Eczema
People
with asthma, hay fever, and other allergies are likely to
have eczema (atopic dermatitis). Eczema is an allergic skin
disease. It may occur as a red, itchy, scaly rash with tiny
blisters. The blisters break, ooze a clear fluid, and then
crust over.
Children
may get eczema on the face, scalp, buttocks, thighs, and
upper body. Severe cases are common during infancy with
many children improving by age 2. Adults usually have it
on the face, neck, inside the elbows, or behind the knees.
In adults, there is more scaling and less blister formation
than that seen in children. Flare-ups can be sparked by
dry skin, allergies, hot baths or showers, soap, scratchy
and tight clothing, rapid temperature changes, and emotional
upsets. Scratching the lesions may cause infection.
Tips for
managing eczema include:
| • |
Keep
the skin moist and cool to avoid scratching. |
| • |
Try
an over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for
small itchy areas. |
| • |
Take
brief, daily baths or showers with lukewarm (not hot)
water. |
| • |
Bathe
without soap or use a gentle soap or non-soap cleanser. |
| • |
Apply a lubricating cream or lotion after bathing and
reapply often. |
| • |
Take
an oral antihistamine to relieve itching. |
| • |
Avoid
antihistamine or antiseptic creams and sprays. |
| • |
Sleep
with a humidifier on in your bedroom. |
| • |
Avoid
contact with allergens and irritants that increase symptoms. |
| • |
Wash
clothes and bedding in mild soap and rinse them twice. |
| • |
Do
not use fabric softeners. |
Seek medical
care if you experience the following:
| • |
A
rash on the face that is red, patchy, and combined with
joint pain and fever. |
| • |
Itching
interferes with normal sleep patterns. |
| • |
Self
care does not work. |
Poison Oak & Poison Ivy
The
three most common causes of allergic skin reactions in the
United States are poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak.
These plants are all a type of weed. Poison ivy grows in
the East. Poison oak grows in the West. Both poison sumac
and poison ivy grow in the South.
Contact
with these plants causes a rash called allergic contact
dermatitis. These plants release a sap that has a poisonous
oil. The poisonous oil spreads to objects that contact the
plant. It penetrates skin quickly and causes a rash within
12 to 48 hours. The first reaction produces a rash with
redness and swelling. These symptoms are followed by blisters
and severe itching. In a few days, the blisters become crusted
and begin to scale. The dermatitis usually heals within
ten days.
Begin
treatment within 5-10 minutes, if possible, by washing all
exposed areas in cool running water and soap. Doing so will
keep the poisonous oil from spreading to other parts of
the body. All items worn or carried when exposed to the
poisonous plants should be washed with soap and water when
a stream, lake, or garden hose is nearby. Water deactivates
and neutralizes the poisonous oil and keeps it from spreading.
Cool
compresses and cool showers will ease the itching. Baking
soda baths will help dry the lesions. Over-the-counter preparations,
like calamine lotion, will relieve mild rashes. Talk with
a pharmacist or healthcare provider if itching is severe
or the rash becomes infected.
The
best prevention is to recognize these plants and stay away
from them. The old saying l'leaves of three, let them be"
is sometimes reliable, but beware. The appearance of these
plants "can vary considerably. Poison ivy grows as
a low shrub or vine. Poison oak is a low shrub or small
tree and has groups of yellow berries. Poison sumac is a
tall shrub with cream-colored berries.
The
poisonous oil from these plants can remain active for months,
so be sure to wash all camping, fishing, or hunting gear
and pets that may be carrying it, too.
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