What’s The Difference Between Hives And Eczema

How Is Dermatitis Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will take a close look at your skin. They will look for classic signs of dermatitis such as a rash, redness, scales, dryness and more. They will ask about the symptoms youre experiencing. Are you itchy? Does your skin feel like its burning? Is your skin dry? Have you come into contact with anything that might irritate your skin?

What Are Common Fungal Skin Infections

Common fungal skin infections are caused by yeast, such as a candida infection, or dermatophytes, like ring worm. People who are overweight or patients with diabetes tend to be more likely to develop fungal skin infections. With fungal infections, patients sometimes can develop rashes on other parts of the body that are not infected by the fungus. A fungal foot infection may lead to a bumpy or itchy rash on the fingers, for example. These are usually due to an allergic reaction to the fungus, not from touching the infected area.3,4

About Author: Lisa Coon

Lisa Coon is a Writing Coordinator for OSF HealthCare, where she has worked since August 2016. A Peoria native, she is a graduate of Bradley University with a degree in journalism. Previously, she worked as a reporter and editor at several newspapers in Iowa and Illinois.She lives in Groveland with her husband and son. In her free time she likes to cook, bake and read. She freely admits that reality TV is a weakness, and she lives by the quote, The beach is good for the soul.

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What Is The Prognosis For People With Contact Dermatitis

If youve reacted to an allergen or irritant, you will continue to do so every time youre exposed to it again. You can prevent flare-ups by avoiding that substance.

Most people who have occupational contact dermatitis can find ways to reduce exposure so they can continue their work without breaking out in a rash.

Eczema Vs Shingles: Risk Factors And Complications

Risk factors for shingles include being over the age of 50, having certain diseases especially those that weaken the immune system like HIV, undergoing cancer treatment, and taking certain medications, such as steroids or medications that prevent transplanted organs from being rejected.

If left untreated, shingles can result in complications including post-herpetic neuralgia, where the pain persists long after shingles has been cleared up, vision loss if the rash is near the eye, neurological problems, facial paralysis, hearing or balance problems, and skin infections.

Risk factors for eczema include genetic factors such as having parents who suffer from allergies, asthma, and hay fever, environmental factors like skin irritants, extreme temperatures, and lack of moisture after bathing, as well as medical conditions like asthma and allergies. Other at-risk groups are infants as the majority of eczema cases occur within the first year of life, and overweight individuals, as obesity can worsen eczema.

Complications related to eczema include asthma and hay fever, chronic itchy and scaly skin, skin infections, irritant hand dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, sleep problems, behavioral problems, and eye problems like watering, itchy eyes and inflammation of the eyelid.

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Treatments For Hives Vs Rashes

Rashes and hives require different treatment to clear them up. Once you know whether you have a rash or hives, you can determine the best treatment options.

Treatments for hives

For mild hives, you can treat them at home with cool compresses and over the counter anti-itch medicines.

If your hives dont go away with home care, your doctor might prescribe a stronger medicine to clear them up. Medications your doctor might prescribe are:

• Antibiotics
• Medication for redness and swelling

If you have chronic hives, your doctor might suggest an injectable medicine called omalizumab. This treatment helps clear up stubborn hives that havent responded to other treatments.

Treatments for rashes

Treatment for a rash will depend on why the rash is happening. Dermatitis conditions cant be cured but you can take steps to reduce your symptoms. Depending on what type of rash you have, your doctor will suggest different treatments. Possible treatments for rashes are:

How To Spot It

Different types of eczema look different. Depending on the type, your skin might swell, blister, crust, ooze, or develop round lesions. Rather than individual spots, eczema usually develops in patches that turn pink, purple, brownish-red, or gray.

Some folks with severe, long-lasting eczema scratch their skin so much that it bleeds or toughens into leathery thickness.

Eczema can strike everywhere from your legs to your eyelids. Its super common in sensitive areas like your fingers, feet, and inner elbows and the backs of your knees.

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Shingles Vs Eczema Differences In Symptoms Causes And Treatments

Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onJune 23, 2016

Shingles and eczema are skin conditions that can cause a rash-like appearance and inflammation of the skin. Knowing the differences between the two can aid in proper diagnosis as both require a specific treatment.

Shingles is a painful rash that is commonly seen among seniors. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus and can appear anywhere on the body. Shingles is a treatable condition, and there is even a vaccine available for at-risk groups in order to reduce the risk. Its important that shingles is caught early as it can lead to serious health complications.

Eczema refers to a non-contagious skin condition, which causes the skin to become inflamed, red, dry, and itchy. The exact cause isnt well understood, but there are many factors that may trigger its onset.

Here we will outline the symptoms, causes, and treatments for both shingles and eczema to help you spot these conditions and understand how to treat them.

