western medical world, it declares that diet is not a factor in causing acne, yet those who live in some other countries are not affected by the condition. Whether this is an inherited factor, or caused by diet has not been proven yet.
However, there are now many people who believe that diet does play a large part in bringing on acne, while there are just as many who believe that junk food, chocolate and foods high in sugar and fats have nothing to do with acne. The trouble is that if you were not affected by it, you would not be motivated to modify your diet to resemble that of the eastern nations.
One thing is clear; acne is not caused by dirt. It is caused when the oil in our body is not metabolized efficiently and dead skin cells become sticky and block the pores of the skin. Bacteria then enters into the pores and causes infection and inflammation.
So what can be done to prevent this happening? It seems logical to eat less fatty foods, but our body may produce oils in any case. Hygiene helps to control it, yet acne is not caused by dirt, but by bacteria normally present on the skin. Therefore, it seems that we must try to prevent acne by using several different methods at the same time.
Zinc gluconate and some antibiotics administered orally are both effective in treating the inflammation of acne, while insulin is also reported to have worked in the same way. No big studies have been done on the latter though, so proceed cautiously with this one.
Chromium supplements appeared to have worked according to one small study, while Nicholas Perricone advises a strict diet in which dairy is almost totally avoided in his controversial book, The Acne Prescription. He also recommends topical applications of alpha lipoic acid. There was no strong scientific evidence for Perricone's theories until early in 2005 when a paper was published detailing a link between acne and milk.
Research is now being done on the use of lasers for the prevention of acne. Lasers have been used to treat the scars left by really bad acne, but it is now realized that the follicle sac from which the hair grows, as well as the sebaceous gland that produces oil, can be burned away by the use of lasers.
They can also be used to kill the bacteria by inducing oxygen in them. But no one has yet come up with a solution to the possible damage that the skin might suffer during these operations, so this option is a long way off.
Until then, practice common sense and stick to all the basics. See your doctor or dermatologist for advice. Try out the different methods and see which one works for you. Remember, all of us have a different biological body. No one method works for everyone.
To find out more information on How to get rid of Acne problems and other skin care related matters, visit Skin Care And Acne Resources at:
http://skincareacnehelp.com


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Understanding Acne Vulgaris

By Jason Rickard

There are several types of acne and all of them are not a sight to behold for some. Acne can be a real nuisance, especially if covers your face. Aside from what you know as pimples it would also be a good idea acquaint yourself with acne lesions so that you can take proper action once you they start to appear. Acne vulgaris is a certain type of pimple much like whiteheads, blackheads, papules, nodules, pustules and cysts.

Whiteheads are white bumps that start to appear on your face whenever oil, dead skin cells and bacteria are trapped in your pores. These are the ones that you would be tempted to pop. Popping a whitehead is sometimes unnecessary since they disappear quickly and have short life spans. They are also referred to as “closed comedones”.

If you see reddish and inflamed bumps, they are papules, another kind of acne vulagris. This acne has no head so you cannot just pop them out. Squeezing papules is not an option. Doing so can cause scarring and can lead to infection.

Acne that is similar to the characteristics of a whitehead is a pustule. You would notice a circular and reddish flesh that surrounds the head. The head would usually have a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules can be squeezed out, just be sure to have professionals do that for you.

A more severe case of acne vulgaris is the appearance of cysts and nodules. Nodules one acne types that is thought of as the most difficult to treat. It can take up to one to three months before it could completely disappear. These are large bumps that can lead to scarring. This kind of lesion should not be popped out at any cost because they can cause serious skin damage. If it gets infected it would take longer for it to heal.

The gruesome version of a nodule is a cyst. Aside from the reddish flesh that surrounds its head, it also contains pus. Cysts are large acne that have a diameter of around 5mm. These are the painful type of acne and can cause serious infection when squeezed out by a non-professional. At the first appearance of cysts or nodules, it would be best to consult your dermatologist so that swelling and scarring can be prevented.

About the Author: Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles.