Home Treatments For Eczema — Marked As A Must Read

Home Treatments For Eczema – -Though there isn’t any known treatment for eczema, that fact should not dishearten us. Search for Home Treatments For Eczema at my blog

It is thought that the condition has its origin in genes we inherit from our folks. If you have eczema there is a very good likelihood that other members of your immediate family will also have the condition, or something related to eczema like hay fever, or other allergic conditions.
There are simple health tests that can be done to isolate substances that produce an allergenic reaction in the skin. This is rewarding knowledge and will help us to avoid contact with known allergens. We also have to look at our diet, as some foods may be the basis of allergic reaction. Some of the widely known ‘villains’ ( though not in everybody ), are peanuts, shellfish, eggs, oranges, lemons and even strawberries and tomatoes. Food preservatives could also play a role. Nut allergies can be really intense in some individuals and have been known to kill. In others the standard nut will lead to a flare up of eczema. Search for Home Treatments For Eczema at my blog
it has been advised that if you’re serious about getting to the bottom of your eczema you need to keep a diary of your eating habits and the state of your eczema at the same time.
Not wanting to over shed light upon, but if you eat shellfish, say once a week, which is then followed by a flare up of your eczema, try cutting out the shellfish. This is pretty much a trial-error way of approaching things nevertheless it does work.

As well as tracking down the edible triggers of eczema we should also look at external allergens.
A good tip here is to change your soaps, skin balms and shampoos etc, as you run out, with natural organic options. Hydrocarbons from auto exhausts are a good example, but even here all isn’t lost. A good natural moisturiser can offer a barrier effect against airborne chemical allergens as well as bacterial and viral invasion. I have created a blog about Eczema treatmentsSearch for Home Treatments For Eczema at my blog
It’s very important to employ a natural moisturiser regularly because extraordinarily dry skin might be the portal for bacterial or viral contagions, lots of which can on occasion be very serious. Natural eczema treatments together with common sense are 2 of the strongest weapons we possess and should not be overlooked. .

  

Symptoms of Asthma,Eczema & Rashes telling U its Allergy Season?

Preparing For Allergy & Pollen Season with Symptoms like: Asthma, Eczema, and Rashes are never fun.  We’ve got some great Statistics to share as well as Respiratory System & Immune System info to help you beat it!

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Every year, allergies cause untold suffering, incredible medical expense, and uncounted lost days from both work and school.  Accurate statistics on the financial and social impact are impossible to gather, because that type of information is only compiled for “life-threatening” diseases.  For that reason, major medical websites and journals contain conflicting statistics.

Allergic Disorders attack the respiratory and digestive systems, and occasionally the skin.  The best-known allergies are asthma, hay fever, and eczema.  Symptoms are triggered by exposure to harmless substances, such as pollen or various foods.  Skin sensitivities may develop from repeated contact with a growing list of chemicals and fragrances.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are the result of inappropriate immune responses to normally harmless substances. The key insight from this statement is that allergic reactions typically represent malfunction of the immune system.

Allergic responses vary widely, from the mild, sneezing, watery eyes and nasal congestion of “hay fever” to more severe rashes and swelling, to the most extreme and terrifying reaction: anaphylactic shock.

Background Info on Allergies

The Immune System – which includes antibodies, white blood cells, mast cells, complement proteins and other substances -  defends the body against foreign invaders (referred to as antigens).  However, in susceptible individuals, the immune system can overreact to certain types of antigens (called allergens), which are usually harmless to most people.  The result is an allergic reaction.  Some people are allergic to only one substance; others are allergic to many.  It is estimated that one third of the people in United States have some form of allergy.

It’s estimated that more than 20 million Americans suffer from Asthma.  Asthma is also very closely linked to allergies.  Allergy induced asthma is the most common form of asthma in the United States; in fact, 60% of people with asthma have the allergic type.

Even more disturbing, the incidence of asthma in children has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years. Adult an childhood asthma have increased from approximately 6.7 million cases in 1980, to 17.3 million cases in 1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  Nearly one in 13 children in the United States has asthma, and this percentage is growing faster in preschool-age children than in any other category.

Hay fever is the most common form of allergy, affecting about 30% of the population.  Starting with the pollen season, tens of millions of Americans suffer between April and late Fall, while they consume more than BILLION dollars of antihistamine and corticosteroid nasal sprays.

The FDA recall of children’s decongestant is a potent reminder that the pharmaceutical management of colds and allergies involves risk and unpredictable results.

Medscape.com is the medical reporting arm of the highly esteemed WebMD website.  Medscape’s recent review of the FDA warning stated that these children’s products have “not been shown to be safe or effective”. They go on to say that: OTC cough and cold preparations commonly include nasal decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants.  These drugs can cause serious and potentially life-threatening adverse events in young children, according to an alert sent from MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program.  Death, convulsion, rapid heart rates and decreased levels of consciousness have been reported.

