Eczema: The Itch That Keeps On Itching

You would probably agree with me when I say that Eczema has become more prevalent today than it was years ago. I remember back in my college days when only a few individuals, including myself, suffer from a recurrent or chronic skin rash that is usually located on skin folds and which was diagnosed to be "Skin Asthma."

It initially appears as a contact dermatitis of some sort. The skin area would be red and some small, elevated rash will appear. It's not all over the body, though. The rash occurs in patches over skin folds--like the antecubital space (space opposite the elbow where they draw your blood from), or the back of the knees. They often also come up in and around the armpit area or on an area over the legs. Some babies would also appear to have it as diaper rash.

Today, most of those who present with these symptoms are diagnosed to have "Eczema". This condition is a form of chronic inflammation of the skin. The term eczema actually refers to a set of clinical characteristics. Classification has been unsystematic, but the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) published a position paper in 2001 which simplifies the nomenclature of allergy-related diseases including atopic and allergic contact eczemas. The most common classification include:

• Atopic dermatitis -- an allergic disease believed to have hereditary components and often runs in families whose members also have asthma. An itchy rash is particularly noticeable on the head and scalp, inside of elbows, back of knees, head and scalp, and buttocks.
• Contact dermatitis -- caused by an allergen or irritant. This condition is reversible, so long as the causative substance is avoided or removed from one's environment.
• Xerotic eczema -- a condition very common in older population, it is characterized by dry skin that becomes so serious it turns into eczema. It worsens in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most often affected.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis -- is a condition sometimes classified as a form of eczema that is closely related to dandruff. It presents as a dry or greasy peeling of the scalp, eyebrows, and face, and sometimes trunk. This condition is harmless except in severe cases of cradle cap in infants.

Insufficient (and dangerous) Topical Management

The cause of Eczema is unknown and over the years treatment has been geared to controlling the symptoms by relieving inflammation. The most common form of treatment is the use of corticosteroids over the areas that present the symptoms. Corticosteroids were found to bring about rapid improvements topically, but this form of management have greater side effects.

Prolonged use of topical corticosteroids is thought to increase the risk of side effects, the most common of which is the skin becoming thin and fragile (atrophy). High-strength corticosteroids used over a large area in the body may become absorbed and cause an immunosuppressive action which further leads to other major skin infections.

This is something parents of today should be well-informed about because as many more cases of Eczema comes up in society at present, most of those affected belong to the younger population. Caution must always be used as long-term and prolonged widespread coverage of corticosteroids can create side effects that are permanent and resistant to treatment.

Eczema simply doesn't go away with just topical management. It takes care of the symptoms of itching and inflammation but it will not prevent the recurrence of it at a later time.

Hope for the Itch

With the help of modern research findings, Eczema sufferers find it a blessing to know that there is actually hope for long-term relief for the condition. Although further studies still need to be made, recent research has shown that Eczema is more than just skin deep. 

The condition that afflicts many is actually more of a systemic immunological response to toxins and antigen within the body.  The most significant research finding in relation to Eczema is that of a person's immune health from the gut. This missing link has been found when research on infants and newborns revealed that there is a lower risk of developing Eczema in those who are breastfed by moms taking probiotics. 

Antibodies are handed over to babies during breastfeeding and they initially attributed the immune health of babies to this. But research findings show that it was significantly different when it comes to moms taking probiotics while breastfeeding. The reason being is that these probiotics help develop gut health which in turn help boost the immune system's ability to ward off irritants.

Gut Health begins Here
I want to end this post with a recommendation for a probiotic that I personally trust. Gut health is not just about replenishing good bacteria, but also about managing the condition that wrecks havoc to the environment of the gut in the first place. A probiotic that only replenishes the gut community is doing just HALF the work it needs to heal the gut. Without natural enzymes and components that help manage the fungal overgrowth of Candida, there will be no way out of the vicious cycle of impaired gut health.

Click on the image below to learn more about a probiotic that I personally love and trust because of it's two-part, specifically targeted approach to gut health.

Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23083673
http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/02232012probiotics-help-prevent-eczema/