What is Eczema?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Eczema?
Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become red, dry, itchy, and bumpy. Eczema is commonly seen in children but can occur at any age. It is a chronic (long-term) condition that tends to flare up periodically. Eczema damages the barrier function of the skin causing the skin to become more sensitive, and prone to dryness and infection. In this article, we will be discussing Eczema Treatment in detail –
- What are the different types of Eczema?
- What are the causes of Eczema?
- What are the risk factors for Eczema?
- What are the symptoms of Eczema?
- How to diagnose Eczema?
- What is the treatment for Eczema?
- What are the complications of Eczema?
- How to Prevent Eczema?
- What is the cost of Eczema treatment in India?
What are the different types of Eczema?
The different types of eczema include:
- Atopic dermatitis: This is the most common type of eczema. It usually starts in childhood and becomes milder or disappears by adulthood. It is generally accompanied by asthma and hay fever (an allergic response causing sneezing, itchiness, and watery eyes).
- Allergic contact dermatitis: This is a type of skin reaction that occurs due to contact with an allergen or substance, that the immune system recognizes as a foreign body.
- Neurodermatitis: This kind of eczema results in scaly patches of skin on the forearms, wrists, lower legs, and head. It is caused due to a localized itch, for example, an insect bite.
- Dyshidrotic eczema: This is a condition of irritation of the skin on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. This condition is characterized by blisters.
- Discoid eczema: It is also known as nummular eczema and is characterized by the presence of circular patches of irritated skin that can be scaly, crusted, and itchy.
- Stasis dermatitis: This is a condition in which there is a skin irritation of the lower leg. This condition is usually related to circulatory disorders.
- Hand eczema: Eczema that only affects the hands is known as hand eczema. This is commonly seen in jobs associated with cleaning or hairdressing, where chemicals can come in contact with and irritate the skin.
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What are the causes of Eczema?
- The exact cause of eczema is unknown.
- However, it is believed to be triggered by an overactive immune system (disease-fighting system), which on exposure to irritants responds in an aggressive manner.
- Eczema may sometimes be caused due to an abnormal response to the proteins present in the body.
- In normal conditions, the immune system ignores these proteins and only attacks the proteins of foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria.
- In the case of eczema, the immune system loses the ability to differentiate between the two proteins causing inflammation.
- Eczema flare-ups may occur when one or more symptoms of eczema appear on the skin. The common triggers of eczema flare-ups include:
- Chemicals found in detergents and cleaners
- Synthetic fabric
- Scratchy, rough material like wool
- Increased body temperature
- Sweating
- Changes in temperature
- Stress
- A sudden drop in humidity levels
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Allergies to certain foods
- Animal dander (skin cells that animals shed)
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What are the risk factors for Eczema?
Some factors may increase the risk of developing eczema. These factors include:
- Asthma (inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs that may make breathing and performing certain physical activities difficult)
- Hay fever (inflammation or irritation of the nose)
- Age below 30 years
- Family history of eczema
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What are the symptoms of Eczema?
The symptoms of eczema may include:
- Dry skin
- Red rashes
- Itchy skin
- Bumps on the skin
- Crusting skin
- Swelling
- Scaly patches of skin
- Allergies
- Depression
- Sleep loss
- Asthma
- Anxiety
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How to diagnose Eczema?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine your skin and look for the classic signs of eczema that include dryness and redness. The doctor will ask you about the symptoms that you may be having, and also about your medical history and family history.
- Patch test: A patch test helps in identifying certain allergens that may trigger symptoms like skin allergies, which may be associated with contact dermatitis.
- Blood tests: These tests are done to check for the cause of a skin rash that may be unrelated to atopic dermatitis.
- Biopsy: A small sample of the affected skin is excised by the doctor and sent to the laboratory to diagnose the type of dermatitis that may be present.
What is the treatment for Eczema?
The following are the different treatment modalities for eczema:
Medications:
- Creams for repairing the skin and controlling itching:
- Corticosteroid cream or ointments may be prescribed by the doctor. Overuse of corticosteroids may cause thinning of the skin.
- Calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus and pimecrolimus can be used as creams. They affect the immune system of an individual and can be used in people above 2 years of age to control skin reaction. These creams may increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Direct sunlight should be avoided when using these products.
- Drugs for fighting infection:
- An antibiotic cream may be prescribed by the doctor to fight a bacterial infection, cracks, or open sores.
- Oral drugs for controlling inflammation:
- In severe cases of eczema, the doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids like prednisone.
- These drugs cannot be used long term because of the potential serious side effects.
- New options:
- A new injectable biologic known as dupilumab is used in severe cases of eczema when an individual does not respond well to other treatment options.
Therapies:
- Wet dressings:
- In cases of severe atopic dermatitis, the affected area is wrapped with topical corticosteroids and wet bandages.
- Light therapy:
- This form of treatment is used in eczema cases that do not get better with topical treatments, or cases that quickly flare again post-treatment.
- Phototherapy: It is the simplest form of light therapy that involves exposure of the skin to controlled amounts of natural sunlight.
- UVA and UVB light therapy: Other types of light therapy include using artificial ultraviolet A (UVA) and narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) either alone or in combination with other medicines.
- Excimer laser therapy: This procedure involves the exposure of the affected skin to laser light to either provide direct relief to specific areas of the body affected by eczema, or larger areas. It is a non-invasive and effective treatment for eczema.
- Long-term light therapy can cause premature aging of the skin and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, phototherapy is not given to infants and is used rarely in young children.
- Counseling:
- Consultation with a therapist or counselor may help people who are frustrated or embarrassed by eczema.
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- Relaxation and behavior modification:
- This therapy helps people who scratch habitually.
- Treatment for infant eczema:
- Identification and avoiding skin irritants.
- Lubrication of the baby’s skin with creams, ointments, or bath oils.
- Avoiding exposure to extreme temperature.
- Prescription medications like antihistamines.
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What are the complications of Eczema?
Eczema may lead to the following complications:
- Asthma
- Hay fever
- Skin infections
- Chronic (long-term) scaly and itchy skin
- Sleep disorders due to itching
- Scarring
- Infection symptoms including redness, fever, blisters, or warmth of skin over the affected area
Contact your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.
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How to Prevent Eczema?
The risk of developing eczema can be decreased and the eczema flare-ups can be prevented by:
- Apply moisturizer on your skin at least twice a day
- Manage stress
- Maintain your weight
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
- Avoid eating foods that you are allergic to
- Take shorter baths
- Use mild, gentle soaps
- Dry yourself gently after a bath and pat dry your skin with a towel
- Avoid contact with detergents
- Avoid wearing rough fabrics
- Wear soft fabrics and cotton
- Avoid scratching the skin
- Use a humidifier in cold, dry weather
- Avoid quick changes of temperature and activities that may lead to sweating
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What is the cost of Eczema treatment in India?
The total cost of eczema treatment in India can range from around INR 2000 to INR 40,000, depending on the type of treatment done. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for eczema treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of eczema treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. So, the total cost of eczema treatment in India will be around INR 4000 to INR 50,000.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding eczema through this article.
If you want more information and Eczema Treatment, you can contact a Dermatologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