Our Immune System

Before reviewing a natural and safe approach to allergy prevention and management, let’s discuss the immune cells that are involved with allergic reactions, and ponder why they over-react to harmless particles in our environment.  The humoral (or blood-based) immune system contains numerous specialized cell lines, and they choreograph an amazing array of chemical reactions.  Five-credit college classes in immunology barely scratch the surface of that complexity.  To make this process more accessible, let’s use the simple analogy of the judicial system to outline the activities of each immune cell agent.

The first cells called to the scene of any allergic response are the Macrophages.  They are like our neighborhood Policeman, roaming the “streets” of your body, investigating everything they come in contact with.  When they detect an invader, like a virus or bacteria (antigen), they signal the T-cells for assistance.

T-Cells are the Detectives of the body.  They determine if the antigen should be “arrested”.  When and if they do, they signal the B-Cells, who play the part of the Prosecuting Attorney.

The B-Cell “prepares their case,” by producing specialized proteins called immunoglobins (Ig), which then attach to the antigens like handcuffs.

Once the antigen has been “found guilty” of the crime of infection, they are surrendered to the Mast Cells, who represent the Executioners of the body.  They produce histamine, which destroys the “criminal” antigens by disrupting their cell membrane.

Once released, histamine causes airway constriction in the lung, over-production of mucous, and system-wide symptoms of pain, swelling and itching.  Histamine also stimulates the increased release of stomach acid, and overproduction of the neurotransmitters that cause muscle spasm. That’s a lot of havoc in the body!

Tune in for our next article where we’ll define what causes Immune System dysfunction and specific steps you can take to build and support YOUR Immune System so it always performs at its best.

Related Eczema Symptoms Articles

  

Portland Oregon eczema treatment

Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis is a long term itchy inflammation of the skin. It is not contagious, meaning it CAN NOT be spread through casual contact. Eczema can affect almost any area of the body, but it most often appears on the hands, arms and behind the knees. Many people who suffer from this skin condition endure flare-ups periodically and then it subsides for a time. The cause of Eczema, is as yet unknown, but many studies indicate that it results from a malfunction in the body’s immune system. The term Atopic refers to a group of diseases where it may be common to get other allergic conditions in conjunction with the primary breakout. These may be conditions such as Hay Fever and Asthma, both of which are relate to the immune system and the bodies reaction to histamines.

Eczema usually begins in early childhood, around age 5 or so, and may continue well into adulthood. The most common symptoms are dry, itchy skin and rashes on the hands, face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and even on the feet. Itching is one of the most important symptoms of Eczema. Scratching and rubbing in response to itching irritates the skin, this in turn increases the inflammation, and the increased inflammation actually increases the itchiness so the problem compounds itself. This itching really becomes a problem when the sufferer is sleeping when conscious control over scratching is lost. The effected skin may be red and scaly, feel thick and leathery, may contain small raised bumps, or even leak fluid and become crusty and infected. This damaged skin loses moisture which allows the skin become extremely dried out thus reducing its protective abilities. It is this loss of protection combined with the abnormal immune system that may lead to infections caused by Staphylococcus and other viruses or bacteria.

There are several different factors that may effect the severity of your breakout. Irritants and Allergens can aggravate your skin increasing the itch-scratch cycle and make things worse. Examples of irritants would be things that come into contact with the skin such as dish soaps, cleaning products, perfumes, ill-fitting clothes, and even cosmetics. Soaps have a drying effect on the skin and tend to make itching worse. Ill-fitting clothes can rub against your skin, causing it to become even more irritated than it already is. Allergens are more internal factors that may have an effect on breakouts. These types of breakouts are due to an irregularity in the immune system. It is not clear if these factors are due to inhalation or direct contact, but things like dander, pollen, and mold may all be contributing factors. Over time people effected with Eczema may learn what triggers their outbreaks this knowledge can help them avoid those things and help make their lives and dealing with their disease easier. Some foods may also be triggers. Allergic reactions to certain foods may cause skin inflammation which could either trigger an outbreak or worsen the one that may already be affecting your skin.

Healing the skin and keeping it healthy are important factors to remember when dealing with Eczema. Working with your local Portland Eczema Specialist will help you to developing a treatment plan that works for your particular case. Not all people are the same, thus treatments need to be tailored to fit each individual. The dermatologist will devise a plan that is based on the patient’s age, symptoms, and general health. The treatment plan developed by your Portland Dermatologist has two main goals, heal the skin and prevent future flare-ups. Treatment may include a mix of different things, topical steroid creams and ointments, oral medications and steroids, lifestyle changes and careful monitoring of what seems to have caused the last few outbreaks. While there is no cure for Eczema, the disease can be managed with proper care and a good treatment plan.

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