Getting To The Root Of All Weeping
Im going to mainly focus on secondary weeping in this article, as this is the one that affects a lot of eczema sufferers. Now you might have heard things about weeping eczema before like: its just your body pushing out toxins, you need to detoxify your blood, or the weeping is normal. I used to think some of these things myself, however as it turns out, many of these statements arent all that accurate.
Let me explain.
On your skin there lives a thriving community of bacteria, called Staphylococcus Aureus These are located in heavy concentrations around your nose, mouth, ears, privates, as well as just on your skin itself.
According to research, the BIGGEST factor that causes weeping on your skin, is due to these bacteria.
Now dont worry, just because you have this bacteria, doesnt mean you have MRSA . Actually Staphylococcus Aureus is a harmless bacteria that lives on the surface of everyones skin.
Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, helps us manage these bacteria, by blessing our skin with natural antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides, that help to keep these staph A bacteria under control. Research shows that these natural antimicrobial peptides, help prevent against the colonisation of staph on the skin.
Studies show that many eczema sufferers tend to have impaired skin barriers, which means that along with your skin being more prone to dryness, you are also lacking natural antibiotics to keep these skin bacteria at bay.
Here are some facts:
Conlcusion: Follow The Steps Above To Get Rid Of Weeping Eczema
Well there you have it, I really hope that you liked this article and that it helped you understand more about the causes of weeping eczema, and most importantly, what to do about it.
I had couple of situations where my primary eczema turned into a bacteria colonization, so along with my program, I tried to incorporate all of the above into my skin routine.
Here is how I got rid of my weeping eczema:
First, I would clean the areas with cotton and saline solution, gently removing any yellow crusts where those bacteria lived.
Then, I took more cotton and dipped them in a solution of Epsom salts + water. I placed this on my weeping areas, and let them soak in all the water!
After pat drying the area, I applied a lotion moisturizer around the weeping areas where my skin was badly cracked. I also put a layer directly on the areas itself, to thoroughly hydrate the area.
Finally, I got my 10 minutes of sunlight and then followed up again with more moisturizer as my skin was very cracked at the time.
Doing the steps above, helped the weeping stop within DAYS. Which is why I wanted to share this with you! As someone who struggled with this for years, it makes me want to help others who might have it too.
Hopefully, this article helps you finally know what causes it and what to do about it.
How do you deal with weeping eczema? Did these tips help you? Leave me a comment below!
PS: Donât know where to start? Sign up to my free series The Clear Skin Plan !
Helping Your Child Feel Better
If your child has eczema, keep their fingernails short and their skin moisturized. Dress them in loose-fitting clothes and make sure they don’t get overheated. Depending on how severe their eczema is, your doctor may recommend wet wraps, a diluted bleach bath, over-the-counter or prescription medications, and/or light therapy to help.
You May Like: Can Vaseline Help With Eczema
What Does Eczema Look Like On A Baby
When dealing with a baby who has eczema it should be easy to detect. Eczema on a babys body will be different from the normal diaper or heat rash. When it shows up on your babys skin, you will most likely notice it on his/her cheeks. The skin will be rough, hard and many times a different color than the natural skin tone. For example, caucasian babys may have a reddish rash where the flare up is and for African American babys the flare up will be a dark brown or black color.
Also Check: How To Calm Eczema On Face
How Severe Is My Eczema
Eczema symptoms can be mild or persistent to the point of interfering with daily life. In fact, one in nine of people with eczema have missed one to two days of work because of their symptoms, and more than 2% missed three or more days per year.
Knowing how your eczema ranks in terms of severity can help determine your path of treatment going forward. Heres a handy guide to keep in mind:
-
Mild: Generally distinguished by some areas of dry skin, itching with or without small patches of redness, and little impact on everyday activities, sleep, and overall wellbeing.
-
Moderate: Characterized by areas of dry skin, frequent itching, redness, oozing, skin thickening, some disturbed sleep, and a moderate impact on everyday activities and overall wellbeing.
-
Severe: Usually defined by widespread dry skin, persistent itching, redness, extensive skin thickening, bleeding, oozing, cracking, a change of pigmentation, and a severe limitation of everyday activities and overall functioning with nightly sleep loss.
You May Like: Is Hydrogen Peroxide Good For Eczema
Wear Gloves To Protect The Skin On Your Hands
Wear vinyl or plastic gloves for work that requires you to have your hands in water. Also, wear gloves when your hands are exposed to anything that can irritate your skin. Wear cotton gloves under plastic gloves to soak up sweat from your hands. Take occasional breaks and remove your gloves. This will prevent a buildup of sweat inside your gloves.
Wear gloves when you go outside during the winter. Cold air and low humidity can dry your skin. Dryness can make your eczema worse. Wear clothes made of cotton or a cotton blend. Wool and some synthetic fabrics can irritate your skin.
What Causes Eczema To Wax To Flare
Different “triggers” can make eczema worse. For infants, these can be irritants such as wool, certain detergents or extreme temperatures, or other immune triggers, such as food allergies and asthma, and even pet dander.