Causes Of Contact Dermatitis

Two types of contact dermatitis include:

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Shingles Vs Eczema: Us Prevalence

Roughly 31.6 million Americans have eczema, with 17.8 million living with the severe eczema. Prevalence of eczema can range from 10.7 to 21 percent across the U.S., depending on the state.

One in three Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime, and the risk of shingles goes up after the age of 50. Roughly one to four percent of shingles patients will be hospitalized for shingles-related complications. These individuals tend to have weakened immune systems.

Ninety-six people die of shingles annually, and deaths are common among senior patients or those with weakened immune systems. There has been a steady incline of shingles cases, though the reason behind this trend is unclear. One theory suggests that less people are exposed to the virus due to the decline of chickenpox cases. As a result, less people are building immunity against it.

Netherton And Sam Syndrome

Mutations in structural skin proteins can also lead to severe atopic dermatitis. Netherton syndrome is characterized by a severe ichthyosis, atopic disease, and pathognomonic changes in the hair shaft resembling bamboo and known as trichorrhexis invaginatum. Food allergy, asthma, and angioedema can accompany the skin disease. Immunodeficiency is also a feature of the disease with patients having an increased rate of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The underlying defect is in a mutation in SPINK5, which leads to loss of function of LEKTI. SPINK5 is associated with skin epithelial barrier function which is thought to be relevant in developing ichthyosis associated with SPINK5 mutations, but patients also have poor vaccine responses. Subsequent initiation of immunoglobulin replacement therapy has been shown to help both the rate of infections as well as skin integrity.

Mutations in DSG1 and DSP, both skin junctional barrier proteins, can lead to severe dermatitis-multiple allergies-metabolic wasting syndrome, associated with severe atopy and metabolic wasting, and can also be associated with other congenital malformations such as microcephaly and structural heart defects, amongst others.

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Atopic Dermatitis Or Eczema

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that requires symptom management. Its characterized by an itchy, red rash that usually appears at joints in your body, such as knees or elbows, and even around the neck.

This condition occurs in flare-ups or bouts, meaning that it gets worse and improves in irregular cycles. Symptoms include:

• asteatotic eczema

To determine what type of eczema you have, make an appointment with your doctor. Following your diagnosis, your doctor will provide a plan for treatment and management.

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.

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 such as oils, lotions, or creams.
• Avoid irritants that make your skin more susceptible to breakouts.
• 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 skin care 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.

Could It Be Shingles

If youre an older adult and experiencing a blistery rash, the most likely answer is that youve got shingles, a.k.a. herpes zoster, which affects one in three people in their lifetime, according to the CDC. Shingles is whats known as a reactivation virus that usually affects older adults, says Dr. Jones Lopez. Basically, once youve had chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus stays in your body. After the initial infection, the virus goes into dormant state for potentially decades, he says. Much later in life, when your immunity goes down, it can reactivate as shingles.

Unlike a chickenpox rash, the shingles rash is usually confined to a specific area of the body and appears in a single band, rather than spreading indiscriminately. It typically happens somewhere on the chest or back, says Dr. Jones-Lopez, although the head and other parts of the body can sometimes be affected. The key thing that distinguishes the shingles rash is that it doesnt cross the midline. If it spreads across your body, its not shingles. For example, if youve got a rash on left side of your face but another on the right side of your back, you can probably rule out this illness.

In addition to a rash , you may have some pain, itching, or tingling on your skin. You may also have flu-like symptoms . Like chickenpox, shingles rashes may itchbut they are mostly known for causing pain.

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Food Allergic Reactions: What Triggers Them

Our immune systems protect our bodies from foreign invaders, like viruses and bacteria. But when someone eats a food they are allergic to, their immune system mistakes the proteins of that food for a foreign invader. The immune system signals their body to over-defend itself against those food proteins, and this triggers an allergic reaction.

Immune Dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy Enteropathy X

IPEX is a dysregulation of the immune system which leads to multiple autoimmune manifestations and prominent atopic dermatitis. The underlying dysfunction is the loss of function of FOXP3 and resultant absence of regulatory T cells . Treg cells play a critical role in the prevention of autoimmune disease and self-reactivity, and indeed discovering the loss of Treg cells in IPEX played a critical role as an experiment of nature in defining their role. The atopic dermatitis is an early manifestation of the disease and occurs early in infancy. It may be accompanied by other skin manifestations of autoimmune disease such as alopecia universalis. While enteropathy and chronic watery diarrhea is a constant feature of IPEX, the typical sentinel feature of the disease leading to its diagnosis is autoimmune phenomenon such as early type I diabetes. End organ manifestations also include thyroiditis, autoimmune cytopenias, hepatitis, interstitial lung disease, and adrenal failure. IgE mediated food allergy is an additional feature of the atopic character of IPEX.

