Scratching the surface... of Eczema skin problems

Food based allergies (such as nuts, dairy, gluten, sulphites, eggs, seafood, fruits, seeds, soy, legumes & wheat - to name the most common) are not the only ailments that people commonly suffer from now a days.
People suffer from non-food based allergies to chemicals, wildlife, metal and plants. Pollen, dust, ragweed, crabgrass and mold. Some suffer from asthma and some suffer from skin allergies and irritants.

Speaking of skin irritants... doesn't anyone talk about eczema anymore?

Eczema is a general term for any type of dermatitis or “itchy rash”. There are several skin diseases that are eczema's all causing itching, redness and some will blister, weep or peel. It typically affects the insides of the elbows, backs of the knees, and the face but can cover most of the body.

It affects approximately 15% of infants and children and 3% of adults in the U.S.  It almost always begins in childhood, usually during infancy. Physicians estimate that 65 percent of eczema patients are diagnosed in the first year of life and 90 percent of patients experience it before age five.

The medical term for Eczema is Atopic dermatitis, it falls into a category of diseases called atopy, a term originally used to describe the allergic conditions asthma and hay fever.

This is because it often affects people who either suffer from asthma and/or hay fever or have family members who do; but now have been genetically connected. Physicians often refer to these three diseases as the “atopy triad”.

Here is a partial list of the most common strains of eczema's:

• contact dermatitis
  Contact dermatitis is a reaction that can occur when the skin comes in contact with certain substances, which can cause skin inflammation. Irritants are substances that cause burning, itching or redness. Common irritants include solvents, industrial chemicals, detergents, fumes, tobacco smoke, paints, bleach, woollen fabrics, acidic foods, astringents and other alcohol (excluding cetyl alcohol) containing skin care products, and some soaps and fragrances.
• dyshidrotic eczema
  This is a blistering type of eczema, which is twice as common in women. It is limited to the fingers, palms and soles of the feet. Your hands may have itchy, scaly patches of skin that flake constantly or become red cracked and painful.
• nummular eczema
  Dry skin in the winter months can cause dry non-itchy round patches. It can affect any part of the body particularly the lower leg. One or many patches appear, and may persist for weeks or months. Discoid eczema does not run in families, and unlike atopic dermatitis, it is not associated with asthma. It does not result from food allergy.
• seborrheic dermatitis
  Red, scaly, itchy rash in various locations on the body. The scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids, and the skin behind the ears and middle of the chest are the most common areas affected.

It is very hard dealing with any kind of allergy, but skin ailments as well. I have 'friends' that have to comment on my scratching every chance they get like it's some kind of way to distinguish who I am when its dark out. Eczema is frustrating, embarrassing and stressful and shouldn't be laughed at. Most medications only aid in symptom relief and don't help to heal the problem. It's hard dealing with 2-4 different allergies along with adding eczema into the mix.

For more information about skin allergies and eczema please check out this site!