Most kids with the condition have the hardest time in winter, when the air is cold and dry. A small percentage has a harder time in the summer, when it is hot and humid.
You May Like: Eczema And Allergies In Toddlers
Other Types Of Eczema
Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin.
Other types of eczema include:
- discoid eczema a type of eczema that occurs in circular or oval patches on the skin
- contact dermatitis a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance
- varicose eczema a type of eczema that most often affects the lower legs and is caused by problems with the flow of blood through the leg veins
- seborrhoeic eczema a type of eczema where red, scaly patches develop on the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and scalp
- dyshidrotic eczema a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to erupt across the palms of the hands
Page last reviewed: 05 December 2019 Next review due: 05 December 2022
Read Also: What To Use For Eczema In Ears
What Is The Best Cream For Eczema On Hands
CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream
The hands are a common site for eczema flare-ups. This therapeutic formula from CeraVe is a moisturizing cream that protects and soothes inflamed skin and reinforces the skin barrier. Along with many lotions on this list, its recommended by the National Eczema Association.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat My Dogs Eczema
What Does Lupus Rashes Look Like
Areas like the heart valves and the immune system are at a high risk if the person suffers from any health issue. Toxic shock syndrome: This could lead to a life-threatening condition caused by severe damage inside the body by the staph infection. The person will have a high fever, vomiting, rashes on the hands or palms, muscle aches, and headache.
What Causes Eczema On Hands
Eczema and hand dermatitis flares up when skin becomes hypersensitive to external factors. Those factors are many, and they can include exposure to chemicals like soap or detergent, the weather, pets, allergies and more. Eczema flare-ups can also be caused by hormones, stress and other internal factors, as well. There are many types of eczema, but the most common is atopic dermatitis.
Don’t Miss: Athlete’s Foot Or Eczema
How Is Nummular Eczema Diagnosed
Your doctor may be able to diagnose nummular eczema by asking you about your medical history and visually inspecting your skin. They may also order a skin sample to be taken by superficially scraping the skin.
A dermatopathologist will analyze the skin cells and try to determine whether the rash is nummular eczema or another skin condition.
If your doctor suspects the lesions are a result of an external allergic reaction, they may perform an allergy test as well. This test is done in the doctors office. It involves leaving a patch on your skin for several days and watching for a reaction.
Skin Conditions That Look Like Eczema
How to tell if you have eczema?
Well, the signs of eczema are redness, inflamed, itchy and dry skin.
But most of these signs are common in other skin conditions like scabies, psoriasis and ringworm. Simply put, it is confusing for the first timers to tell if they have eczema or what as symptoms are similar to those of other diseases.
If you have a red, dry and inflamed skin, dont jump to the conclusion that you have eczema. Here are the skin conditions that may look like eczema due to the similar symptoms.
Don’t Miss: Best Treatment For Eczema On Feet
Did My Baby Develop Eczema Because I Couldnt Breastfeed
As eczema is caused by genetic factors, bottle-feeding a baby definitely cannot cause eczema. In fact, current research is divided, with some studies showing positive effects of breastfeeding and others showing no significant effects at all.
Neither is there enough evidence to advise pregnant or breastfeeding women to avoid specific foods to protect unborn children from atopic eczema or any other atopic condition.
Whats The Difference Between Dermatitis And Psoriasis
Psoriasis and dermatitis can appear similar. Both cause patches of red skin. However, in psoriasis, the scales are thick and the edges of those scales are well-defined.
Discuss with your healthcare provider your questions about which type of skin condition you have. You can have more than one skin condition at a time. Treatments for one may not work for the other.
Read Also: Is Tea Tree Good For Eczema
What Foods Should I Eat Or Avoid To Reduce My Risk Of Eczema
The connection between eczema and food allergies is unclear. If you have food allergies, then one of the reasons why you must avoid that food is that it may cause or worsen dermatitis. Examples of common allergies include peanuts, dairy, eggs, sugar, alcohol and gluten. Pay attention to what you eat. If your eczema flares up after you eat a certain food, then you might have an allergy to it.
If you dont have a food allergy then there are no foods, including chicken, that will cause or worsen your eczema.
What Are The Symptoms Of Nummular Eczema
The most common and noticeable symptom of nummular eczema is a patch of coin-shaped lesions on the body. The lesions frequently develop on the arms or legs, but they may eventually spread to the torso and hands. They may be brown, pink, or red.
Other symptoms may include:
- lesions that are very itchy and burn
- lesions that ooze fluid and eventually crust over
- red, scaly, or inflamed skin around the lesions
Signs of eczema clearing or new flare-ups:
- Flatter spots are visible.
- Skin discoloration is present in the area where the spot flattens. In dark skin, this discoloration is known as postinflammatory hypopigmentation and may last for several months.
- A new flare-up may show up as a large, raised patch on top of an old, healing spot instead of a coin-shaped lesion.
Recommended Reading: Gold Bond Eczema Cream Ingredients
Prevention Tips For Eczema On Hands
While its impossible to prevent eczema flare ups completely, there are some steps you can take in your everyday life to minimize the frequency and severity of eczema flare-ups.
