Major Skin Condition Usually Caused Due To Chemical Cosmetics: Eczema

Do you use cosmetic products every day?

Are you facing any issues because of your skin care product?

Chemical cosmetics are cheap and harmful for the skin.

One of the major skin condition caused due to chemical-infused cosmetics is eczema.

It is a group of skin conditions in which the skin is inflamed or irritated. The most common type is atopic dermatitis. It often inherits other allergic conditions like hay fever and asthma.

Its symptoms can be observed in the early age as well as throughout the life (on & off), but can be controlled with appropriate treatment.

The Common Symptoms

The skin being itchy is the first and foremost symptom of eczema; at times, even before the rash appears. The rash usually appears on the back of the knees, face, hands, wrists and even feet, basically all parts of the body.

The areas which are affected usually appear to be extremely dry, scaly or thickened. Individuals with fair skin suffer redness which later turns brown in color, while individuals with dark skin experience pigmentation i.e. affected area turns lighter or even darker in appearance. The rash produces oozing as well as crusting conditions in infants.

Diagnosis

It is diagnosed by either a primary care doctor, pediatrician or a dermatologist by looking at the skin of the patient and asking a set of questions because there are no particular tests developed to diagnose eczema.

Some allergy tests are performed by the health care provider to determine triggers or irritants because eczema and allergies are very much connected.

To rule out other skin irritation conditions, Doctors do the following tests:

• Skin prick testing- In this test, a needle is used (containing small amounts of a suspected allergen) to prick the skin to test for allergies that do not necessarily occur on the outer layer of the skin like pollen or food.
• Patch testing- Suspected allergen substances are placed on the outer layer of the skin to test for skin allergies and other irritants.
• Supervised food challenges- It is done to check for food allergies. So different types of foods are eliminated and then re-introduced into the diet to determine whether afood allergy is present or not.

Treatment

The main goal of the treatment is to relieve the patient from itching as it can lead to infections. Creams and lotions are recommended for the affected dry skin to keep it moist; usually when the skin is damp i.e. after bathing. Cold compresses are also used at times to relieve itching.

Prescription creams and ointments which contain corticosteroids are prescribed to lessen inflammation as well as antibiotics to kill infection-causing bacteria. Antihistamines, tar treatments, phototherapy lessens severe itching and the drug, cyclosporine, is developed for people whose condition does not respond to other treatments.

Two drugs are approved by the FDA, Elidel and Protopic, which are skin creams that alter the immune system’s response to prevent flare-ups. It has also warned healthcare providers to prescribe the drugs with caution due to possible cancer risk. The warning on the boxes advise doctors to prescribe only short-term uses and avoid possible adverse effects.

Prevent Eczema

It can be avoided or lessened by practicing the following tips:

• Reduce stress
• Moisturize frequently
• Avoid scratchy materials
• Use Skin Essential skin care products
• Avoid sweating or overheating
• Beware of foods that cause outbreaks
• Avoid sudden changes in humidity or temperature
• Avoid harsh soaps/ detergents and/ or any such solvents
• Reduce exposure to unique triggers
• Gently pat your skin dry
• Do not use artificial, chemical fragrances
• Individuals, who suffer from dust-mite allergy shall stay away from dust to avoid eczema symptoms

Why Eczema?

No one has found the exact cause of the disease, but it is often linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to an external irritant, which causes the symptoms of eczema.

It is also caused where there are defects in the skin which allows the moisture to get out and germs to get in as well as individuals with a family history of asthma or other allergies.

Flare-ups can also be caused in response to other substances or conditions like coming into contact with coarse or rough materials which cause the skin to become itchy while for some, exposure to extreme temperatures or exposure to soaps and detergents may cause an outbreak. Stress worsens the condition.

There is no permanent cure to eczema, but can be managed effectively with medical treatment and above mentioned treatments. It is not a contagious disease, so there is no fear of it spreading from person to person. It is a cyclic phenomenon i.e. it can re-appear after years if the patient stops taking care of his/ her skin; no matter for long it seemed to be cured.

Always take care of the skin!

Use Skin Essentials and avoid chemical cosmetics for skin whitening or beauty-enhancement purposes!

Do you have itching at a particular area or an irritating rash on the skin? Visit your primary care doctor now.

