All you want is the simple pleasure of having skin you can enjoy that feels soft and moves with you like silky clothing. To swim in the ocean, to play outside, to touch and hold your loved ones, to feel relaxed in it like others do ... the way it should be.

How Many People Have Eczema? 1. More than 15 million Americans suffer from eczema - National Institute of Health2. 10-20% of Americans suffer - US News and World Report3. Up to 30% in US Afflicted - WebMD and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease4. 30% of Australians suffer from eczema - Eczema Association of Australasia5. Eczema still on the Increase Across the Globe - Science Daily

There was a 42% rise in diagnosis of the condition between 2001 and 2005 - BBC News.

Consider now the Census Bureau Pop Clock reporting January 2009 the US population at: 305,523,541 and the world population at 6,750,677,828. Taking the low 10% and the high 30%, the actual figure in the USA alone is 30-90 million Americans. With eczema on the increase in industrialized areas and on the increase in 3rd world countries both for reasons I can speak of, up to a billion people worldwide may be suffering from eczema.

DEFINITIONEczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. a general term used to describe a variety of rashes where the skin may be itchy, red & inflamed, weepy or blistering, dry, scaly and thickened. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis (some people use these two terms interchangeably). However, there are many different forms of eczema.

The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes which are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration may appear and are sometimes due to healed lesions, although scarring is rare. In contrast to psoriasis, eczema is often likely to be found on the flexor aspect of joints.Eczema can affect people of any age, although the condition is most common in infants. Eczema will permanently resolve by age 3 in about half of affected infants. In others, the condition tends to recur throughout life. People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. Up to 20% of children and 1%-2% of adults are believed to have eczema.Although eczema can develop any place on the body, it typically appears on the hands, wrists, arms, neck, upper chest, face and backs of knees. It is not contagious.

Epidemiology

The lifetime clinician-recorded prevalence of eczema has been seen to peak in infancy, with female predominance of eczema presentations occurring during the reproductive period of 15–49 years. [4] Although little data on the trend of eczema prevalence over time exists prior to the Second World War (1939–45), the prevalence of eczema has been found to have increased substantially in the latter half of the 20th Century, with increases in eczema in school-aged children being found to increase between the late 1940’s and 2000.[5] A review of epidemiological data in the UK has also found an inexorable rise in the prevalence of eczema over time.[6] Further recent increases in the incidence and lifetime prevalence of eczema in England have also been reported, such that an estimated 5,773,700 or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.[7]

Eczema Causes

The exact cause of eczema is not known. Although it is activated by the immune system and is related to allergic reactions, it is not the same as other allergic reactions. People with eczema do have the IgE antibodies (immunoglobulin E) produced by the immune system as part of allergic reactions.

Contact with the external trigger (allergen) causes the skin to become inflamed. The duration of the contact is not important. Eczema can develop on first contact (in days to weeks) or over time with repeated contact (in months to years).

Common triggers of eczema include the following:

Soaps Detergents Weather (hot, cold, humid, or dry) Environmental allergens Jewelry Creams Food handling Clothing Sweating Gloves Rubbing Bacteria Emotional or mental stress

List of 208 causes of Eczema

This section shows a full list of all the diseases and conditions listed as a possible cause of Eczema in our database from various sources. 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate sensitization - allergic skin reaction Acute Pesticide poisoning - xylene - eczema Albright like syndrome - eczema Allergic reactions Allergies - eczema Animal allergy - eczema Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis - eczema

