Dermatitis Treatment Tips

Dermatitis (eczema) is inflammation of the upper layers of the skin, causing itching, blisters, redness, swelling, and often exude, scabbing, and scaling. Dermatitis affects about one in every five people at some time in their lives. It results from a variety of different causes and has various patterns. There are different types of dermatitis, including seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Gravitational dermatitis arises on the lower legs of the elderly, due to swelling and poorly functioning leg veins. Nummular dermatitis may be set off primary by an injury to the skin: scattered coin-shaped irritable patches persist for a few months. Though the disorder can have many causes and occur in many forms, it usually involves swollen, reddened and itchy skin.

Dermatitis can be acute or chronic or both. Acute eczema (or dermatitis) refers to a rapidly progress red rash which may be blistered and swollen. Chronic eczema (or dermatitis) refers to a longstanding bad-tempered area. It is often darker than the surrounding skin, thickened (lichenified) and much scratched. Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases, affecting between 9% and 30% of children or teenagers in the United States. Almost 66% of people with the disorder develop it before age 1, and 90% by age 5. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when chemicals or physical agents damage the surface of the skin faster than the skin is able to repair the damage. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder affecting the scalp, face and trunk causing scaly, flaky, itchy, red skin.

It particularly affects the sebum-gland rich areas of skin. It may occur during times of physical stress, travel or in people who have neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. In infants, this disorder is known as cradle cap. Treatment of dermatitis varies, depending on the cause. Chronic treatment with topical corticosteroids may lead to permanent skin changes, such as atrophy and telangiectasia. Pimecrolimus is a new anti-inflammatory cream shown to be very effective for atopic dermatitis, with fewer side effects than topical steroids. Apply an emollient liberally and often, particularly after bathing, and when itchy.Wear soft smooth cool clothes; wool is best avoided. Antihistamine tablets may help reduce the irritation, and are particularly useful at night.

Dermatitis Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Avoid contact with substances that cause the skin rash.

2. Wash any area that comes into contact with allergic substances.

3. Wear soft smooth cool clothes.

4. Hydrocortisone lotions and creams may help soothe your skin.

5. Apply a topical steroid cream or ointment to the itchy patches for a 5 to 15 day course.

6. Pimecrolimus is a new anti-inflammatory cream shown to be very effective for atopic dermatitis.

7. Antihistamine tablets may help reduce the irritation, and are particularly useful at night.

Click here for more information on dermatitis treatments

Author: Juliet Cohen

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/dermatitis-treatment-tips-297460.html

Dermatitis: What Causes It?

Those of us who suffer from dermatitis , the itchiness redness and flare ups wish we knew what causes it and above all how to get rid of it forever.

Unfortunately the causes of dermatitis are poorly understood and are still the subject of active research. Modern research is showing that it develops as a result of interaction between our immune system, the environment, and genetics. The immune systems of the people with this condition are very sensitive and they are more prone to react to irritants and allergens. Most people who have dermatitis have a family history of allergic conditions.

A genetic predisposition may be aggravated by factors such as infections, food allergies, temperature, irritating chemicals, stress and humidity. In response to extreme temperature and humidity, dermatitis tends to flare-up. Sweating and psychological stress are other causes of dermatitis flare-ups.

Other causes of dermatitis are irritations. It seems to have the capacity to change the epidermal structure by allowing immunoglobulin E activity to increase. Even after the exposure to allergen has ended or even after it has been systematically controlled, the chronic skin irritation will consequently continue.

The Actual Causes of Dermatitis Are Still Unknown

Since the causes of dermatitis are still unknown, several theories attempt to explain its pathogenesis. Causes of dermatitis probably represent more than one condition.

The underlying metabolical or biochemical conditions suggests that induced skin disorder is genetically linked to elevate serum immunoglobulin E levels and is one of the theories, regarding the causes of dermatitis while defective T-cell function is the other theory.

Causes of dermatitis or the triggers of dermatitis include a number of health conditions, genetic factors, allergies, and irritants, mental and physical stresses. Working in the wet is one of the main causes of dermatitis. Direct contact with one of many irritants or allergens results to contact dermatitis.

Different substances cause dermatitis to develop in different people and allergic reactions are genetically determined. When you have burns and sunburn, these will increase the risk of dermatitis. The process and causes of contact dermatitis involved are much clearer, although little is known about what makes people susceptible to allergic dermatitis.

What Are The Main Types of Dermatitis

The three main types of dermatitis are atopic, contact allergy and contact irritant. These all have different triggers, although some are similar. Atopic dermatitis is a genetic disorder that is influenced by environmental factors. But little is known what makes people susceptible to allergic dermatitis. When a highly reactive chemical substance comes into direct contact with the skin, allergic contact dermatitis occurs. Nummular dermatitis usually occurs in cold weather and is common to people with dry skin. The root causes of all these are still unknown.

As modern science continues in its research, sufferers can avail of the various medications currently available both over the counter and through prescriptions . It is also a good idea to take a close look at what actually causes or irritates your dermatitis and stay clear of it thus reducing the likelihood of flare ups etc.

Click here for more information on dermatitis treatments

Author: Paul Courtney

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/dermatitis-what-causes-it-224986.html

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is a disease affecting millions of Americans today. This skin condition occurs when fawlty signals from the immune system cause an increase in skin cell production. A normal skin cell will mature and slough off in about a month, but in cases of Psoriasis, these cells mature in a few days and build up, causing lesions. The most common form, plaque Psoriasis, occurs when the excess of cells build up and form red lesions that are covered in white scales. There are four additional forms of Psoriasis: guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic.

