Eczema is a skin condition that you hear mentioned more and more. The various types and stages of it impact 31.6 percent of all individuals living in the U.S. today. Eczema shows as patches of the skin and will be itchy, inflamed, cracked, red, and rough. While it is possible to simply outgrow eczema as one matures, others suffer with it all of their adult lives as well. There are many things that can be triggers but people find that diet can be a main cause. Avoiding triggering foods is imperative to managing symptoms. Likewise, the following foods can be eczema relievers.

Causes of Eczema

Doctors and the medical sciences do not know what causes eczema specifically. They believe that it happens because of a variety of combined environmental and genetic factors. The good news is that eczema is not contagious. 

Children have a higher chance of contracting it when one or both parents have suffered from eczema or another form of atopic disease. When both of the parents have the atopic condition, then the risk becomes significantly higher. There is a range of environmental factors that cause eczema symptoms. These include the following:

• Allergens - like pollen, dust mites, dandruff, and mold can cause it
• Irritants - including disinfectants, detergents, soaps, shampoos, fresh fruit juices, vegetables, or meat can trigger it
• Microbes - eczema can be set off by viruses, some fungi, and Staphylococcus aureus
• Foods - including eggs, dairy items, seeds, nuts, wheat, and soy products lead to eczema flare ups
• Cold and hot temperatures - low and high humidity, extremely cold or hot weather, and sweat from exercising all trigger eczema
• Stress - makes existing symptoms worse
• Hormones - women often suffer worse symptoms when their hormone levels shift as in the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy

Types of Eczema

Eczema is actually a skin condition. When this occurs, patches of the skin will be itchy, inflamed, cracked, red, and rough. Blisters can appear as well. When people utilize the word eczema, they are most frequently referring to atopic dermatitis, which proves to be the most commonly appearing form of eczema. While it is possible to simply outgrow eczema as one matures, others suffer with it all of their adult lives as well. 

A variety of kinds of eczema exist. Atopic dermatitis proves to be the most frequently occurring in the United States. The names of the other include the following:

• Dyshidrotic eczema
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Neurodermatitis
• Seborrheic eczema
• Nummular eczema
• Stasis dermatitis

Symptoms of Eczema

There are a range of atopic dermatitis symptoms from eczema. The differences come down to the age of the individual suffering from it. Infants most often suffer from the atopic dermatitis. This causes scaly and dry patches on their skin, which itch terribly. The majority of individuals contract atopic dermatitis before turning five years old. Around half of children suffering from it will continue to experience it when they become adults. 

Yet their symptoms will change when they become adults. Individuals with eczema will commonly find that their symptoms occasionally worsen. There will also be times when the symptoms clear up and improve. 

Infants under two years old have the following eczema symptoms:

• Rashes form on cheeks and scalp
• They bubble up then start to leak
• The resulting itchiness is so severe that infants may not be able to sleep
• Scratching them continuously can cause skin infections very easily

When children pass two years of age, they commonly suffer different symptoms through puberty age. The rashes will more often appear behind knees or elbows. They can also be common on ankles, wrists, neck, and in skin between the legs and the butt. The rashes often turn bumpy, darken or lighten in their color, and can thicken. Such knotting sores cause a permanently occurring itch. 

Adults have their own specific set of symptoms from which they suffer. The rashes will often cover a great part of the body. They tend to be most noticeable around eyes, the face, and on the neck. Elbows, knees, and the nape of the neck are other places they may occur. 

The rashes will lead to extremely dry skin and a permanent itch. Adult rashes are commonly scalier than with children's eczema. Skin infections commonly result. Even those adults who outgrow eczema from their childhood may still suffer from hand eczema, skin that is easily irritated, and eye problems. 

It is important not to scratch the eczema sores. This only serves to further aggravate the skin, raise inflammation, and make them itch more. How bad the eczema appears comes down to how much the individual scratches the places and whether or not the skin becomes infected. 

Foods That Can Help With Eczema

These foods can help with your eczema symptoms by providing anti-inflammatory effects.

• Fatty Fish
• Foods containing Quercetin (like apples, blueberries, cherries, broccoli, spinach and kale)
• Probiotics (like sourdough bread, fermented foods, yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut)

Foods To Avoid If You're Dealing with Eczema

Eczema is often associated with allergies, specifically allergies to certain foods. If you have eczema, you should avoid these foods as they could be contributing to your body's reaction.

• Dairy
• Eggs
• Soy Products
• Gluten
• Nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish

Treatments for Eczema

Unfortunately, no known cure for eczema exists today. The goal with treatment is to heal up the places in the skin that are impacted and to stop symptoms from flaring up again. Doctors consider the victim's age, existing state of health, and symptoms when they put together a treatment regimen. Some individuals are fortunate that the eczema just goes away on its own in time. Others suffer with treating its symptoms for the rest of their lives.

Home Remedies

Home care for eczema offers a range of things sufferers can do to encourage milder symptoms and healthier skin. These include the following: 

• Avoid Hot Baths
• Moisturize daily, and in three minutes or less following a bath or shower
• Wear only soft fabrics like cotton, while religiously avoiding scratchy and rough fibers or tight clothing
• Wash with only a non-soap cleaner or a mild soap
• Gently towel dry or better yet air dry after a bath or shower
• Avoid rapid temperature changes and sweat causing activities
• Use a humidifier when the weather is dry or cold
• Avoid your personal eczema triggers
• Maintain short fingernails so you don't break open the skin if you scratch

Medication Treatments

A few medications are available for doctors to prescribe for the symptoms caused by eczema. These include the following:

• Ointments and topical corticosteroid creams - Anti-inflammatory medicines like these will take away the worst eczema symptoms like itchiness and inflammation of the skin. You apply these right on your skin.
  
• Antibiotics - Doctors will prescribe these if the eczema co-occurs with a bacterial infection of the skin.
  
• Systemic corticosteroids - When topical treatments do not work, doctors can also prescribe these systemic treatments. You can take them orally or through injection, though they may only be utilized for shorter time frames when symptoms are worse.
  
• Anti-fungal and antiviral medicines - These treat fungus and viral infections which arise.
  
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors - This is a drug that works to suppress the immune system's activities. It will reduce inflammation while assisting in stopping other flare ups.
  
• Antihistamines - These will decrease the risk of scratching during the night and cause drowsiness so work best at night.
  
• Barrier repair moisturizers - These help with repairing the skin and diminishing loss of water from it.
  
• Phototherapy - Centers on ultraviolet A or B wave exposure either together or separately. The doctor will monitor your skin closely. It is often utilized for treating moderate levels of dermatitis
  

While eczema cannot be treated today, a treatment plan appropriate to the experienced symptoms should be established. Once a part of the skin has improved, you should still watch it closely. It could suffer from another flare-up relatively easily.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author. This content has not been paid for by any advertiser nor does Answer.Expert recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. This article is provided for informational purposes only. Answer.Expert does not provide professional advice of any kind. You should seek guidance from your medical, financial, legal, or other professional representative with any questions you many have about your personal situation.