Bird allergy - eczema Bubble bath allergy - eczema Bullous Pemphigoid - eczema Caffeine Allergy - eczema Canary allergy - eczema Cat allergy - eczema Chemical allergy - eczema Chemical poisoning - Furfural - eczema Chemical poisoning - Palladium - eczema Chemical poisoning - Platinum - eczema Chemical poisoning - Vanadium - eczema Chicken allergy - eczema Chrome contact allergy - eczema Chromosome 2, monosomy 2q37 - eczema Chromosome 6p deletion syndrome - eczema Cobalt allergy - eczema Developmental delay - hypotonia extremities hypertrophy - eczema Dog allergy - eczema Drug Allergies - eczema Duck allergy - eczema Duhring-Brocq disease - eczema Ectodermal dysplasia anhidrotic - eczema Ectodermal dysplasia, Margarita type - eczema Egg Hypersensitivity - eczema Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, classic type - eczema Food Additive Adverse reaction - amines - eczema Food Additive Adverse reaction - food additives - eczema Food Additive Adverse reaction - MSG - eczema Food Additive Adverse reaction - salicylate - eczema Food Additive Adverse reaction - sulfite - eczema Food Additive Allergy - eczema Food Additive Allergy - amaranth - eczema Food Additive Allergy - Annatto - eczema Food Additive Allergy - antioxidants - eczema Food Additive Allergy - benzoate - eczema Food Additive Allergy - BHA antioxidants - eczema Food Additive Allergy - BHT antioxidants - eczema Food Additive Allergy - carageenan gum - eczema Food Additive Allergy - Carmine - eczema Food Additive Allergy - erythrosine - eczema

Food Additive Allergy - guar gum - eczema Food Additive Allergy - gum - eczema Food Additive Allergy - gum acacia - eczema Food Additive Allergy - gum tragacanth - eczema Food Additive Allergy - lecithin - eczema Food Additive Allergy - locust bean gum - eczema Food Additive Allergy - quinoline yellow - eczema Food Additive Allergy - saffron - eczema Food Additive Allergy - salicytes - eczema Food Additive Allergy - sulphite - eczema Food Additive Allergy - sulphite derivative - eczema Food Additive Allergy - sunset yellow - eczema Food Additive Allergy - tartrazine - eczema Food Additive Allergy - xanthan gum - eczema Food allergies - eczema Food Allergy - abalone - eczema Food Allergy - almond - eczema Food Allergy - aniseed - eczema Food Allergy - apple - eczema Food Allergy - apricot - eczema Food Allergy - avocado - eczema Food Allergy - banana - eczema Food Allergy - barley - eczema Food Allergy - bean - eczema Food Allergy - beef - eczema Food Allergy - beer - eczema Food Allergy - bell pepper - eczema Food Allergy - brazil nut - eczema Food Allergy - buckwheat - eczema Food Allergy - cabbage - eczema Food Allergy - carp - eczema Food Allergy - carrot - eczema Food Allergy - cashew - eczema Food Allergy - castor bean - eczema Food Allergy - celery - eczema Food Allergy - chamomile tea - eczema Food Allergy - cherry - eczema Food Allergy - chestnut - eczema Food Allergy - chick pea - eczema Food Allergy - chicken meat - eczema

Food Allergy - cinnamon - eczema Food Allergy - coconut - eczema Food Allergy - codfish - eczema Food Allergy - Coriander - eczema Food Allergy - crab - eczema Food Allergy - crayfish - eczema Food Allergy - cumin - eczema Food Allergy - date palm - eczema Food Allergy - duck meat - eczema Food Allergy - fennel - eczema Food Allergy - fish - eczema Food Allergy - frog - eczema Food Allergy - fruit - eczema Food Allergy - garbanzo (legume) - eczema Food Allergy - garlic - eczema Food Allergy - goose meat - eczema Food Allergy - hazelnut - eczema Food Allergy - hops - eczema Food Allergy - kidney bean - eczema Food Allergy - kiwi fruit - eczema Food Allergy - lamb - eczema Food Allergy - lentil - eczema Food Allergy - lettuce - eczema Food Allergy - lima bean - eczema Food Allergy - Linden tea - eczema Food Allergy - lobster - eczema Food Allergy - lychee - eczema Food Allergy - mackerel - eczema Food Allergy - mango - eczema Food Allergy - meat - eczema Food Allergy - melon - eczema Food Allergy - milk - eczema Food Allergy - mollusk - eczema Food Allergy - MSG - eczema Food Allergy - mussel - eczema Food Allergy - mustard leaf - eczema Food Allergy - oat - eczema Food Allergy - olive - eczema Food Allergy - oranges - eczema Food Allergy - papaya - eczema

