Eczema Overview

Eczema is term derived from Greek and means "boiling." The name is particularly apt since the ancient physicians it may have shown that the skin was "boiling." Today, the use is rather vague because it is often used to describe any form of dermatitis (inflammatory skin disease). Not all eczema is dermatitis. eczematous dermatitis all have a similar appearance. Acute lesions are composed of many small fluid-filled structures called vesicles who ordinarily reside in the skin red, swollen. When these structures the brake fluid leaking, causing characteristic weeping and oozing. When the liquid dries, it produces a thin crust. In older lesions, these vesicles may be more difficult to appreciate, but a study of the tissue under the microscope to reveal their presence. eczematous dermatitis has many causes. One of the most common is a condition called atopic dermatitis. Often those who use the term eczema refers to atopic dermatitis.

Although atopy means a life. hereditary (genetic) susceptibility to inhaled allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis is an allergic disease. Atopic patients are prone to asthma, hay fever and dermatitis. Atopy is a common condition and affects all races and ages, including children. Approximately 1% -2% of adults have skin rashes, and is even more common in children. Most affected individuals have their first episode before age 5. For most, the disease gets better with time. For a bit of luck, atopic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent.

Other eczematous dermatoses, including but not limited to, allergic contact dermatitis (cell-mediated allergy to a common substance like poison oak or nickel) irritant contact dermatitis (from excessive contact with a chemical), the fungal infections, scabies infestation, stasis dermatitis, cutaneous xerosis, pompholyx (dyshidrosis), nummular dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis. The differentiation between these conditions is often difficult and time consuming. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for atopic dermatitis eczema dermatitis coexist with others.