Coping with Eczema

"Eczema" may sound like an exotic species of bird or plant. But for people who suffer from this skin problem, it's an irritating, itchy, all-too-familiar rash. Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, can occur at any age, with varying amounts of severity.

"In mild forms, the skin is dry, hot and itchy," says Joshua L. Fox, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Severe forms of eczema result in "broken, raw and bleeding skin. Patients may become so uncomfortable they could suffer from sleep deprivation and uncontrollable itching." Although it is not contagious, Fox says eczema makes the sufferer more prone to skin infections such as herpes or impetigo, a skin irritation characterized by fluid-filled blisters.

Eczema is most frequently located on the face, wrists, hands and feet, and on the insides of elbows and knees. Judy Hutt, a naturopath in Tucson, Arizona, notes that eczema tends to occur in families with a history of asthma or hay fever. And stress can exacerbate eczema.

Traditional medical treatments for eczema include

Topical and oral steroids. A health care practitioner may use ultraviolet rays to treat eczema, or may recommend over-the-counter medications such as emollient creams. Sufferers should avoid irritants such as abrasive cleansers and astringents because these products contain ingredients that can dry the skin.

"An inside and outside approach leads to the best results," says Hutt. "Many eczema patients have been told for years that it didn't matter what they ate, but scientific research has begun to validate what has been the premise of natural medicine:

It most certainly matters what you eat." Among the most common food allergies that can trigger eczema are cow's milk, dairy products, eggs, soy, wheat, oats, rye, barley, citrus and nuts. "Often, food allergies are underdiagnosed or missed altogether because the reaction may not be immediate. But instead many people have a delayed reaction, typically ranging from 5 to 72 hours," Hutt says. "The best way to determine if there is an allergy to a food is to take it out of your diet for at least 3 weeks, and then reintroduce it." Watch how your skin responds to this experiment. Within 3 weeks, you might see partial improvement; however, it may take up to 3 months of avoiding an offending food to completely clear it from your system.

Last updated Jan 4/07