- Avoid exposure to cold, dry air in the winter months by using warm socks, gloves, and scarves.
- Opt for fragrance-free lotions, soaps, and bath products, as the fragrances used are a known skin irritant that contributes to eczema flare-ups.
- Integrate things like fish oil, turmeric, chamomile and honey into your diet.
- Avoid water-free hand sanitizers which contain alcohol, which has a drying effect on the skin.
Is Milk Or Food Allergy A Problem And Should I Make Any Changes To My Babys Diet
Dietary allergy can occur in any child usually between three months and two years of age. Babies with eczema have a slightly higher risk of allergy, but lots of babies with eczema have no milk or other food allergy.
A baby with an immediate allergic reaction may have a sudden flare of eczema, become very itchy or start to wheeze, while a baby with a delayed reaction is more likely to have colic, reflux, vomiting and reluctance to feed.
If you think your baby has a food allergy, keep a diary, note any reactions, and ask for a referral to a paediatric dermatologist or allergist.
The vast majority of food allergy is limited to nine food groups: milk, egg, peanut, soya, wheat, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish and kiwi. Diagnosing food allergy in children up to the age of three is based on a history of symptoms. Treatment involves avoiding the food and then gradually reintroducing it. The only exceptions are peanut and shellfish as these are lifelong allergies.
Whatever happens, dont change your babys diet unless youve been advised to by a healthcare professional, as this may affect your babys growth and development.
Also Check: Will Zinc Oxide Help Eczema
Who Is At Risk For Developing Dyshidrotic Eczema
There are a variety of factors that may dictate who develops dyshidrotic eczema.
If you are going to develop it, itll most likely begin between 20 and 40 years of age. Genetics may also play a role in dyshidrotic eczema. If you have one or more blood relatives with it, theres a higher chance you could also have it.
A few other factors that may contribute to its development are:
- youre already living with another type of eczema
- youve worked, or currently work, as a mechanic or metalworker
- you have a history of working with cement
- you already deal with seasonal allergies
- youre living with asthma
- you have occasional bouts of allergic sinusitis
Some Basic Things You Can Do At Work To Help Control Your Hand Eczema:
- Avoid allergens or irritating substances in products you use on the job like industrial hand cleansers or waterless, antibacterial cleansers that may trigger your hand eczema, or make it worse. These often contain ingredients like alcohol and solvents, that are very hard on your hands, especially during flare-ups.
- Protect your hands at work with a combination of heavy-duty vinyl or neoprene gloves and cotton glove liners. Regularly wash cotton liners and vinyl gloves if they arent disposable.
- Always carry your own hand cleanser, moisturizer and medication with you, wherever you go.
- Keep your clothes, protective gear, tools and work surfaces clean and free of residue from irritating substances.
- Treat wounds on your hands and bandage them in order to avoid irritation from allergens or chemical substances.
Your doctor may also prescribe a barrier repair cream, or topical steroid to help speed up healing.
You May Like: Best Cream For Toddler Eczema On Face
Dermatitis Or Eczema Prevention
Most forms of dermatitis and eczema are chronic conditions. One exception is contact dermatitis. It can be prevented by finding and avoiding the irritant that caused the skin condition.
Its important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis, then try to avoid triggers for your type of eczema or dermatitis .
Other forms of dermatitis can usually be avoided or managed with proper self-care, which includes the following:
- Avoid long showers or baths, which can dry out the skin.
- Use moisturizers like oils, lotions, or creams.
- Avoid irritants that make your skin more susceptible to breakouts, like scented products.
- Dont scrub your skin too hard.
- Use topical steroids to help with itching.
- Keep your fingernails short if you have a habit of scratching.
- Avoid stressful situations that may cause a flare-up.
Establishing a skincare routine can help you manage your atopic dermatitis or eczema symptoms. A doctor can help you come up with a regimen that works for you. You should also take note of things that may have caused your breakouts.
Why Does Eczema Appear On The Hands
There can be a variety of reasons why eczema appears on the hands. For example, the hands can be affected by irritant or allergic contact dermatitis or both at the same time.
Coming into contact with irritants such as dust, detergents, cleaning agents, airborne sprays or even just frequent hand-washing can cause irritant hand eczema . The skin on the palms of the hands is much thicker than elsewhere on the body and is normally able to withstand a great deal of wear and tear. But in people who regularly immerse their hands in detergents or solvents, the protective barrier of the skin breaks down, and eczema may develop. People who have this form of hand eczema often have a history of eczema in childhood.
Allergic hand eczema arises as a result of an allergic reaction to a particular substance in the environment. It is possible to be allergic to a number of different substances, but common causes of contact sensitivity include nickel, fragrances, preservative chemicals, rubber and various plants, amongst other things. Once a persons immune system has identified a substance as harmful, they will react to the substance every time their skin is exposed to it, and this reaction becomes more severe on every exposure to the allergen.
When an allergic reaction of this kind is suspected, your GP should refer you to a dermatologist, who will normally perform patch tests to try to identify the allergic cause.
Also Check: Body Wash For Sensitive Skin Eczema