What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Eczema
- How can you tell that I have eczema?
- If I dont have eczema, what other skin condition might I have?
- Is there a specific brand of moisturizer that you recommend?
- Is there a prescription cream that you can prescribe?
- How often should I see a dermatologist regarding my eczema?
- What soaps, lotions, makeup, etc. should I avoid?
- What medications do you recommend?
- What at-home treatments do you recommend?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Eczema is very normal, very common, and very, very uncomfortable. It can affect your quality of life. At its worse it can keep you from sleeping, distract you and make you feel self-conscious in public. See your dermatologist or other healthcare provider as soon as you start to see signs of it. Explore at-home remedies and prescribed treatments.
Youre not alone! 15% to 20% of people experience eczema or another type of dermatitis at some point in their lives.
Here’s Why You Get Itchy And Why Scratching Feels So Good
Having an itch is an intense and frustrating experience – especially if scratching just makes it worse.
But there are certain disorders that actually result in people itching uncontrollably without relief. In one case study, a woman had such an itchy scalp she scratched through to her brain.
So how do these disorders originate? It all comes back to why we itch in the first place, as this video from It’s Okay To Be Smart explains.
Itching is an incredibly strange sensation that scientists still don’t fully understand.
The itch sensation is technically known as pruritus, and it’s thought to have evolved as a way to protect skin – our largest organ – from parasites and build-up of dead cells.
After all, all our other organs are tucked away safely inside our bodies, where they can be fully protected by the immune system. But our skin is our first line of defence, constantly in contact with the outside world, so it makes sense it evolved some unique ways to stay intact.
It also explains why itching is contagious – back in the palaeolithic days when we all lived in close quarters, if you saw an infested tribesmate scratching away at themselves, it would make sense that you should start scratching too, in order to avoid being bitten or infected by whatever was bothering them.
But it doesn’t explain why an itch produces such a unique and maddening sensation.
But we now know that itching actually has its own specific circuitry, involving its own chemicals and cells.
Scratching.
Itching Is One Of The Main Symptoms Of Atopic Eczema
If you have dry skin and atopic eczema, you have probably been told not to scratch. But atopic eczema can be so itchy and the more people tell you not to scratch, the more you want to, right? When you scratch, it takes away the itch – for a while at least. So why is everyone always telling you to stop scratching?
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Itchy Skin & Eczema: Debunking Common Myths
Posted on: April 30, 2018 | Posted inMisc, News
Are you one of 30 million Americans who suffer with itchy skin? This rash is known as eczema, a condition that affects both children and adults. Symptoms such as rough patches and inflamed skin are common among eczema sufferers. Unfortunately, myths about eczema are floating around the Internet, causing people to delay treatment.
Discover the truth behind frustrating eczema myths:
Is Eczema A Sign Of A Weak Immune System
Common skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis are seen in people with normal immune systems as well. Sometimes, skin disease is one of the earliest symptoms of a primary immunodeficiency disease and can lead to further clinical or laboratory evaluation to identify immune deficiency.
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Use A Moisturizer On Your Skin Every Day
Moisturizers help keep your skin soft and flexible. They prevent skin cracks. A plain moisturizer is best. Avoid moisturizers with fragrances and a lot of extra ingredients. A good, cheap moisturizer is plain petroleum jelly . Use moisturizers that are more greasy than creamy because creams usually have more preservatives in them.
Regular use of a moisturizer can help prevent the dry skin that is common in winter.
What Questions Might My Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose Eczema
The conversation with your healthcare provider will need to cover a lot of information. Be sure to be specific about your symptoms.
- Where is your eczema located?
- What have you used to try to treat your eczema?
- What medical conditions do you have? Allergies? Asthma?
- Is there a history of eczema in your family?
- How long have you had symptoms of eczema?
- Do you take hot showers?
- Is there anything that makes your symptoms worse?
- Have you noticed that something triggers or worsens your eczema? Soaps? Detergents? Cigarette smoke?
- Is there so much itchiness that you have trouble sleeping? Working? Living your normal life?
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Why Does Eczema Itch At Night And All The Dang Time
Researchers arent super sure what causes eczema, but genetics and environmental triggers might be to blame.
When eczema makes its grand entrance, the affected patches of skin become red and sore, which leads to itching. On top of that, inflammation from eczema increases blood flow, which, you guessed it, also adds to the itch.
