If you are the parent of a child with eczema, it can be hard to hear that other kids at school are keeping a distance. If you notice or hear that the parents are whispering about your child that also is painful. Remember that people still think eczema is a skin disorder that can be contracted from others. They may not even know that your child’s skin problem is dermatitis or eczema, but may instead assume it is scabies or a contagious disease. Eczema can look like a number of different disorders, some of which are contagious. You may need to begin a conversation with your child’s friends’ parents in order to ease their misgivings. It is common sense that you don’t want parents to be uncomfortable with your child because of dermatitis and understandable that they are hesitant due to questions around contagious diseases. First, speak to your child’s teacher as parents may be directing their concerns to the teacher first. If the teacher is informed, she or he can reassure the parents. Fear and protection are natural reactions so don’t get too angry because these reactions are based on lack of understanding and the instinct to protect.

You can decide whether to initiate the subject about your child’s skin rash with the other parents or wait until they question you about it. The best method of sharing information about your youngster’s skin condition is to communicate to them what you know. This skin disorder results in the swelling of their skin, which means your child’s skin is sensitive and easily irritated. You need to let the other parents know that the causes of this skin disorder vary greatly. Some triggers that inflame the sensitive skin are changes in weather conditions, allergens, and touching particular substances. When the skin comes in close contact with any of these triggers, it becomes very itchy. So itchy in fact, that your child can’t quit scratching. This results in the formation of a rash. Although this rash can look extremely severe, it’s completely non-threatening. Eczema isn’t something that can be caught, but actually the opposite is true. Your child is more susceptible to others’ skin problems. In fact, open rashes can result in an increased risk of infection. Try to give an example of other allergic reactions. When we think about allergies, we know there are sneezing, watery eyes, and congestion. Explain to them that with this disorder, the skin behaves the same way.

Remember that parents may be concerned that your child has poison ivy, scabies, chicken pox or lice. Rashes can look similar and when you see a child itching, most people’s first thought is that they don’t want their child or themselves to catch it. This is just human nature and the primary reason why parents are uncomfortable with other children who have dermatitis. Reassure them that your child’s eczema has been diagnosed and it isn’t contagious. They shouldn’t limit their child’s interaction with yours and do not need to worry about picking up a bacterial infection, virus or germs. Dealing with eczema is difficult and to feel isolated or alone during this period of one’s life adds to the hurt.
Using a good moisturizer is helpful for nourishing the skin and you can read holistic tips for eczema Here . Give your child more personal time and be sure to add humor and movies into your time together. Your child will be feeling itchy and self-conscious and needing extra nurturance.

Although most rashes do not indicate cancer, sometimes in certain situations a connection can be noted. For instance, an uncommon form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer can manifest as a rash that can make the skin thicker and appear a bit as a bruise in sections. In fact, this is an aggressive form which may not even be revealed on a mammogram. It can hit a young population of women as well as African American women. Read the rest of this entry »

Camp for most people creates a number of memories and experiences that are often reflected upon for years. Whether it’s day camp or sleep away camp, everyone gets interesting life lessons and makes new friendships. Making sure that your kid gets the very most out of their camp experience starts with being aware of some of the dangers associated with camp. One of the fastest ways to turn a wonderful experience into a negative experience is for your child to contract a rash that is treated improperly. Read the rest of this entry »

There is no doubt about it, bed bugs are back and very stubborn. In the news this week, it was discussed that Goldman Sachs in its Jersey City office has had to get exterminators for these pests.
In Ohio, they’ve been reported as a problem throughout the Franklin County area. Read the rest of this entry »

It is important to have your skin checked as an adult for skin cancer as part of a routine appointment. Since the skin is the largest organ of our body, so many issues can come up in addition to various types of rashes. In the summer, due to issues of heat rash, insect bite rashes, hives, poison ivy and situations such as atopic eczema , many people visit their dermatologist for a diagnosis. This is a good time to get a full body exam so that your doctor can check moles and other areas that may be questionable.

Point out to your doctor any sores you’ve had for a while that may not have resolved. Also if you have itchy skin without a rash , show this to your doctor because it may indicate an issue with your kidneys. Any irregularities you are noticing should be shown to your doctor, including scalp eczema problems, warts and odd rash spots.

If your hands are always cold or you find your feet are swollen, mention this as well. If you notice skin issues due to foods or medications mention this to your dermatologist. You may get a rash from certain foods, have eruptions under your armpits from a deodorant or not be able to tolerate a certain type of metal on your body. If there have been times you’ve had body fungus such as athlete’s foot or tinea versicolor on your back, let your doctor know. Bring a list of your medications when you go. If you take an anti-anxiety medication or anti-depressant, mention this as well as some people have skin side effects.

He will also check for lumps, advise you on preventative measures you can take and help you with any problems of your nails as well. Skin growth, discoloration and other issues can be discussed. It is often psychologically a relief to take care of this rather than postpone the appointment.