Food Allergy - paprika - eczema Food Allergy - parsley - eczema Food Allergy - pea - eczema Food Allergy - peach - eczema Food Allergy - peanuts - eczema Food Allergy - pear - eczema Food Allergy - pecan - eczema Food Allergy - pine nut - eczema Food Allergy - pineapple - eczema Food Allergy - plantain - eczema Food Allergy - plum - eczema Food Allergy - pomegranates - eczema Food Allergy - pork - eczema Food Allergy - potato - eczema Food Allergy - pumpkin - eczema Food Allergy - Quorn - eczema Food Allergy - red meat - eczema Food Allergy - rice - eczema Food Allergy - rye - eczema Food Allergy - salmon - eczema Food Allergy - scallop - eczema Food Allergy - sesame - eczema Food Allergy - shellfish - eczema Food Allergy - shrimp - eczema Food Allergy - snail - eczema Food Allergy - soy - eczema Food Allergy - soybean - eczema Food Allergy - spices - eczema Food Allergy - strawberry - eczema Food Allergy - sulfite - eczema Food Allergy - sunflower seeds - eczema Food Allergy - thyme - eczema Food Allergy - tomato - eczema Food Allergy - tree nuts - eczema Food Allergy - tuna - eczema Food Allergy - turnip - eczema Food Allergy - turtle - eczema Food Allergy - vegetable oil - eczema Food Allergy - walnuts - eczema Food Allergy - watermelon - eczema

Food Allergy - wheat - eczema Food Allergy - zucchini - eczema Fukuda-Miyanomae-Nakata syndrome - eczema Gluten allergy - eczema Goose allergy - eczema Herbal Agent adverse reaction - Ginkgo biloba - allergic skin reaction Herbal Agent overdose - Garlic - eczema Hyper-IgE syndrome, autosomal recessive - eczema Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia - eczema Inborn amino acid metabolism disorder - eczema Kartagener syndrome - nummular eczema Leg circulation problems - can cause Stasis dermatitis Meleda Disease - eczema Mycosis fungoides - eczematous rash Mycosis fungoides, familial - eczematous rash Nickel contact allergy - eczema Non-Food Allergy - bent grass - eczema Non-Food Allergy - dust mites - eczema Parakeet allergy - eczema Parrot allergy - eczema Pet allergy - eczema Phenylketonuria - eczematous rash Pigeon allergy - eczema Pollitt syndrome - eczema Primary immunodeficiency disorders - eczema Pyridoxine deficiency - eczema Rodent allergy - eczema Say-Barber-Miller syndrome - eczema Scabies - eczema Seafood allergy - eczema Skin allergy - eczema Soap allergy - eczema Sparrow allergy - eczema Sunscreen allergy - eczema Trichorrhexis nodosa syndrome - eczema Trichothiodystrophy, type C - eczema Trichothiodystrophy-neurocutaneous Syndrome - eczema Trichothiodystrophy-neurotrichocutaneous Syndrome of Pollitt - eczema Turkey allergy - eczema

Varicose veins - eczema on legs Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome – eczema

symptoms of eczema?

Eczema most commonly causes dry, reddened skin that itches or burns, although the appearance of eczema varies from person to person and varies according to the specific type of eczema. Intense itching is generally the first symptom in most people with eczema. Sometimes, eczema may lead to blisters and oozing lesions, but eczema can also result in dry and scaly skin. Repeated scratching may lead to thickened, crusty skin.

