Understanding Eczema's Vicious 5 Step Cycle


by Broyde McDonald - Date: 2006-12-10 - Word Count: 510 Share This!

Eczema is a common name for the type of reaction where skin once disturbed itches, weeps fluid, oozes bloody pus from a rash, and becomes thick and swollen. These symptoms are progressive with the more disturbed condition progressing until the skin shows deep grooves where the skin's lines that are normally fine become deeper and significantly more outstanding.

Eczema is not a single disease of the skin, but a range of diseases that affect skin in a particular way. There are a number of causes and treatments but usually these causes and treatments with some discovery can be isolated and avoided.

Eczema works on a vicious cycle. Something irritates your skin. It becomes red and inflamed. It itches, and you rub or scratch it. As a result of this friction, your skin becomes more inflamed, and you lose its outer protective layer. As the outer layer is broken down, it becomes further irritated which causes you to want to scratch it again. If you do, the skin becomes worse and worse as you scratch and rub it.

The broken unprotected skin becomes extra sensitive to irritants, and also dries out much more easily because its protective covering is gone. However, you are still exposed to the initial cause of your eczema outbreak, and the rash continues to progress along this cycle until something stops it.

It is estimated that in the United States alone there are approximately 15 million people hosting some form of eczema. Studies also show that 10% to 20% of all infants worldwide have eczema; however, it is also expected that in half of these children the disease will become significantly weaker or non-existent by the time they reach five through fifteen years old. On the contrary, in cases where eczema runs in the family, the chances are higher that the disease can become a lifelong condition.

There is no known cause for the disease, but the people most often affected are those with allergies in their family's history.

In infants eczema usually finds its onset as an allergic reaction to something contained in their diet. A worthwhile remedy at this stage is for infants to breastfeed from a mother who does not consume dairy products, eggs, and seafood among others depending on individual immunities. Six months of breast feeding has been accredited with being able to control and prevent eczema in some children.

With older people, long baths and also the use of soap are two of the main eczema problem starters. To remedy, baths should end before the skin begins to prune. Once your skin starts to prune, it is a signal that it is being damaged. The problem is that the moisture retaining layer is disturbed. Once this layer is upset it gives up moisture, and the itch that leads to an eczema flare up is set in motion.

For more detailed information right now and in the future as the study on this condition continues, sign up for the free newsletter you can get at www.eczemabathsalts.com, as information becomes available you will have it forwarded to you right away.

Broyde McDonald http://www.eczemabathsalts.com


Related Tags: eczema, eczema treatment, cure for eczema, baby eczema

As a child, Broyde McDonald grew up ill with a recurring chronic condition. It was different growing up and being sick just about every Christmas and birthday which came in early January.

As an adult, with the use of better information the condition is now controlled. The name of the game is now to help other people to control their chronic conditions, through the use of accurate information.

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