Do you use cosmetic products every day?

Are you facing any issues because of your skin care product?

Chemical cosmetics are cheap and harmful for the skin.

One of the major skin condition caused due to chemical-infused cosmetics is eczema.

It is a group of skin conditions in which the skin is inflamed or irritated. The most common type is atopic dermatitis. It often inherits other allergic conditions like hay fever and asthma.

Its symptoms can be observed in the early age as well as throughout the life (on & off), but can be controlled with appropriate treatment.

The Common Symptoms

The skin being itchy is the first and foremost symptom of eczema; at times, even before the rash appears. The rash usually appears on the back of the knees, face, hands, wrists and even feet, basically all parts of the body.

The areas which are affected usually appear to be extremely dry, scaly or thickened. Individuals with fair skin suffer redness which later turns brown in color, while individuals with dark skin experience pigmentation i.e. affected area turns lighter or even darker in appearance. The rash produces oozing as well as crusting conditions in infants.

Diagnosis

It is diagnosed by either a primary care doctor, pediatrician or a dermatologist by looking at the skin of the patient and asking a set of questions because there are no particular tests developed to diagnose eczema.

Some allergy tests are performed by the health care provider to determine triggers or irritants because eczema and allergies are very much connected.

To rule out other skin irritation conditions, Doctors do the following tests:

• Skin prick testing- In this test, a needle is used (containing small amounts of a suspected allergen) to prick the skin to test for allergies that do not necessarily occur on the outer layer of the skin like pollen or food.
• Patch testing- Suspected allergen substances are placed on the outer layer of the skin to test for skin allergies and other irritants.
• Supervised food challenges- It is done to check for food allergies. So different types of foods are eliminated and then re-introduced into the diet to determine whether afood allergy is present or not.

 

Treatment

The main goal of the treatment is to relieve the patient from itching as it can lead to infections. Creams and lotions are recommended for the affected dry skin to keep it moist; usually when the skin is damp i.e. after bathing. Cold compresses are also used at times to relieve itching.

Prescription creams and ointments which contain corticosteroids are prescribed to lessen inflammation as well as antibiotics to kill infection-causing bacteria. Antihistamines, tar treatments, phototherapy lessens severe itching and the drug, cyclosporine, is developed for people whose condition does not respond to other treatments.

Two drugs are approved by the FDA, Elidel and Protopic, which are skin creams that alter the immune system’s response to prevent flare-ups. It has also warned healthcare providers to prescribe the drugs with caution due to possible cancer risk. The warning on the boxes advise doctors to prescribe only short-term uses and avoid possible adverse effects.

Prevent Eczema

It can be avoided or lessened by practicing the following tips:

• Reduce stress
• Moisturize frequently
• Avoid scratchy materials
• Use Skin Essential skin care products
• Avoid sweating or overheating
• Beware of foods that cause outbreaks
• Avoid sudden changes in humidity or temperature
• Avoid harsh soaps/ detergents and/ or any such solvents
• Reduce exposure to unique triggers
• Gently pat your skin dry
• Do not use artificial, chemical fragrances
• Individuals, who suffer from dust-mite allergy shall stay away from dust to avoid eczema symptoms

Why Eczema?

No one has found the exact cause of the disease, but it is often linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to an external irritant, which causes the symptoms of eczema.

It is also caused where there are defects in the skin which allows the moisture to get out and germs to get in as well as individuals with a family history of asthma or other allergies.

Flare-ups can also be caused in response to other substances or conditions like coming into contact with coarse or rough materials which cause the skin to become itchy while for some, exposure to extreme temperatures or exposure to soaps and detergents may cause an outbreak. Stress worsens the condition.

There is no permanent cure to eczema, but can be managed effectively with medical treatment and above mentioned treatments. It is not a contagious disease, so there is no fear of it spreading from person to person. It is a cyclic phenomenon i.e. it can re-appear after years if the patient stops taking care of his/ her skin; no matter for long it seemed to be cured.

Always take care of the skin!

Use Skin Essentials and avoid chemical cosmetics for skin whitening or beauty-enhancement purposes!

Do you have itching at a particular area or an irritating rash on the skin? Visit your primary care doctor now.