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Eczema includes the 76 symptoms listed below: Symptoms depend on type of eczema and a great many symptoms can occur Itchy skin Inflamed skin Skin redness Skin swelling Skin cracking Weeping Crusting Scaling Blisters Red cheek rash Crusty rash on cheek Arm rash Crusty arm blisters Leg rash Crusty leg blisters Rash inside the elbow Rash behind the knees

Difficulty sleeping - because of the itch Hyperpigmented eyelids Allergic shiners (dark rings around the eyes) Lichenification (leathery skin) - from excessive rubbing Atopic pleat (Dennie-Morgan fold) - extra fold of skin under eye. Papules (small raised bumps) Ichthyosis (scaly skin areas) Keratosis pilaris (small, rough bumps) Hyperlinear palms (extra skin creases in the palms) Urticaria - hives Lip inflammation (Cheilitis) Symptoms of atopic eczema in infants: Typically symptoms start around age 3-4 months Scalp rash Facial rash Small spots Weeping spots Itchy spots Symptoms of discoid eczema: Small round patches Itchy patches Blistered patches Dry scaly patches Pink scaly patches Skin-colored scaly patches Whitish scales Flaking skin Yellowish oily patches Itchy skin patches - itching may or may not be present Small skin bumps - initial phase Skin blisters Thickening skin - later phase Cracked skin Itching skin Pain Peeling skin Lower leg swelling Red skin on lower legs Scaly skin on lower legs Oozing skin on lower legs

Crusted skin on lower legs Cracked skin on lower legs Flaky skin on lower legs Itchy skin on lower legs Skin rash on lower legs Dry flaky patches of skin Red patches of skin Skin rash Itchy patches of skin Patches of reduced skin pigmentation Skin bumps - in early stages Skin pain Skin ulceration Weeping skin patches Oozing patches of skin Increased serum IgE - if allergy is the underlying cause Increased number of skin creases on palms - if allergy is the underlying cause Darkness around eyes - if allergy is the underlying cause more information...»

Types of eczema

The term eczema refers to a set of clinical characteristics. Classification of the underlying diseases has been haphazard and unsystematic, with many synonyms used to describe the same condition. A type of eczema may be described by location (e.g., hand eczema), by specific appearance (eczema craquele or discoid), or by possible cause (varicose eczema). Further adding to the confusion, many sources use the term eczema and the term for the most common type of eczema (atopic eczema) interchangeably. More severe eczema

The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) published a position paper in 2001 which simplifies the nomenclature of allergy-related diseases including atopic and allergic contact eczemas.[8] Non-allergic eczemas are not affected by this proposal.

The classification below is ordered by incidence frequency.

Eczema: Types list

The list of types of Eczema mentioned in various sources includes: Atopic eczema - an allergy-related form of eczema often in children. Contact eczema - localized red, itchy reaction to an allergen or substance. Allergic contact eczema - localized red, itchy, weepy reaction Seborrheic eczema - yellowish, oily, scaly patches Generalized eczema Nummular eczema - round, itchy, irritated patches; crusted and scaly Neurodermatitis - scaly patches of skin from a localized itch (e.g. insect bite) Stasis dermatitis - lower leg skin irritation; often caused by circulation problems. Dyshidrotic eczema - blisters on palms of hand and soles of feet Atopic dermatitis Infantile dermatitis Discoid eczema Rare Types of Eczema:Atopic eczema Contact eczema Varicose eczema Discoid eczema Hand eczema Nummular eczema Asteatotic eczema Stasis dermatitis Lichen simplex chronicus Seborrheic eczema Irritant contact eczema Allergic contact eczema Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) Phototoxic eczema Xerotic eczema Neurodermatitis Chemical-related eczema

Environmental allergen related eczema Erythrodermic eczema Eyelid eczema Temperature-related eczema Stress-related eczema Gravitational eczema Venous eczema Irritant contact dermatitis

