Eczema Management
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) causes the skin to become red and itchy. It is related to allergies, but rarely helped just by eliminating allergens. Eczema is long-lasting with periodic flare-ups, and may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever.
Eczema symptoms include:
- Itching (may be severe, especially at night)
- Red to brownish-gray patches on the skin (particularly on hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, and inside the bend of elbows and knees)
- Small, raised bumps which may leak fluid
- Thickened, cracked, dry, scaly skin
- Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching
The cause of eczema is unknown, but it is likely related to a mix of factors:
- Dry, irritable skin, which reduces the skin’s ability to be an effective barrier
- A gene variation that affects the skin’s barrier function
- Immune system dysfunction
- Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, on the skin that creates a film that blocks sweat glands
- Environmental conditions
Learn about the holistic therapies we may use to treat eczema.
