What Is Eczema?
How to cure eczema permanently, or can you? This in-depth article will let you know how to manage your eczema properly. Eczema, which originates from the Greek word “ekzein” which means to “boil over” or “break out”, is a chronic skin condition that is caused by an overactive immune system, and it causes patches on the skin that are itchy, cracked, rough and inflamed. Usually triggered by certain foods such as milk and nuts, or elements in the environment such as smoke, soaps, fragrances, pollen, some eczema can also cause blisters.
There are many different types of eczema, such as dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, stasis dermatitis, contact dermatitis and neurodermatitis, but the most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis or simply “atopy” or “atopic eczema”. In “dermatitis”, the “derm” means “skin” and “itis” means “inflammation.” The word “dermatitis” refers to “inflammation of the skin.”
How Common Is Eczema?
About 10.1%, or 31.6 million Americans have some form of atopic eczema. Eczema affects one out of every ten people at some point in life, but most cases occur before adulthood, mostly in early childhood.
About 9.6 million American kids younger than 18 years old have atopic dermatitis, and three out of four have some form of mild eczema. Since 1997, the occurrence of childhood atopic dermatitis has increased steadily from 8% to 12%. But this is not only a childhood disease, as about 1 in 4 adults reported initial eczema symptoms.
This medical condition affects both men and women equally, though it has been found to be more common in adult females than males, occurs more frequently in multiracial or white adults and affects more African-American/black children and European-American children than Hispanic children. The disease is also most commonly found among individuals who have a personal or familial history of asthma, environmental allergens, and/or food allergies.
What Are the Causes of Eczema?
Though there are not many exact reports on the causes of atopic eczema, researchers believe a combination of genes and triggers are the two most important contributors to the disease.
Some research has shown that people who suffer from eczema may be missing one particular gene that creates a protein called filaggrin that is used to help our bodies maintain a healthy protective barrier on the top skin layer. Without that, moisture can escape and bacteria and viruses can enter the skin, making the skin dry and prone to infections.
Eczema sufferers also have an overly reactive immune response system which triggers inflammation whenever something outside or inside their bodies comes into contact with them. It is this inflammation that causes the red, itchy and scaly skin symptoms and skin infections common to most types of eczema.
Stress can also cause an increase in the hormone cortisol in your body, and your skin can then become abnormally oily and trigger an eczema outbreak.
General Eczema Symptoms
The symptoms of atopic eczema varies from one patient to another. It may be milder than others’ conditions, but it can affect anyone regardless of their age. Some patients outgrow the condition, while others will continue to have it throughout their lives.
The common symptoms of eczema are redness and itching on scaly, dry skin. Sometimes, your sensitive skin can even feel some burning, or there could be some open, crusted or weeping sores in cases of severe eczema.
Eczema rashes usually look white but they can sometimes be grey or brownish too, especially in people of colour, making such outbreaks harder to see, though they may also get dark or light skin patches even after eczema symptoms disappear. These patches are called hyperpigmentation (skin become darker in colour due to an excess of melanin), depigmentation (colour loss in the skin, hair or eyes due to the deposition of melanin) or hypopigmentation (white patches on the skin due to vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder in which the pigment-producing cells are damaged).
For infants under the age of two, eczema symptoms can include rashes on the scalp, cheeks, and behind the creases of elbows and knees that can cause itchiness and keep the babies crying and irritated.
Those who had eczema when they were young might not be affected by it anymore, but could still suffer from dry or easily irritated skin, hand eczema, or even eczema on their eyes.
Stages of Eczema
Eczema can usually be divided into three stages:
(1) Chronic Stage
Eczema usually starts during infancy and it is most likely to happen before they are 12 months old. However, sometimes it occurs later in childhood. Eczema usually disappears without treatment but occasionally flares up again later in life. Childhood eczema often improves with time.
(2) Acute Stage
Acute eczema is usually a result of a skin sensitivity to irritants or triggers such as allergens, chemicals or fabrics. You might notice a skin irritation immediately following contact, or your skin could heal in a few weeks as it clears up.
(3) Sub-Acute Stage
During the healing period, eczema often flares back up and if it is not treated with care, it may become worse than before. Stress and hormones can also lead to flare-up. However, it is unlikely that the rash will come back into full force.
