Eczema Treatment In Vancouver BC
Commonly known as dermatitis, eczema is an umbrella term for a group of skin conditions that tend to make it itchy, inflamed, or have a rash-like appearance. It is more common in kids, but can also occur in almost every one-in-five adults. Generally, any eczema’s severity and appearance can be categorized as acute, subacute, or chronic, depending on how long they last. However, it mostly occurs as a chronic condition that reoccurs irregularly. It is not a contagious disease, and you can’t be affected by someone who has eczema. Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, being a family physician with much experience is treating dermal conditions like eczema, suggests that diagnosing the right type of eczema is crucial for its treatment.
What Are The Types Of Eczema?
There are several types of eczema cases that can occur during childhood, adulthood, or old age. Some of the most commonly occurring types of eczema include:
Atopic Dermatitis: This is an inherited form of eczema caused by the immune system and mostly occurs from childhood.
Contact Dermatitis: This is the next stage of untreated atopic dermatitis where the skin becomes extremely sensitive and flares up when exposed to friction, harsh chemicals, or even water.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Here, the affected skin reacts to specific substances that are otherwise harmless, such as perfume, nickel, or rubber objects.
Infective Dermatitis: It mostly occurs in children and is caused by both fungal and bacterial infections.
Seborrheic Dermatitis: It is believed to be caused by a yeast (fungus) that secretes an irritant which makes the skin scaly and dry. It mostly affects the scalp, face, or parts with more oil glands.
Nummular Dermatitis: It often occurs as round, scattered patches of irritated skin over a healed wound. It is also called discoid eczema.
Stasis Dermatitis: A chronic eczema condition that occurs on the inner area of the lower legs and is associated with varicose veins.
What Are The Symptoms Of Eczema?
Since the types of eczema vary, their symptoms also vary widely and appear anywhere over the body. Some of the symptoms common amongst these types include:
- Dry skin patches that are severely itchy
- Thickened or cracked skin patches
- Red or brown patches
- Small, raised bumps or blisters with pus
- Raw, sensitive, swollen skin that worsens by scratching
- Severe rashes on the scalp and cheeks in infants
What Are The Causes Of Eczema?
Any type of eczema has no definite cause, and like many other skin conditions, it is believed to occur due to certain genetic or environmental factors. Children mostly likely inherit this condition from their parents, while adults may develop it due to autoimmune or DNA mutations. Some factors can trigger and bring out eczema symptoms and even worsen it. Some of these factors may include:
- Chemical skin products such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, disinfectants, etc.
- Allergic organisms, such as dust mites, pollens, molds, etc.
- Infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and certain fungi
- Extreme temperatures, humidity, or sweating
How Does Dr. E Appraoch Eczema Treatment?
Fortunately, most eczema symptoms are easily manageable with personalized eczema or dermatitis treatment. Though eczema cannot be cured completely, Dr. Ebrahim is well known for her medical esthetic approach, which helps reduce the visible signs and overall symptoms of eczema significantly. After diagnosing your eczema type and its outbreak patterns, Dr. Ebrahim will guide you throughout your eczema treatment with the right combination of topical medicines, antibiotics, antihistamines, and oral medications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis different?
Eczema is an umbrella term that means ‘inflammation of the skin.’ All skin conditions cause itching, redness, discoloration, or blister on the skin are considered eczema condition. Atopic dermatitis is a severe and chronic form of eczema.
Where Does Eczema Most Commonly Occur?
Eczema can occur in any region of the skin, but it is most commonly observed on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, face, or scalp, and areas where the skin folds, like the inner elbow, belly button, groin area, etc.
Can Certain Foods Cause Eczema?
There is no evidence of any food product causing eczema conditions. However, it has been observed that certain foods, such as milk products, eggs, or nuts, can trigger eczema symptoms, and avoiding them seems to reduce the symptoms to some extent.