How To Repair Eczema Damaged Skin

Q : How Does Eczema Affect People Of Different Ages

Eczema is a chronic health problem that affects people of all ages, but is most common in babies :

• Infantile eczema occurs in around 20% of children under two years of age, and usually starts in the first six months of life. Infantile eczema usually improves significantly between the ages of two to five years.
• Childhood eczema may follow infantile eczema, or start from two to four years of age. Rashes and dryness are usually found in the creases of the elbows, behind the knees, across the ankles and may also involve the face, ears and neck. This form of eczema usually improves with age.
• Adult eczema is similar to that of older children with areas of very dry, itchy, reddened skin at the elbow creases, wrists, neck, ankles and behind the knees. It can cause rough, hard and thickened skin, which may also have weeping areas. Although eczema tends to improve in midlife, and is unusual in elderly people, it can occur at any age.

Collagen Is The Secret To Heal Eczema Scars

If you want a faster way to get rid of those eczema scars, acne/pimple marks, make your skin GLOW, and improve overall wound healing, then increase the amount of collagen in your diet!

Ive worked with a lot of people that experience big changes in their skin just by implementing the above steps to increase collagen in their diet.

Just by following the steps above, youre going to see a HUGE difference.

Try Skin Oils And Moisturizing Creams

The added moisture in the form of skin oils and moisturizing creams helps nourish the lipid matrix, which is vital in how the skin barrier functions.

According to an article titled, Skin Barrier Function featured in the Indian Journal of Medical Research and the National Library of Medicine in 2018, The lipid matrix in the outermost layer of the skin is crucial for the skin barrier function: cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ceramides are important components of this lipid matrix.

In a research project about the skin barrier by Dr. Charlotte Beddoes, postdoc researcher at the Division of Drug Delivery Technology at Leiden University, she further defines this lipid matrix referenced above as a matrix consisting of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, organized in a crystalline lamellar phase. It is this lipid matrix that has been identified as a major contributor to the skins barrier function.

The addition of externally applied creams and oils adds bonus moisture, ceramides, fatty acids, and lipids to this ever-so-important matrix. More moisture strengthens the layer and contributes to a strong, healthy skin barrier that functions at a top-notch level.

Read Also: What Makes Your Eczema Flare Up

You May Like: Best Way To Treat Eczema On Baby

How Do Moisturizers Work

The skin functions as a barrier, protecting underlying tissues from desiccation, infection, mechanical stress and chemical irritation. Impaired function leads to increasing trans-epidermal water loss associated with various kinds of dermatitis.9

Water from deeper epidermal layers moves upward to hydrate stratum corneum cells and is then lost to evaporation. Epidermal water content is essential to prevent skin dryness and maintain plasticity.10 Stratum corneum is an active membrane, described as a bricks and mortar model, where loss of intercellular lipids, forming the bilayers will result in water barrier formation damage leading to dry skin.1

The Problem In Your Skin

When I was younger, I tried to stay away from playing any kind of outdoor games or sports. Not because I didnt want to, but because I noticed that whenever my skin had a cut or was broken, it would get itchy and took much longer to heal and repair.

It wasnt until years later, that I finally understood why.

According to research done on atopic dermatitis patients, one reason why people with eczema are itchy so often, is because they may have a defect in their skin barrier. This defect makes the skin more easily broken, allowing for outside irritants, toxins, and chemicals to penetrate through the layers of skin more easily.

To see what this means, take a look at the picture below. On the left, you can see that outside irritants do not irritate normal healthy skin. However, if you have eczema, like the picture on the right, then your skin barrier is broken and outside irritants penetrate the skin more easily.

Research shows that as a result of a faulty skin barrier, outside irritants can penetrate the skin, and reach the inner levels. Because these are not supposed to be there, this immediately activates an immune response in the body!

As a result, the immune system reacts by releasing inflammation as well as an itchy little chemical called histamine.

Don’t Miss: How To Cure Severe Eczema Fast

Whats In It Whats Not

The skin is exposed to many external factors. Like the climate, laundry detergents and softeners or sunscreen.

donttellmum Eczema Repair, like the name indicates, is carefully composed with natural sustainable ingredients to repair the damaged skin.

The special oatmeal extract provides an protective barrier on the damaged skin and prevents exposure to external irritants that can trigger eczema flare-ups. The 100% vegetable petrolatum covers the dry skin areas effectively and reduces itching.

The soft cream is free of cortisones, easy to lubricate and pulls in nice and quickly! Just as well, so afterwards your little one can move freely again!

What Is An Effective Way To Soothe Very Dry And Damaged Hands

Wet-wrapping is effective in restoring irritated skin.

