Eczema is a skin condition characterized by itchy, red patches that show up on various areas of the body, in response to skin irritants, dryness, allergies or even stress. Anyone who suffers with the condition would gladly welcome relief to the incessant itching and unsightly scabs and scales it produces on the surface of the skin. The primary way to fight eczema is to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated, because dryness is largely the reason eczema thrives.

Itchy, dry skin is also often the result of not drinking enough water or external hydration and moisturization. The rashes that appear with eczema are also the result of the body’s natural immune response to irritants and toxins that are within or outside the body. As the body seeks to get rid of those toxins and impurities, to essentially push their way out through the skin, rashes can form. Read the rest of this entry »

Rashes may spring up every now and then as a simple reaction to some minor irritation like an insect bite or a new detergent. Rashes can also be the result of an infection, allergic reaction, autoimmune disorder, dry skin, hormonal imbalances, or any number of things. Some rashes itch quite a bit, while others do not.

Rashes come in all different shapes and sizes, sometimes with accompanying symptoms that indicate the source of the rash. Just as pain is an indicator that something is wrong, a rash can serve as a signpost that something deeper is going on, something much more serious. We will more closely examine rashes that are associated with a few serious and sometimes life-threatening conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter chill, cold winds and dry air can be quite a rude awakening for the skin. When the body is used to warmer weather and more humid conditions the rest of the year, the sudden shift to cold, dry conditions begins to affect the surface of the skin. This often results in rashes, flakiness, peeling, cracking and, in extreme cases, bleeding and infections as a side effect of scratching.

Winter rash can be displayed anywhere on the body, and unlike other types of rashes that may come and go in a few days or with mild, topical treatments; winter rash has been known to hang around throughout the cold season. A dermatologist can help you to determine the real source of the skin condition, but some common reasons will be discussed here. Read the rest of this entry »

When you think of fabrics that keep you warm during the winter, wool often comes to mind. Wool is known for its ability to insulate and keep you warm, to absorb moisture, to resist static electricity, and for being inflammable – all of which are great – but wool is also known to be generally coarse and itchy. A simple, no-fuss option might be to use cotton instead because it is soft, breathable, often cheaper and less likely to itch or cause an allergic reaction. Wool clothing, unlike cotton, is more durable, holds its shape better after use, and retains its colors better. A higher thread count in wool fabrics also means a softer texture, which may be easier on the skin.

Wool clothing can exacerbate itching that is already associated with certain skin conditions like eczema rashes, plaque psoriasis, or chicken pox. This coarseness in wool fabrics is usually attributed to the way the wool was manufactured and how the sheep the wool was drawn from was raised. Let’s look at the process involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone has known the discomfort and irritation of a rash. A rash is a common occurrence, which usually signals that the skin has come in contact with some sort of irritation, that there is an underlying disease or infection, or some type of allergy is involved. There is generally a need for concern when a rash lasts longer than a few days.

Babies and senior citizens are particularly susceptible to getting rashes because of the delicateness of their skin. As humans age, our skin begins to thin out and lose some of its protective qualities, and naturally our immune systems aren’t as strong, so our bodies are more prone to skin irritations, diseases and infections. There are a number of skin rashes that often affect the elderly and can cause or be the sign of other more harmful illnesses – shingles, eczema, and psoriasis, to name a few. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a skin condition common to senior citizens, which is the result of a reoccurrence of chicken pox in the latter years of life. Read the rest of this entry »

Some of the common causes of itching problems in children are scabies, atopic dermatitis, certain types of eczema, insect bites and bacterial rashes. Identifying scabies in children can be a challenging task because it can be very confusing. It may require more than one visit to the doctor to be able to recognise it due to similarities with other rashes. Though it treatable with permethrin, infected children are likely to go through frustration before the scabies is eliminated.

Itching is a strong urge and tough for children to resist. It is even hard for some adults to ignore the urge to scratch the skin. The risk of scratching is that it can lead to an infection. Explain this to your child and also help them out by checking with your doctor about using an antihistamine. Also ask him about an appropriate lotion to soothe the sensations. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s estimated that around thirty percent of Americans suffer from atopic eczema and many millions of research hours have been spent trying to find the cause and cure for this chronic disease.

Many believe that atopic eczema was caused by external or environmental factors, but some believes that eczema is due to a dietary deficiency, specifically essential fatty acids (EFAs). As early as the 1930s scientists were looking at a deficiency of omega-6 as a primary cause of eczema, and years later they discovered that topical application of EFAs relieved many of the symptoms. Read the rest of this entry »

I was reading an internet news site and saw a story about a woman that was in a hospital at Burnaby in the UK and given the wrong antibiotic. She actually took her own benadryl to deal with the rash and allergic symptoms that were growing until staff realized the problem.