This disease is not contagious and can present in mild to severe cases on various areas of skin. The cause is undetermined and there is no known cure for sufferers. Outbreaks can be triggered (it is thought) by stress, injury, diet, weather and even sunburns. Every case is different, so what triggers and outbreak in one individual may not bother another.

So what are these millions of people with Psoriasis to do? Again, Psoriasis affects everyone differently, and treatments can vary from person to person. Camouflaging and covering up lesions help many people hide their flare ups, which can be embarrasing to deal with. A typical treatment is a topical cream applied directly to the skin. These can help relieve the itching associated with the lesions and clear up the skin for a period of time. These lotions should contain gentle moisturizers, essential oils, emollients and PH balancers to help skin feel smoother and promote healing. A thick layer of lotion, with some plastic wrap overnight can help loosen plaque enough to wash it away. Even a soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes can help plaque to be toweled off.

For current sufferers, a new FDA approved formula has been proven to soothe and relieve symptoms of Psoriasis. With Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil and Palm Oil, this Psoriasis cream can help milions of people. This unique formula not only soothes and moisturizes your skin, but its active ingredient also helps control the scaling and flaking associated with Psoriasis to help your skin to heal naturally.

To start feeling better and soothing symptoms, click for a free sample of Dermasis.

Author: J. Bennett

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/psoriasis-treatment-878061.html

Dermatitis Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

Dermatitis is a blanket term literally meaning ” inflammation of the skin”. Symptoms of inflammation are itching, pain, redness, swelling, and the formation of small blisters or wheals (itchy, red circles with a white centre) on the skin. There are different types of dermatitis, and the disorder can have many causes and occur in many forms.

Generally, dermatitis describes swollen reddened and itchy skin. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the skin on other parts of the body such as the face and chest, and the creases of the arms, legs and groin. The inflammation is caused by an allergy or irritation as a result of substances found in the workplace that come into direct contact with the skin.

Dermatitis may be a brief reaction to a substance. The hands and feet are particularly vulnerable to chronic dermatitis, because the hands are in frequent contact with many foreign substances and the feet are in the warm, moist conditions created by socks and shoes that favor fungal growth.

Dermatitis is a common condition that isn’t life-threatening or contagious. But, it can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. A combination of self-care steps and medications can help you treat dermatitis.

Your skin is constantly exposed to the elements making it susceptible to a variety of problems, including the common condition dermatitis. It is usually used to refer to eczema which is also known as Dermatitis eczema .

Some types of dermatitis affect only specific parts of the body, whereas others can occur anywhere. However dermatitis is always the skin’s way of reacting to severe dryness, scratching, a substance that is causing irritation, or an allergen. In all cases continuous scratching and rubbing may eventually lead to thickening and hardening of the skin.

These diseases include asthma, hay fever, and atopic dermatitis. dermatitis most often affects infants and young children, but it can continue into adulthood or first show up later in life. Many children with atopic dermatitis enter into a permanent remission of the disease when they get older, although their skin often remains dry and easily irritated. This kind of dermatitis is caused by chemicals that are irritating (e.g., acids, bases, fat-dissolving solvents) to the skin and is localized to the area of contact. Another difference is that allergic dermatitis can occur in other places on the body that did not come in contact with the allergy-causing material.

Causes of Dermatitis

The common Causes of Dermatitis :

Contributing factors include genetics, concentration, duration of exposure, and presence of other skin diseases.

Most common agents are plants of the Toxicodendron genus (eg, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac).

A common, chronic skin condition that can affect the Dermatitis area as well as other locations on the body.

The inflammation causes the skin to become itchy and scaly.

The most common cause of dermatitis. The condition is usually caused by exposure to certain chemicals in combination with extreme heat or moisture, which can cause a breakdown of the skin.

An irritant produces direct local cytotoxic effect on the cells of the epidermis, with a subsequent inflammatory response in the dermis.

Exposure to environmental irritants can worsen symptoms, as can dryness of the skin, exposure to water, temperature changes and stress.

Dermatitis caused by a fungal infection in the Dermatitis area.

Symptoms of Dermatitis

Some Symptoms of Dermatitis :

Skin lesion or rash at the site of exposure

Atopic dermatitis

Skin redness or inflammation in the exposed area

Neurodermatitis

Localized swelling of the skin

Perioral dermatitis

Itching ( pruritus ) of the skin in exposed areas

Treatment of Dermatitis

Your doctor will recommend antibiotics such as flucloxacillin or erythromycin if infection is complicating or causing the dermatitis. The infection is most often with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes .

Antihistamine tablets may help reduce the irritation, and are particularly useful at night

Systemic steroids , azathioprine , phototherapy , and other complicated treatments may also be used for severe cases.

Ultraviolet light treatments (UVA, UVB)

Protect your skin from dust, water, solvents, detergents, injury.

Apply an emollient liberally and often, particularly after bathing, and when itchy. Ask your doctor or dermatologist to recommend some to try; avoid perfumed products when possible.

Wear soft smooth cool clothes; wool is best avoided.

Hospitalizaton for treatment of severe dermatitis that is not responding to the above treatments.

Click here for more information on dermatitis treatments

Author: Juliet Cohen

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/dermatitis-causes-symptoms-information-with-treatment-225247.html