To everyone out there suffering from eczema, here's your chance to learn more about this skin condition! *Don't miss out my personal encounter with eczema! (It's at the bottom of this whole post so you have to patiently read and learn about eczema before reading my personal experience with eczema)
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a group of skin conditions that cause skin to become red, irritated, itchy, and sometimes develop small, fluid-filled bumps that become moist and ooze. There are many forms of eczema, but atopic eczema is one of the most common and severe.
In general, eczema is fairly common — approximately 1 in 10 people in the world will be affected by it at some point in their lives.
Signs and Symptoms
It can be difficult to avoid all the triggers, or irritants, that may cause or worsen eczema flare-ups. In many people, the itchy patches of eczema usually appear where the elbow bends; on the backs of the knees, ankles, and wrists; and on the face, neck, and upper chest — although any part of the body can be affected.
In an eczema flare-up, skin may feel hot and itchy at first. Then, if the person scratches, the skin may become red, inflamed, or blistered. Some people who have eczema scratch their skin so much it becomes almost leathery in texture. Others find that their skin becomes extremely dry and scaly. Even though many people have eczema, the symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person.
Can I Prevent Eczema?
Eczema can't be cured, but there are plenty of things you can do to prevent a flare-up. For facial eczema, wash gently with a non-drying facial cleanser , use a facial moisturizer that is oil-free, and apply only hypoallergenic makeup and sunscreens.
In addition:
1)Avoid substances that stress your skin. ( household cleaners, drying soaps, detergents, and fragranced lotions)
2)Say yes to cotton. Clothes made of scratchy fabric like wool can irritate your skin. Cotton clothes are a better bet.
3)Moisturize! A fragrance-free moisturizer such as petroleum jelly will prevent your skin from becoming irritated and cracked.
4)Don't scratch that itch. Even though it's difficult to resist, scratching your itch can worsen eczema and make it more difficult for the skin to heal because you can break the skin and bacteria can get in, causing an infection.
5)Keep your cool. Sudden changes in temperature, sweating, and becoming overheated may cause your eczema to kick in.
6)Take your medication. Follow your doctor's or dermatologist's directions and take your medication as directed.
7)Unwind. Stress can aggravate eczema, so try to relax.
Personal experience with the 'Itchy-E' [MUST-READ]
I've experienced eczema on my feet when I was younger and it was a really bad memory! My skin became inflamed after I scratched myself due to the itch. Eventually, both my feet became red and the pain was unbearable! T.T After the wounds on my feet healed and my little feet were no longer blistered, the skin on my feet became dry, cracked and scaly. With the skin on my feet either getting inflamed or peeling off every other day, my feet looked really ugly.
Eczema was really a traumatising experience for me back then as even visits to the doctor failed to stop the itch and inflamation on my feet. Eczema usually clears up before the age of 25, and luckily for me, this skin condition never happened to me since I entered Secondary school.
Researching for this topic has been an enriching experience for me as I finally had a chance to understand more about this childhood nightmare of mine =]
So, to all my friends out there who are stil under the evil clutches of eczema,there's good news for you — it usually clears up before the age of 25. Until then, you can learn to tune in to what triggers eczema and manage the condition. Hope this blog post can aid all of you in your fights against eczema!
-Shuyi ( ex-victim of eczema^^)
i thought about my skin
at 8:53 PM