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What Is The Treatment For A Fungal Skin Infection Vs Eczema

Fungal Skin Infection Treatment

A wide array of treatment options are available to treat candidiasis. Options include creams, lotions, ointments, tablets or capsules, troches , and creams. Talk to a doctor to find the option that is right for you.

Medications used to treat yeast infections generally fall into two main categories.

• Azole medications are a family of antifungal drugs that end in the suffix “-azole.” They block the manufacture of ergosterol, a crucial material of the yeast cell wall. Without ergosterol, the yeast cell wall becomes leaky and the yeast die. Because ergosterol is not a component of human membranes, azoles do not harm human cells.
• Polyene antifungal medications include nystatin and amphotericin B. Nystatin is used for thrush and superficial candidal infections. Doctors reserve amphotericin B for more serious systemic fungal infections. The antifungals work by attaching to the yeast cell wall building material, ergosterol. These medications then form artificial holes in the yeast wall that cause the yeast to leak and die.

Eczema Treatment

Removing exacerbating factors is a good place to start when managing eczema at home. This may be as simple as changing the laundry detergent to one that is fragrance free or as difficult as moving to a new climate or changing jobs.

Avoid wearing tight-fitting, rough, or scratchy clothing.

Anything that causes sweating can irritate the rash. Avoid strenuous exercise during a flare.

Preventing Eczema Flare Ups

There is no cure for atopic dermatitis, but there are things you can do to prevent outbreaks, and treatments are available for when outbreaks happen.1 For the prevention of atopic dermatitis, doctors recommend that patients keep the skin well moisturized. It can also help to try and identify what might be triggering outbreaks, such as certain skin products or allergens, and avoid exposure if possible. Shorter baths or showers with warm waternot hot and gentle, eczema-friendly soaps are also recommended.1

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Difference Between Shingles And Eczema Causes

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have previously had chickenpox, there is a higher risk of having shingles later on in life. Even if youve recovered from chickenpox, the virus can be dormant and remain in the nervous system. Throughout the years, the virus can become reactivated and present itself as shingles.

The reason why the varicella zoster virus reactivates is unclear and may have to do with aging and a weakened immune system, hence the prevalence of shingles among older adults.

The exact cause of eczema is unknown. Because it often resembles an allergy, researchers believe that environmental factors may trigger the condition. A combination of factors may come into play with regards to the cause of eczema, including genetics, abnormal functioning of the immune system, environment, activities that cause the skin to be more sensitive, and defects in the skin barrier allowing moisture out and germs in.

Eczema has been found to run in families, so heredity may be a contirbuting factor. It is also more common in asthma patients and in those who suffer from allergies.

Hives Or Psoriasis How To Tell The Difference

Hives and psoriasis are skin conditions that are often confused with one another. Both result in itchy patches of red skin and can spread to multiple locations on the body or can be confined to one area of inflammation. However, they have different causes and unique symptoms that can help you tell them apart. Determining whether you have hives or psoriasis will help your doctor or allergist establish a treatment plan.

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What Is It Like Living With Dermatitis

Dermatitis is both common and normal. Many people live with it.

Managing your symptoms is important for living with dermatitis. Do your best to keep your dermatitis under control. You can do this by following your healthcare providers instructions. Try your at-home remedies and take any prescribed medications.

You may find that there are times when your dermatitis disappears. This is known as a remission period. Other times you may have a flare up, which is when your dermatitis gets worse.

Do your best not to scratch your dermatitis as this can lead to infections and scars.

Learning The Differences Between Eczema And Psoriasis

• Psoriasis causes well-defined, thick, red, scaly patches, commonly in areas like the elbows and knees. It is common to see psoriasis on the face, buttocks, and scalp of a child. Youll also commonly see thick patches of skin with overlying redness.

• Eczema tends to appear in the crooks of the knees and the elbows.

• Children who have psoriasis tend to have mild itching. In eczema, the itching can be intense.

• There are many ways for a dermatologist to tell the difference between eczema and psoriasis, including what one sees on the skin, the amount of itch, and where the disease appears on the skin.

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Eczema Treatment That Provides Relief

No matter which type of eczema you have atopic or contact dermatitis your number one goal is to find relief from dry, itchy skin. In addition to lifestyle changes , our team of understanding providers recommends the right prescription medications and/or topical products for you.

Depending on which type of eczema you have, you might benefit from:

• Topical corticosteroids
• Oral antihistamines
• Antibiotics, antiviral medications, or antifungal medications to combat any secondary skin infections

Getting your eczema under control is our top priority, and thats why we work to develop a custom treatment plan so you can find relief from itching. To book an appointment, contact the location of your choice Kingsport or Johnson City, Tennessee, or Abingdon, Virginia today.

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