Help with eczema
What is Eczema?
Eczema... we've all heard of it and chances are you, or someone you know, suffers from it too. If you are dealing with it yourself or your child, then you know that it’s a skin problem with far-reaching consequences for the quality of life. What exactly is eczema and what can you do about it? Eczema is a common condition that causes dry and itchy patches on the skin. Eczema is a form of dermatitis. Dermatitis is a group of conditions that can cause skin inflammation. Eczema weakens your skin's barrier function. The skin’s barrier function ensures that your skin retains moisture and can protect itself against external influences. There are different types of eczema and each type has a unique trigger that can affect your skin's barrier function. Examples are atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis. It is possible to have more than one type of eczema at the same time. Eczema is not contagious, so you cannot spread eczema through personal contact. Nearly half of children with eczema outgrow the condition or see an improvement by the time they reach puberty. Unfortunately, the other half will have some form of the condition throughout their lives. Still, no cure has been found yet for eczema. It is a chronic condition and that means it can go away and come back unexpectedly. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help relieve symptoms such as dry skin and itching.
What causes eczema?
You can get eczema at any age, but symptoms usually appear during childhood. You are more likely to get eczema if family members also have it. Your immune system can also be the cause: it then overreacts to irritating substances or allergens in your environment. When you come into contact with such a trigger, your immune system assumes that these substances are foreign invaders - such as bacteria or viruses - that can harm your body. This activates your body's natural defence system. Your immune system's defence then is the formation of inflammation which in turn causes the symptoms of eczema on your skin. Your environment can also irritate your skin, for example exposure to smoke, air pollutants, harsh soaps, fabrics such as wool and some skin care products. Low humidity (such as dry air in the winter months) can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. Finally, stress and emotional triggers can also cause eczema. Your mental health can affect the health of your skin, which can trigger eczema symptoms.
Soften eczema from the outside
The first signs of eczema are itching, dry skin and a rash. This indicates that you have come into contact with a trigger in your environment that caused the symptoms to start or come back. Identifying the cause and avoiding it can reduce the likelihood of these symptoms in the future. But what do you do if you already suffer from it? Choose a 'soap without soap', so you reduce irritations due to the active substances (sulphates) that dry out the skin and strip it of its natural oils. Of course, you don't want that if your skin is already so dry. An example of this is the SKINHAPTICS Shower Gel, which does not contain sulphates (SLS) or other soaps. It is even suitable for the baby skin. If you mainly suffer from eczema on your hands, you can wash them with the Washing Care Delicate Hands from SKINHAPTICS. It contains no sulphates or soap and is also suitable for babies and children. With a nourishing and soothing product, you can intensively care for dry eczema skin, which will also reduce the itching. Examples of this are the Massage Oil from SKINHAPTICS and the HydraCycle Hydrating Body Balm from Suki. These products prevent moisture loss and lay a protective layer on the skin so that the skin barrier has time to recover.
Treating eczema from the inside out
Eczema can significantly affect the quality of life. For adolescents and adults, it often means a bad night's sleep, less self-confidence and a negative feeling about themselves in public life. For babies and children, the itch also causes less sleep, stress and painful, damaged skin due to scratching. A possible trigger can be diet or a change in lifestyle. Some foods such as peanuts, eggs, and cow's milk can trigger eczema symptoms. Consultation with an (orthomolecular) doctor or dietician can help you make healthy alternative choices. Do you want to work on your immune system to strengthen your skin barrier from the inside out? Then choose the Health Box “Immuunsysteem” from Zinergi. Here you will find all nutritional supplements for a healthy immune system, including Vegan Vitamin D3 and Deacidified Vitamin C.
