Eczema (including Dermatitis)
DO you have severe inflammation of the skin, usually with redness, swelling, oozing, crusting or scaling of the lesions which are usually itchy? Do you suffer from small vesicles or bubbles on your skin? Then you may have Eczema!
Do you know the terms Eczema and Dermatitis are generally used as similar terms for this condition? Eczema may take the form of contact dermatitis (due to skin contact with the cause) or atopic dermatitis in individuals who are "atopic" or allergic by nature. If the scalp is involved then we call it seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Dermatitis can be caused by chemicals, plants, shoes, clothing, metal compounds and even medicines used to treat dermatitis. In atopic dermatitis environmental temperature, humidity changes, bacterial skin infections and garments may all bring about dermatitis as may airborne allergens. Emotional stress may contribute to the condition. Allergic responses to skin irritants may take from a number of days to years after the first exposure to the time of re-exposure to precipitate the dermatitis.
This practical information is made available by the Allergy Centre. An Allergist can tell you if you have Eczema, what it is, why you have it, how you can be tested for it, what you can do about it, the best treatment, whether you should be desensitised, the best medication to use, the best place to seek treatment and whether you can get a cure for Eczema.
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Courtesy of The Allergy Centre 03 9874 4144
This page was last reviewed on 18th Aug 2004