The woman was in the hospital initially for ongoing throat pain. They gave her an IV of antibiotics to treat this, however it was the medications that were intended for the woman in the next room. She noticed a rash as the antibiotic drip was going into her system. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a rash or skin care problem which is worrying you? If so you may be wondering when to see a dermatologist. People will see a specialist when they have a skin rash, but there are also other times to have your skin by a dermatologist. For instance, it is helpful to know your family history and if there have been incidents of skin cancer or moles that been found to be problematical. These specialists deal with skin care from both a cosmetic and medical perspective.

One’s family physician can identify a number of skin problems, but often a dermatologist can help further analyze one’s situation. Furthermore, if one had a skin biopsy due to moles or lesions, many times the dermatologist will have you schedule another appointment six months or one year later to stay on top of the situation. Certain conditions such as psoriasis, folliculitis, severe eczema and drug rashes are often referred to a dermatologist for his or her expertise. Read the rest of this entry »

Hydrocortisone cream is a commonly prescribed medication for the relief of conditions such as minor skin irritations, usually including those caused by insect bites, eczema rash symptoms, poison ivy, and other allergy-causing substances. It is also sometimes prescribed for itchy rectal areas and irritations of the scalp area. Over the counter it is one percent concentration and you can get ointments or prescription creams that are 2.5 percent in concentration for more serious situations of inflammation.

Each gram of hydrocortisone cream, USP 2.5% normally contains 25mg of hydrocortisone as the active ingredient in a water-washable base composed of isopropyl palmitate, metyhlparaben, mineral oil or lanolin alcohol, cetyl alcohol, polysorbate 40, propylene glycol stearate, propylene glycol, sorbic acid, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum, sorbitan palmitate, and purified water. Hydrocortisone is actually a steroid hormone that is needed for some bodily functions. This is produced by the human adrenal cortex. Synthetic versions of the hormone are the ones found in hydrocortisone cream. Some people turn to hydrocortisone cream in a way similar to another group that uses calamine lotion as the only cure for a rash. This was discussed in common mistakes in rash treatment . Each of these items has a proper use, but don’t try to use them for every single skin rash. Hydrocortisone creams are used for inflamed red skin and to reduce itching. Read the rest of this entry »

I was speaking to a nurse at the mental health clinic where I work and she said that one common mistake people make when they have a rash is to assume they should just be putting calamine lotion on it. This may be appropriate for certain rashes, but for scabies rash, eczema and a number of other rashes , it would not be the proper treatment. If anyone ever saw the My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie they may remember the comical scenes where the main character’s dad would use windex to treat everything. Some people are using calamine lotion that way as well.

Because rashes can be bacterial, fungal, viral, allergic rashes and other types, each needs to be individually evaluated to determine treatment. For instance, if one has an impetigo rash, antibiotics in the oral form or topical form are prescribed for treatment. Rashes cannot be treated with the same approach. Read the rest of this entry »

A number of football players in Olivet, Michigan have reported odd rashes. Some have seen staph infection rashes on their arms and sores on their backs. When there is a contagious rash with staph infection, it brings up questions of MRSA.

They were concerned about putting out the rumors that there was MRSA was spreading around and that the high school would be closed. According to Randy VanDyke, the school’s interim superintendent, “We were hearing rumors that we were going to close the school the next day and they were going to quarantine the football team .” The athletic director told the school that the nine football players have had medical attention and that they were not diagnosed with MRSA. The sores were diagnosed as staph bacterial infections and are covered. Read the rest of this entry »

There was an interesting article today about the relation of economic issues and an increase in diaper rash in babies. I wasn’t sure how these could be connected but the speculations are pretty interesting.

There are different possible reasons for this. Are people trying to change diapers less in order to save money? If this is the case, the child may be sitting in a diaper that is soiled or wet which can result in the rash.

The Center of Disease Control discusses that less purchases are being made on disposable diapers. These are quite expensive and it makes sense this is something people will cut out in the economy, especially if there is unemployment in the home. There has been an increase in the purchase of diaper cream. Read the rest of this entry »

I was stung by a jellyfish last week at a beach in Boca Raton. It was the first time in my life this has happened, and I go to the beach quite often. It looked liked hives rash and I felt a sensation in the elbow area that continued to sting for several minutes as I saw little red bumps emerge. It wasn’t very painful but was hard to ignore since it continued to sting and vibrate.