Types of common eczemasAtopic eczema (aka infantile e., flexural e., atopic dermatitis) is an allergic disease believed to have a hereditary component and often runs in families whose members also have hay fever and asthma. Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on head and scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks. Experts are urging doctors to be more vigilant in weeding out cases that are, in actuality, irritant contact dermatitis. It is very common in developed countries, and rising. (L20)Contact dermatitis is of two types: allergic (resulting from a delayed reaction to some allergen, such as poison ivy or nickel), and irritant (resulting from direct reaction to a detergent, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, for example). Some substances act both as allergen and irritant (wet cement, for example). Other substances cause a problem after sunlight exposure, bringing on phototoxic dermatitis. About three quarters of cases of contact eczema are of the irritant type, which is the most common occupational skin disease. Contact eczema is curable, provided the offending substance can be avoided and its traces removed from one’s environment. (L23; L24; L56.1; L56.0)Xerotic eczema (aka asteatotic e., e. craquele or craquelatum, winter itch, pruritus hiemalis) is dry skin that becomes so serious it turns into eczema. It worsens in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most often affected. The itchy, tender skin resembles a dry, cracked, river bed. This disorder is very common among the older population. Ichthyosis is a related disorder. (L30.8A; L85.0)Seborrhoeic dermatitis or Seborrheic dermatitis ("cradle cap" in infants) is a condition sometimes classified as a form of eczema that is closely related to dandruff. It causes dry or greasy peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, and face, and sometimes trunk. The condition is

harmless except in severe cases of cradle cap. In newborns it causes a thick, yellow crusty scalp rash called cradle cap, which seems related to lack of biotin and is often curable. (L21; L21.0)

[edit]Less common eczemasDyshidrosis (aka dyshidrotic e., pompholyx, vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, housewife’s eczema) only occurs on palms, soles, and sides of fingers and toes. Tiny opaque bumps called vesicles, thickening, and cracks are accompanied by itching, which gets worse at night. A common type of hand eczema, it worsens in warm weather. (L30.1)Discoid eczema (aka nummular e., exudative e., microbial e.) is characterized by round spots of oozing or dry rash, with clear boundaries, often on lower legs. It is usually worse in winter. Cause is unknown, and the condition tends to come and go. (L30.0)Venous eczema (aka gravitational e., stasis dermatitis, varicose e.) occurs in people with impaired circulation, varicose veins and edema, and is particularly common in the ankle area of people over 50. There is redness, scaling, darkening of the skin and itching. The disorder predisposes to leg ulcers. (I83.1)Dermatitis herpetiformis (aka Duhring’s Disease) causes intensely itchy and typically symmetrical rash on arms, thighs, knees, and back. It is directly related to celiac disease, can often be put into remission with appropriate diet, and tends to get worse at night. (L13.0)Neurodermatitis (aka lichen simplex chronicus, localized scratch dermatitis) is an itchy area of thickened, pigmented eczema patch that results from habitual rubbing and scratching. Usually there is only one spot. Often curable through behavior modification and anti-inflammatory medication. Prurigo nodularis is a related disorder showing multiple lumps. (L28.0; L28.1)Autoeczematization (aka id reaction, autosensitization) is an eczematous reaction to an infection with parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses. It is completely curable with the clearance of the original infection that caused it. The appearance varies depending on the cause. It always occurs some distance away from the original infection. (L30.2)There are also eczemas overlaid by viral infections (e. herpeticum, e. vaccinatum), and eczemas resulting from underlying disease (e.g.

lymphoma). Eczemas originating from ingestion of medications, foods, and chemicals, have not yet been clearly systematized. Other rare eczematous disorders exist in addition to those listed here.

Diagnostic Tests for Eczema

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Eczema includes:

Bacterial culture - if suspect secondarily infected areas (look for pus-filled lesions, crusting and weepiness).

Viral culture - if suspect Herpes Simplex virus infected areas. Blood tests

o Radioallergosorbent testing (RAST) - to test for specific allergens that may be triggering eczema ( 90% relevant if negative, but only 20% relevant if positive).

o Ig E levels are increased Patch testing - for allergic contact dermatitis. Skin biopsy, may occasionally be warranted (but diagnosis is

usually on history and physical findings) Physical exam Skin scratch/prick tests - need careful interpretation. Blood tests for airborne allergens - often not very useful for

diagnosis. Eosinophil levels IgE levels Food diary - to watch for food allergies.