If the skin barrier is broken to due inflammation and scratching, this can lead to transepidermal water loss , which contributes to the itch-scratch cycle as well.
Why Does Scratching Eczema Feel So Good
Science of Scratching Though it feels good, scratching actually triggers mild pain in your skin. Nerve cells tell your brain something hurts, and that distracts it from the itch. It can make you feel better in that moment, but 1 in 5 people say scratching makes them itch somewhere else on their body.
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Does Hot Water Make Eczema Symptoms Better For Some People
Hot water can provide immediate itch relief. Many people with eczema report that very hot water feels good on their skin and takes away the itching and inflammation. This happens because hot water can stimulate the nerves on your skin in a way thats similar to scratching.
However, while hot water can provide instant relief of symptoms, it will likely make them worse in the long term. Instead of using hot water, you can apply moisturizer or a topical eczema cream. This can stop your itch without causing a worse flare-up later.
How Common Is Eczema
Eczema affects up to 15 million Americans. Infants are prone to eczema and 10% to 20% will have it. However, nearly half outgrow the condition or have significant improvement as they get older.
Eczema affects males and females equally and is more common in people who have a personal or family history of asthma, environmental allergies and/or food allergies.
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How To Stop Itching Your Skin If You Have Eczema
Nothing is more frustrating than trying not to scratch your itchy skin, particularly if you have eczema. Try these expert-approved strategies to break the itch-scratch cycle.
“Dont scratch” is probably one of the bestand worstpieces of advice an eczema patient can receive. The skin condition, which is caused by an abnormal immune reaction that results in dry, red, cracked patches of skin, is only made worse by itching. Your nails damage the skin barrier, which then ramps up inflammatory molecules that exacerbate the itch, explains Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Whats more, chronic scratching may make you more susceptible to infections, since it’s easier for bacteria to invade the cracked skin.
But heres the rub: itching an eczema rash feels good.“Scratching induces a short term pain response that suppresses the itch,” says Dr. Silberberg. “Patients feel the short-term gain, but dont realize how it actually harms skin.” Your best way to dampen down the itch is to see your doctor for treatments, prescription or over-the-counter, that address the underlying problem that causes the itch. Although it may not be possible to stop itching once and for all, here are eight strategies that may help you keep your hands off.
Baby Eczema Got Your Kiddo Itching At Night
Bedtime itching can make a baby uncomfy too . Eczema can pop up during infancy, typically as a rash on the face and scalp.
Thankfully symptoms usually go away as your bébé grows up roughly 95 percent of children dont have symptoms after 20 years.
While the itching persists, eczema treatments for kids and babies are often the same as adults. But, there are extra ways to help babies with eczema be more comfortable throughout the night.
Ways to lessen eczema symptoms in babies include:
- Learn and avoid their triggers.
- Keep a daily routine of bathing and moisturizing.
- Be careful with antibacterial ointments .
- Stay away from baby wipes that have isothiazolinones, an ingredient that may trigger skin reactions.
- Ditch baby shampoos and other items that contain cocomidopropyl betaine .
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Why Scratching An Itch Always Feels So F*cking Good
I have had eczema since I was born. I will scratch my skin until it bleeds, and then I will scratch it some more. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m scratching, and friends have to grab my hand to stop me from tearing my flesh open. It only works for a second before I begin scratching again.
I’m addicted to scratching my itch, which is a huge problem, because if you have eczema, you are always itchy. Which means I am always scratching.
But what is it about scratching an itch that feels so damn good? I know scratching relieves my itch, but I tend to keep scratching even after the itch is relieved because of how amazing it feels. And I know other people who do the same. So why do we itch even after we seem to scratch it away?
A study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis gave me my answers. Researchers in the study found that scratching releases serotonin, which somehow INTENSIFIES the itch sensation.
Here’s how: When you scratch your skin, the pain that accompanies the scratching distracts the brain from the itch. Those pain signals are then sent to the brain. Then, serotonin, the feel-good hormone that is also a pain-blocker, is released and travels down the spinal cord to both stop the pain from the scratch and release good feels.
So scratching creates pain that the body responds to, but then when the body responds, the response intensifies the need to scratch. Cool. I’m basically trapped in this cycle forever.