I ran over to lifeguard and he put a mixture of water and vinegar on it. It felt very good as soon as he poured it on. I hadn’t read the sign near the lifeguard stand that mentioned the jellyfish warning. He told me to wait 15 to 20 minutes and then I could go back into the ocean. My friend remembered that as a child, his grandmother used meat tenderizer in a mix with water on it for soothing the skin. Don’t use one that has spicing if you do this! Read the rest of this entry »

Molluscum Warts are caused by a virus called the Molluscum Contagiosum Virus. This virus can affect anyone; however it is particularly prevalent in children under 10. It can also be spread due to sexual activity in adults from a partner that is infected. The warts can appear on any area of the body but are most likely to show on the legs and arms. The virus spreads via skin on skin contact. This condition is becoming well known due to its increasing prevalence in the gay community, particularly in those who suffer from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Molluscum Warts do not indicate HIV per se, but do provide an indication of immunodeficiency. Those with compromised immune systems need to be careful such as someone dealing with cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Skin problems that are caused by a reaction to certain cosmetics are normally referred to as contact dermatitis. Many skin problems from cosmetics can be avoided by paying attention to ingredients. Contact dermatitis can manifest as swelling, break outs and rashes, and in worst cases the skin may become raw or scaly and itchy, sometimes with lesions appearing.

Some skin problems from cosmetics can be diagnosed quickly, especially where someone has tried a new brand and the reaction is seen within a few hours or a day. On the other hand it could take years of prolonged use of the same cosmetics to produce a reaction as well as realize the true source. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you experienced irritating little white bumps on the face which refuse to go away? What’s more, there’s that gooey, white substance that comes out when you annoyingly pick, poke and intentionally pop the stubborn bump? It’s called milia, a skin condition that occurs when your skin has difficulty naturally exfoliating itself. While not a grave skin condition, milia can be very irritating to deal with. It also can effect one’s self-esteem.

Milia form as white bumps on the skin as a result of dead skin cells failing to exfoliate naturally. These white bumps are similar to tiny cysts or white heads, and occur just below the skin’s surface. Milia isn’t just characterized by white bumps on the face; they may also form on mucous membranes in the inner cheek, around the reddish-pink border of the lips, and other similar types of areas. As the surface wears away the bumps may heal by themselves. However, medical interventions are often used to treat them. Read the rest of this entry »

Perioral dermatitis, or simply “rash around the mouth,” is a type of skin inflammation (dermatitis) that occurs in areas around the mouth. Afflicted areas could be the nose borders, the chin area, the corners of the mouth, even the skin around the eyes. Perioral dermatitis effects young to middle-aged women. Men suffer less from this type of skin inflammation.

As with other types of dermatitis, the cause of perioral dermatitis is not yet known, and it is still the subject of clinical study. There are those that say the redness is a form of rosacea (facial erythyma or redness). Others attribute the cause to the use of steroidal creams that have fluoride. Products containing fluoride, including toothpaste are also suspects. In women, some believe that the hormonal changes caused by the use of the contraceptive pill are connected with skin inflammation. Still others maintain that the skin reacts adversely to certain ingredients found in toothpaste, makeup, moisturizers and sunscreens. Read the rest of this entry »

Diagnosing a rash isn’t always easy. Certain rashes, such as the scabies rash are often mistaken as eczema or allergic skin rashes (and the other way around as well). There was an interesting article about a woman who posted her four year old’s rash pictures on Facebook and learned that his condition was neither scarlet fever or a strep rash (which were the earlier diagnoses by her doctor), but the serious condition of Kawasaki disease.

The person who called Deborah Kogan, was her friend Stephanie, who’s son also suffered from this same rare condition. Both the strep rash and scarlet fever rash are due to same bacteria. Kawasaki’s disease is requires both heart monitoring and checking the liver function. The arteries in the body swell and this includes those that send blood to the heart. Inflammation of the blood vessels is very serious. Read the rest of this entry »

How can you tell if it’s shingles or eczema? Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus, the same virus that gave us chicken pox, with all those itchy spots all over our bodies. Eczema is a term that embraces many skin problems. Of course, it is also possible it is a very different rash such as the scabies rash , insect bites or hives.

One of the first ways of telling if you have shingles or eczema is by looking at the rash and examining the symptoms. With eczema you could be any age, babies get it and old people. With shingles you will probably be in your late fifties or older. If you have a rash all over your body, then it won’t be shingles. For some odd reason shingles confines itself to one side of the body only, and usually appears on the side of the head or trunk. Read the rest of this entry »