Usually done at night, this method consists of applying a thick layer of hydrating cream over a prolonged period on the treatment areas, then wrapping it in a layer of wet tubular mesh , followed by a second layer of dry tubular mesh.

Tubular mesh bandages are available in pharmacies, with some being listed for reimbursement. Be sure to ask your pharmacist for advice.

Another tip to repair cracks: apply a healing cream or lip balm

Recommended Reading: Cotton Arm Sleeves For Eczema

They Will Likely Include The Following Three Things As Part Of An Eczema Management And Skin

Skin Barrier Dysfunction In Ad

Skin is a barrier that protects the body from the outside world. Defense functions are localized in the stratum corneum , which typically includes about 915 corneocyte cell layers that consist of packing of keratin filaments and filaggrin of corneodesmosomes . Elias depicted the SC as a brick wall, with the corneocytes analogous to bricks and lipid lamellae acting as mortar . These lipids are composed of approximately 50% ceramide, 25% cholesterol, and some long-chain free fatty acid. Lipid lamellae play a crucial role in the barrier function . Sphingosine, ceramide metabolite, exhibits potent in vitro antimicrobial activity , and is reduced in AD patient’s skin , predisposing to pathogen colonization.

Severe pruritus is the most disturbing symptom of AD. The scratching severely compromises the skin barrier, enhancing inflammatory reacting that subsequently results in the vicious itch-scratch cycle.

Read Also: How To Treat Eczema At Home For Babies

Topical Corticosteroids And Immunomodulators

The inflammatory response of AD is mediated by lymphocytes, mast cells, eosinophil, dendritic cells, and monocytes/macrophages . TCS may inhibit many aspects of inflammation in AD, thus it is still being used as a standard therapy, especially for acute flare-ups. The effects of TCS are facilitated by cytoplasmic glucocorticoids receptors in various types of cells, such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as in immune cells. When activation occurs, the receptor binds to glucocorticoids response elements in the promoter region of target genes. Consequently, the receptor inhibits the transactivating function of transcription factors, which results in reduced expression of proinflammatory genes .

Recently, nerve growth factor , substance P, and eosinophil count, were all found elevated in the plasma of AD patients. These are considered possible mechanisms of itch in AD . The treatment of AD with TCS results in NGF reduction and in relief of pruritus .

Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus are topical calcineurin inhibitors . These steroidal-free alternatives in the treatment of the inflammatory response in AD constitute the second line therapy in AD . The action mechanism of TCI is limited to immune cells only, thus skin atrophy or telangiectasia are not observed, contrary to TCS . Consequently, we may use TCI in sensitive affected area, such as face, eyes, neck, and genitalia, without concern of systemic absorption or skin atrophy .

Q : How Should Eczema Flares And Severe Eczema Be Treated

Skin damage can be prevented by applying creams or ointments prescribed by your doctor as soon as eczema is present. In contrast, not using enough of the treatments can cause skin damage due to itching, which can lead to scarring.

If prescribed, use topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors:

• These treatments actively treat inflammation .
• Ensure that adequate amounts are used. As a guide, one fingertip unit is the amount of ointment from the first bend in the finger to the fingertip, which will cover an area equal to two adult hands.
• Apply moisturiser after corticosteroid cream or ointment has been applied.

If prescribed, use a recently listed treatment for severe eczema. There are now two treatments for severe eczema that are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia for people aged 12 years or older with severe eczema which has not responded to other prescribed topical treatments:

• Dupixent® is an immune modulating treatment given by injection that is self-administered. Dupilumab works by modifying the bodys immune response to prevent inflammation that plays a central role in eczema, but it is not an immunosuppressant.
• Rinvoq® is a Janus Kinase 1 inhibitor, that is taken as an oral tablet. JAK enzymes create signals in the body’s immune system that result in inflammation, so JAK inhibitors work by blocking these signals. This reduces inflammation and the production of immune cells within the body.

Also Check: How Do You Get Rid Of Eczema In Your Ears

Home Remedies For Eczema On Neck

There are several home remedies that can also provide eczema relief, specifically for eczema on neck, eczema on lips, eczema on ear, eczema on legs and more.

Wonderful suggestions include aloe vera, coconut oil, epsom salt spray bath, oatmeal baths, apple cider vinegar bath, bleach baths and more. The ingredients in the prepared bath solutions help restore the skins pH while reducing skin inflammation and harmful bacteria. Alternatively, it is helpful to remove bacteria, oil and other impurities from the skin, while providing anti-inflammatory properties.