Diagnosis
There is no need for laboratory tests to diagnose eczema. A dermatologist may examine your skin and review your medical records before making an official diagnosis. They might also test for allergies by using allergy patches or arrange for blood tests.
If you think a particular food may be causing your child’s skin condition, talk to your pediatrician about testing for specific foods.
How To Cure Eczema Permanently, or Can You?
How do you cure eczema permanently? There is currently no permanent known cure for eczema, but some children, if they have eczema during their childhood, do outgrow the disease. Others continue to have flare-ups and remissions for life.
When you get eczema, it is important to work closely with your dermatologist for a plan to control the itch, heal the skin, prevent further eczema flare and infections.
Treatment varies depending on your age, medical history, the severity of your symptoms, among other factors. It may take some time for you to see positive changes in your skin. There are some things you need to do yourself if you want to keep your skin healthy, such as keeping your body and skin clean.
Medications for Eczema
- Emollients
Emollients are moisturising products that are used to hydrate dry and itchy skin, mostly for mild to moderate eczema. It is to be applied directly to the skin to reduce water loss and help reduce flare-ups.
If prescribed by your doctor, it is important to use your emollient daily, even if you do not have the symptoms. Gently pat your skin dry and apply the emollient while your skin is still moist, in order to maintain the moisture. When treating an active flare up, use a generous amount of emollient frequently, though inflamed skin should be treated with a topical corticosteroid too.
- Hydrocortisone Steroids
Your dermatologist may prescribe certain medications for your eczema, such as corticosteroid creams, solutions, gels, foams and ointments. Made with hydrocortisone steroids, these medications, from mild over-the-counter treatments to stronger prescription medicines, can swiftly relieve you of itching and inflammation.
Side effects from these medications are rare when you use the medicines as directed, but symptoms such as thinning skin and stretch marks have been reported.
- Crisaborole (Eucrasia)
Crisaborole (Eucrasia), a prescription topical steroid cream for treating mild to moderate cases of atopic dermatitis, may be an effective treatment option. Applied twice daily to patients 2 years and older, it has been proven to be effective in reducing inflammation on the skin.
- Phototherapy
Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to treat moderate to severe cases of eczema. UV radiation also help to tame an overly reactive immune system, though too much of it can lead to skin aging faster or an increase in the risk for skin cancer. Hence, doctors usually start by giving patients the lowest possible doses of UV light and then monitor their reactions closely.
There are two types of phototherapy: light therapy and PUVA therapy. In the former, your skin will get exposed to UVA rays, UVB rays or a combination of both two to five times weekly, while for the latter, you take psoralen, a prescription medication that makes the skin more sensitive to UVA light. This medication is mainly for patients with no results from just UV therapy.
- Dupixent
Dupixent (dupilumab) can be injected into adult eczema patients with moderate to severe forms of the disease. This drug is used particularly in patients whose eczema is not controlled adequately by topical therapies, or where such topical therapies are not advisable.
- Immunosuppressant Drugs
An alternative treatment for eczema is immunosuppressive medications, which slow down immune reactions in cases where they are needed most. This treatment is used mostly for moderate to severe eczema as they can be used to help stop the itchy symptoms of eczema so that the skin can heal properly.
- Antihistamines
Antihistamines, which are often used to treat allergic conditions, may also be helpful for reducing the occurrence of eczema. These medicines may be helpful for preventing itching caused by skin conditions, particularly when they occur in children.
- Allergy Shots
For severe allergies that don’t respond well to medications, a doctor may recommend allergen immunotherapy, or “ allergy shots .” These shots are composed of small amounts of the substances to which you’re allergic.
If you suffer from severe allergies that do not seem to be responding to medication, then an allergist might suggest allergen immunotherapy, or “allergy shots” that contain small amounts of the substances that you are allergic to, to help build immunity to your allergen triggers so that you experience fewer flare-ups.
Top Natural Remedies for Eczema
How to cure eczema permanently? Well, this may not be possible for now as there is no known cure for eczema, but you can certainly manage your condition better with these treatments and remedies.
