How do I treat eczema?
There is no cure for eczema, but there are ways to keep the outbreaks under control. You can:
Eczema is a condition in which a person develops a very itchy rash that is red and blotchy. The rash usually appears your face, neck, elbows, knees, or basically anywhere on the body. The affected area typically becomes dry, and flaky. In some rare cases, skin can crack open and/or blisters can occur.
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Small amounts bacteria and fungus naturally inhabit our skin. Normally, they do not cause any harm and can even be beneficial to our health. But if something goes wrong and these organisms start to overproduce, you can run into some skin problems.
Tinea is a word used to describe fungal skin infections.
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You’re scratching all over and then look down at your arms and your legs: you realize that you look a little like a reptile. When your skin is dry, you can expect rough, flaky patches that can make you go crazy when they start to itch. Dry skin usually occurs in places like your arms, elbows, legs and knees, and on your back and stomach.
Why does this happen?
Dry skin is the result of a lack of moisture in your skin. You can help prevent dry skin by doing the following.
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1. If your acne is minor, you could choose to do nothing. With minor outbreaks, pores will eventually clear themselves, and pimples will disappear. In some people this may be a matter of a few, short days, whereas in others, it may take a little longer.
2. You could also use some form of over-the-counter acne treatment. These products usually dry up the oil and/or promote the removal of dead skin cells. When buying the product, look for lotions with benzoyl peroxide (which dries oil and kills bacteria), sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid (increases cell turnover), or alpha-hydroxy (increases cell turnover). Many people have sensitivities to one or more of these ingredients, so if you notice irritation (redness, flaking, etc.), you can try a product with a different active ingredient.
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Acne is nothing more than a plugged pore. (Read more about what causes acne). Your sweat glands (technically called sebaceous glands) are stimulated by the rise and fall of testosterone, a male hormone that (surprise) is found in both males and females. Hormone levels in teenagers are anything but stable, and this plays a role in the acne problems they face. Additionally, the typical teen diet of burgers, fries and milk shakes don’t help matters any. Though there is no hard evidence to link certain foods with oil production — pizza, fried food and sweets probably aren’t helping to clear up acne problems.
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Pimples, zits, blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads… Acne by any other name is still acne. Maybe you break out once a month, or maybe your face looks like a minefield. Either way, you’re not alone. Acne is a really common problem. It usually crops up in the teen years, but acne can affect anyone. Some people, especially women, find that they develop worse acne in their 20’s and 30’s just when they think it should be disappearing. So, yes, you may have to deal with pimples for a long time.
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Take your pick: Hormones? Stress? Bad luck? Also, you may notice that acne is a much bigger problem for some than for others. Some individuals may be genetically “preprogrammed” to get severe acne, while others go through puberty with only 3 or 4 pimples. Chances are: if you are suffering with acne, at least one of your parents did, too.
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Because hives can be mild or can signal a more serious allergic reaction, you should always consult your health care provider when you get them. If you get hives in your mouth or throat, get help immediately (in severe cases, they can obstruct breathing).
Medical term: Urticaria
What are hives?
Hives are transient (they come and go), red skin swellings that are extremely itchy and may burn or sting. They are a result of your immune system “overreacting” to something. They can last for a number of hours or even days. As one area of hives disappears, a new area can appear just as unexpectedly. They can vary from the size of a small thumbtack to the size of a dinner plate. 10-20% of all people have to deal with hives at some point in time.
