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DO you have severe inflammation of the skin,
usually with redness, swelling, oozing, crusting or scaling of
lesions which are usually itchy? Do you suffer from small vesicles
or bubbles on your skin? Then you may be suffering from Dermatitis!
Do you know that the terms eczema and dermatitis
are generally used as similar terms for this condition? Eczema
may take the form of contact dermatitis (due to skin contact with
the cause) or atopic dermatitis in individuals who are "atopic"
or allergic by nature. If the scalp is involved then we call it
seborrhoeic dermatitis. Do you know that Dermatitis can be caused
by chemicals, plants, shoes, clothing, metal compounds and even
medicines used to treat dermatitis? In atopic dermatitis environmental
temperature, humidity changes, bacterial skin infections and garments
may all bring about dermatitis as may airborne allergens. Emotional
stress may contribute to the condition. Allergic responses to
skin irritants may take from a number of days to years after the
first exposure to the time of re-exposure to precipitate the dermatitis.
Eczema, also referred to as dermatitis, is
an inflammation of the skin, which causes itchy red patches on
the skin. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy whilst
in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding.
Eczema is not contagious.
1. Constitutional
(genetic) eczema includes seborrhoeic eczema,
atopic eczema (common in children), hand eczema and discoid eczema.
This type of eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being
genetically linked.
Atopic eczema is most commonly found in babies and young children.
It is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed,
irritated and sore skin. The neck, elbow, ankles and knees are
typical areas affected. It is proposed that people with atopic
eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment, which are
harmless to others. Associated atopic conditions include asthma
and hayfever.
2. Contact
eczema can be classed as irritant or allergic.
Irritant eczema is caused by skin contact with any substance in
our environment such as soaps, detergents, bleaches and hair dyes.
3. Allergic
eczema often develops over a period of time through
repeated contact with a particular substance.
Photodermatitis is caused by ultra violet
light which is present in sunlight. It may be exaggerated in individuals
with immune system types.
1. |
Substances that cause
allergies (allergens) such as house dust mite and their droppings
(most potent trigger), pollens, moulds, pet dander, and even
cockroaches and their waste products |
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Irritants in the air, including
smoke from cigarettes, dusty environments, household sprays,
perfume, etc |
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Air pollution like the haze period,
industrial areas, on-going construction etc |
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