- Natural Treatments
Natural treatments can be used together with eczema medications to better manage your condition. Natural products, including aloe vera gel, olive oil, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, or even Zinda Tilismath, an ancient herbal medicine, can help soothe cracked, damaged skin. These products can help fight inflammation and harmful bacteria to relieve pain and prevent infections. Although they cannot cure eczema permanently, they can help better manage your symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
You can purchase these natural products in health stores or online stores, or you can also just buy an aloe vera plant and use the gel directly from its leaves. As much as possible, try to use such natural products with as few ingredients as possible, as ingredients such as preservatives, alcohol, fragrances or colours may irritate your skin too. Dab a small amount on your skin to test for sensitivity, and then use it sparingly in the first few days to ensure you are not allergic to it before using it with the normal dosage.
- Internal Herbs
You can also consider using quercetin and freeze-dried stinging nettles, which are non-sedating and safe antihistamines, for itching and inflammation. Severe eczema sufferers can use licorice extract as it is a natural cortisol, although it is recommended to talk to your doctor as it may increase your blood pressure.
- Vitamin D
Research have shown that eczema patients tend to have low levels of vitamin D, so it is important for eczema sufferers to increase their sun exposure, include vitamin D rich foods such as tuna fish, beef liver, salmon, eggs and sardines in their diet, or take a vitamin D supplement daily.
- Oatmeal Baths
Natural home remedies such as oatmeal baths can sometimes help soothe the itchiness and infections on your skin. Use warm water or lukewarm water to fill a tub. Sprinkle about 1 cup of oatmeal (rolled and uncooked whole oats) into the water-filled tub. You can choose to rub yourself lightly with a mild soap if needed. Although it is not necessary, it is recommended to finely ground the oats before use. Then soak for about 10 to 15 minutes. After the bath, gently pat yourself dry, and while your skin is still damp, apply a natural moisturiser such as honey, olive oil or aloe vera and keep warm with a towel for a while thereafter.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique may be effective for treating eczema. Although there is not actually enough evidence yet to recommend acupuncture treatment specifically for eczema, a recent research in 2021 shows that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for food allergy and eczema, with the ability to reduce skin itching, allergic reaction and wheal size in atopic dermatitis. Another study in 2018 shows that acupuncture significantly improves symptoms of eczema such as insomnia, itchiness and the quality of life.
Acupuncture may help stimulate several body systems, especially the nervous and immune systems to help restore balance, the skin barrier, lower inflammation, reduce discomfort and encourage healing in the body.
Self Care
Besides the above treatment methods and medications, there are some things that you can do to help ease your symptoms and prevent further outbreaks and eczema flare-ups.
- Do Not Scratch the Itchy Areas
One of the most painful problems of eczema is that it can often become very itchy and you will be very tempted to scratch the affected areas on the skin. But note that doing so will cause the disease to worsen, and you will damage your skin, causing it to thicken and become leathery, or you could even suffer from bleeding.
To reduce the possible of scratching yourself frequently, keep your nails short and clean, wear long-sleeved clothes and try to rub your skin gently with your fingers, and for babies, anti-scratch mittens may stop them from scratching their skin.
- Avoid Triggers
Common triggers of atopic eczema can include irritants such as fabrics, soaps and detergents such as shampoo, washing liquid, petroleum jelly and bubble bath, food allergies, environmental triggers such as cold and dry weather, cigarette smoke, or allergens such as house dust mites, pet fur, pollen and moulds.
It is best if you could work with a doctor or dermatologist to establish what might trigger your eczema flare as you can then try to avoid the triggers. For instance, if you found out that certain fabrics cause your skin to flare up, you can avoid wearing such fabrics. If you found that a certain type of shampoo may affect your skin, switch to another brand.
Eczema may sometimes be triggered by emotional stress, but there isn’t any specific reason for this. For some people, stress makes their eczema symptoms worsen; for others, simply knowing they have eczema might cause them to feel stressed.
- Dietary Changes
Certain foods, including eggs and cow’s milk, may cause an allergic reaction, which could lead to skin irritation and eczema. However, it is wise to consult a doctor first before you avoid these foods, especially as young children may need the nutrients from these foods.
Conclusion
A lifelong condition for some, eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that may cause you discomfort but it does not usually require medical attention unless severe. It varies in severity depending on various factors. How to cure eczema permanently then? There is no permanent cure for now, as we have discussed above. However, you can manage the symptoms effectively with the help of your doctor or dermatologist, plus a combination of medications, natural treatments, home remedies, lifestyle and dietary changes.