Cold sore bumps which are also know as fever blisters are actually due to the herpes simplex virus. It is a nuisance and will subside in approximately 10 days without an anti-viral medication. Eczema causes dry, itchy skin rashes and there a number of types such as atopical dermatitis, discoid, nummular and contact dermatitis. Each of these alone is not life-threatening. However, when the two are associated with each other, it can be extremely dangerous. This condition is called Eczema Herpeticum, and has been identified since 1887. Read the rest of this entry »

It is Memorial Day weekend and one of my psychotherapy clients was very discouraged due to the fact that her 17 year old daughter has been itching for three days and is very unhappy. They are having family over from out of town and will be engaged in picnics and barbecues. Her daughter just wants to stay in her room due to feeling in a low mood. She is worried that it may be there for he prom and that she will have to wear long sleeves. She has had asthma and eczema over the years, though she is not sure if the current rash is due to sweating in the sun last week wearing a tight nylon shirt. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite that the fact that the vaccination for measles is very effective, nonetheless there are news reports that measles is actually spreading around certain countries in Euroupe as well as Africa and Asia. Sadly, the funding for the vaccination was cut and this means it has been going around once again. Read the rest of this entry »

The power of Facebook and Blogging is apparent in the controversy that has arisen between some concerned moms and Proctor and Gamble over their Pampers with Dry Max diaper product. A social worker and mother of an 8 month year old, Sara Fobear, set up a facebook page requesting P and G to recall the Dry Max product. She believes it results in severe rashes and blisters. Through social media, others have joined in with similar complaints. P and G disagrees with the allegations and denies that the new pampers cause these diaper rashes. They argue that diaper rashes are common and that the Dry Max product was tested. Read the rest of this entry »

Vitiligo skin disorder is caused by depigmentation of the skin. Pigment determines color; therefore depigmentation of the skin is when the skin has a lack of color. It is caused when melanocytes are destroyed. Melanocytes are the part of the skin that produces pigments. Let’s discuss what vitiligo looks like, how it’s diagnosed, and the treatment options. Read the rest of this entry »

Hives can appears suddenly and without warning. A hives rash is accompanied with an intense feeling of itchiness it can turn a bright red color quite rapidly. Other terms are wheals, or plaques. They, oftentimes, appear as pale red bumps. They might range in size from the size of a pencil tip up to the width of a few inches. Can stress cause hives? Allergies are discussed as a reason for hives but also many say that they are related to one’s stress levels. Read the rest of this entry »

When red, scaly patches show up on your infant’s skin, you can get nervous because you are unsure what is happening. You rush to the doctor or dermatologist, wanting an answer for the skin damage your child is experiencing. There are various skin ailments that plague young children. Their skin is so sensitive that many irritants can cause rashes and inflammation to occur. If you look online or in medical journals, you can see some baby eczema pictures that show how uncomfortable this condition can be. What you can’t see however is how itchy their poor little skin feels. Read the rest of this entry »

Lupus comes with many different types of symptoms and one of the most prevalent rash eruptions. The “butterfly rash” spans across the face, just beneath the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the bridge of the nose. It got its name for obvious reasons. This rash can be in two forms flat or raised. The color can range from light to bright red and be a concern to the patient. Read the rest of this entry »

Hives are the way your skin can react to allergies, irritations, stress, or emotional distress. Cells start to release histamines, and they make the blood vessels seep out fluid into the deep layers of your skin. The welts that occur are often extremely itchy, and they may fade away in minutes, hours, or usually within a couple of days. However while these raised skin eruptions are active, you may not want to be seen all swollen and scratching around other people. There are some hive treatments you can do that may alleviate the itch and puffiness. Like many remedies, not all of them will work for everyone, so you will need to experiment. Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine that it’s a beautiful summer day and you are headed out to the beach. You are enjoying the sunshine, swimming in the ocean, maybe even building a sand castle with your children. Now imagine two hours later, you begin to develop a rash. You’re thinking you have sunburn, but did you know that there are certain sun allergy rashes? If this sounds like you, you could be the 10 – 20% of the population that has a photosensitivity? Read the rest of this entry »

When your skin is itchy and breaks out in a rash, it is easier for a doctor to diagnosis which skin condition you have. However, if you have skin that is itching without a rash present it is more difficult to determine the cause. Finding the cause of the irritation will take a combination of history taking, clinical examinations and multiple laboratory tests. Through the process of elimination or exclusion, a doctor may be able to find the cause of your histamines and other bodily chemicals reacting possibly to an environmental irritant or allergy. There can also be hormonal reasons, an underlying illness, an infection or other reasons. Read the rest of this entry »

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter celebration as well as Passover. Also, it is a good time to gain perspective for people with chronic rash problem as it can be discouraging to deal with a skin condition that doesn’t seem to improve. First of all, most rashes are not life threatening. That is a good thing! Of course, itching, pain, redness and self-consciousness of one’s eruptions and patches can still really qualify one’s life. Read the rest of this entry »

For most of us, insect bites are simply annoying, but certain types of bites can be life threatening. When an individual is bit by an insect, they usually do not feel the initial bite. That’s why it is important to know what common insect bite rashes look like. You will need to be able to determine what caused the rash, if it needs medical attention, and what treatment options can be used. Read the rest of this entry »

I magine this. You go to a luxurious spa or hotel, and figure you’ll pamper yourself with a nice long soak in the hot tub. After a few minutes you get out and go on your way. Anywhere from 8 hours to 2 days later you start to notice an itchy red rash on your arms and torso. Now you might not think anything of it but you have most likely gotten a hot tub rash. The next time you decide to get in a hot tub, here are some things you’ll want to know about hot tub rashes. Read the rest of this entry »

For those of us who’ve ever had a rash we know how uncomfortable it can be. We’ve all scratched here or scratched there on the leg, arms, hand, anywhere we get an itch. Most of us don’t think twice; but what if we had to deal with skin rashes all the time? Those with itchy skin allergies suffer often from common irritants. There are a variety of skin allergies including hives, contact dermatitis and eczema. These are probably some of the more common types. They are caused by different substances, but all of them affect the skin. Read the rest of this entry »