How To Get More Collagen To Lessen Scarring

Because of its fast and efficient effects, many plastic surgeons have come up with a method to inject collagen underneath a persons skin to help lessen or reduce the scars appearance.

Unfortunately, those kinds of treatments are quite costly, about $100-$250 per injection round, not to mention they dont last very long and you will have to get re-injected every year.

Thankfully, there are some very efficient ways that you can increase the amount of collagen in your diet, without having to go under the needle!

Here are some ways:

Also Check: Does Sea Water Help Eczema

Which Skin Type Are You

Skin type is described by the Fitzpatrick classification , which determines the colour of skin by phototype, which depends on the amount of melanin pigment in the skin.

In this article we describe skin as lighter or darker.

Skin types: Fitzpatrick classification, adapted from:

Skin changes are caused either by active eczema or by scratching as a result of eczema itch. These changes can result in two types of pigmentary skin changes in eczema:

• HYPO-PIGMENTATION Loss of skin pigment or colour, usually seen as patches of skin that are lighter than overall skin tone.
• HYPER-PIGMENTATION Patches of skin becoming darker than the normal skin tone.

Hypo- and hyper-pigmentation are more visible in darker skin types but can occur in any skin type and can be concerning and distressing for anyone with eczema.

The main way of improving skin pigmentation changes is to treat the underlying eczema and inflammation. But discoloration can last for months or years, even after the eczema is treated.

The Pathogenic Role Of Elevated Ph In Ad

An inevitable consequence of both the flawed barrier and the inflammation in AD is an elevation in pH on the skin surface .The deleterious consequences of an elevated pH in AD include the activation of yet another outside-to-inside cytokine cascade, that begins with the activation of the serine protease, kallikrein 5, followed by the generation of the pro-Th2 cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin , which in turn recruits Th2 and Th17 cells that secrete the bad cytokines, i.e., interleukin -4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, and IL-33 . Th2 cytokines further compromise the barrier by downregulating the synthesis of: epidermal structural proteins , tight-junction proteins , ceramides , fatty acid elongases , and a key antimicrobial peptide, LL-37 . Hence, the initial outside-to-inside cytokine cascade in AD quickly morphs into an outside-to-inside back to outside vicious circle . Furthermore, KLKs exhibit a neutral-to-alkaline pH optimum, and their activation in AD further compromises another set of critical functions .

Fig. 2.

Central role of an increased pH in AD pathogenesis .

Finally, the low pH of normal SC inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, so that the normal flora, e.g., Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium thrive . In contrast, the elevated pH of the inflamed skin in AD favors pathogen colonization and growth.

Read Also: Eczema Signs And Symptoms Treatment

How To Get Rid Of Eczema Scars On Black Skin

The science suggests that those with black skin are more likely to develop more severe eczema than those with lighter skin. Once it clears up, it can leave behind dark patches of skin. Treating and lightening these areas naturally is the same though, for all skin types, and there are plenty of effective home cures for eczema scarring.

Interested to know more about how eczema affects different skin tones? Why not read our blog on the effect of eczema on people of colour.

Q : What Triggers Should Be Avoided

People with eczema should avoid known triggers and irritants, which may include:

• Dry skin – this is one of the main triggers of eczema.
• Scratching – keep fingernails clipped .
• Viral or bacterial infections.
• Playing in sand, such as sandpits.
• Sitting directly on carpets or grass.
• Inhaling pollen allergens from grasses, weeds or trees in spring and summer.
• Irritants such as perfumes, soap and chemicals.
• Contact with animals, house dust mite allergen, wool and synthetic fabrics.
• Temperature changes, such as overly heated rooms.
• Stress, which can make eczema worse, although eczema is not a psychological condition.
• Constant exposure to water or chemicals, which can damage the protective barrier function of the skin.

Read Also: How To Cure Toddler Eczema

Skin Barrier For Rosacea

Rosacea is a complex inflammatory skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels on the face, most often across the nose and cheeks. Theres no single cause of rosaceamultiple underlying factors, including a damaged skin barrier, can contribute to symptoms.

Rosacea is highly triggered by environmental factors, including hot and cold temperatures and sun exposure. Improving skin barrier function can help defend your skin from the surrounding environment and reduce rosacea symptoms.

When your body isnt working to fight off foreign invaders and environmental threats, your immune system doesnt have to work so hard and inflammation levels decrease. Reduced inflammation can equal reduced rosacea symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes That Can Relieve Symptoms

While it can seem that nothing will relieve the discomfort, you can ease symptoms of atopic dermatitis . Here are some easy-to-make changes that dermatologists recommend:

Related AAD resources

You May Like: Best Body Wash For Dry Skin And Eczema