Hot Water Euphoria And Eczema
I was reading online the other week and was amused to find a thread on yahoo answers or similar regarding hot water euphoria or the act of burning your skin with hot water. Ive been doing this for as long as I can remember and I was genuinely amazed to discover that there are all these other people out there that do it too! When my hands or arms itch really badly, I run them under the hot tap until they are bright red and steaming hot: it hurts like hell but afterwards theres this rush of good endorphins and you actually let out a moan of pleasure and it washes over you like a full body orgasm. Its probably destroying my skin in the long term, and my hands look like the hands of a 70 year old dishwasher from a combination of cortisone creams and boiling hot water but if Im at work or a cinema or a friends place there is literally no other way to stop the itching. I cant rip the eczema to shreds on public skin because Im not ok with that. For now: hot water euphoria ist krieg! Ive been at girls houses having a shower and just KNOWING that i cant scratch because I dont want to get blood on her or her sheets, and had to use this method in the shower. Its best if you can find a shower with a hand held shower handle to spray it right onto the worst parts without burning the reasonably normal areas that arent affected, and I can only hope that no one else can hear the moaning in pleasure
Also Check: How To Cure Infant Eczema
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.
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.
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What’s The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis In Adults
Subtle Differences in Itchiness Dr. Millstein says, “Psoriasis tends to cause milder itching and, in some less common types of psoriasis, a terrible burn. Eczema, on the other hand, can lead to very intense itching. When it starts to become severe, some people scratch their skin so hard that it bleeds.”
Read also
Why Does Eczema Itching Feel So Good
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever felt that pleasure from scratching at in itch?
You know, that pain-pleasure feeling when you just cant stop scratching? If you have, did you ever wonder why it felt so good, to the point where you just cant stop?
Well, it has to do with two things: Pain, and the itching signal I previously mentioned.
The itching signal is transmitted to your brain by the bodys smallest C-fiber nerves. These C-fiber nerves are essentially the itching signals transportation method: destination, your brain.
Right next to these C-fiber nerve lines, are some other C-fiber nerves, but theyre not carrying an itching signal.
These other C-fiber nerve lines are carrying something different, another feeling called pain. Actually because theyre so close together, in the past scientists mistakenly thought that pain and the feeling of itchiness traveled on the same C-fiber nervesbut this was dispelled by further research showing that pain and itching elicit opposite responses.
Pain causes a withdrawal response and itching causes a towards response .
Scientists also discovered that the brain only processes one kind of sensation from a particular location of your body at a time. This means that when your body feels intense pain, it will shut off the feeling of itching until the pain goes away. This also works vice-versa: no pain = intense itchiness. This is why taking pain killers can actually make your eczema feel more itchy.
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Tips For When You Itch
If you canât take it and you simply must scratch, try not to use your fingernails. Instead, rub, pat, tap, or tightly hold the itchy area. You can also gently pinch your skin.
It helps to keep your nails short so youâre less likely to break your skin if you do scratch. You can also try wearing gloves to bed to protect your skin while youâre asleep.
You can try a few other things to deal with the urge to scratch:
Avoid âitch triggers.â Whether itâs a wool sweater, hot room, or a certain cleaning product, know what sets off your skin, then try to steer clear.
Cool off. A wet compress or cold shower can ease the itching.
Take care of your skin. Dry skin will make itching worse. Donât take long, hot showers or baths. Use a gentle, scent-free hydrating cleanser, and stay away from perfumed products.
Apply lotion. At least once a day, use moisturizing cream to soothe your itchy skin. Your doctor may suggest something that has menthol or calamine in it to cool your skin.
Ask your doctor. If over-the-counter creams donât work, ask about prescription meds. For example, corticosteroids can help ease the itch from eczema and psoriasis. If itâs caused by nerve pain, like with multiple sclerosis, an antidepressant or anti-seizure drug might work.
Watch for infection. Call your doctor if your skin is tender to the touch, begins to smell, or oozes pus.
Show Sources
What Is The Most Pleasurable Place To Scratch
Results showed that the itch was felt most intensely at the ankle, and that was also the spot where the pleasure of scratching was felt most keenly and persisted longest. By contrast, the forearm was the least itchy spot, and scratching there produced pleasure that was briefer and lower in intensity.
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Care For Your Skin In The Bath Or Shower
Bathe only with a mild unscented soap, such as Dove, Basis, or Olay. Use a small amount of soap. Keep the water temperature cool or warm, not hot. Soaking in the tub for a short time can be good for your skin. Doing so allows your skins outer layer to absorb water and become less dry. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Then use a soft towel to pat your skin dry without rubbing. Immediately after drying, apply a moisturizer to your skin. This helps seal in the moisture.