Medical Health Information

Definition of eczema

Otherwise known as atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis, eczema is a chronic skin disease manifested by inflammation and small bubbles (or vesicles) with severe itching.

Eczema appears between the ages of 2-3 months and 2 years in the form of red patches and small vesicles and usually regresses to 5 years to disappear in most cases to 12 years. Outbreaks are often triggered by infections in children and stress in adults.

Risks and consequences of eczema


Eczema is a common skin disease, rising steadily for 30 years. The increasing awareness of environmental allergens and familial predisposition are two major causes of eczema. More common in children, eczema is approximately 2% of adults.

Causes and origins of eczema


Eczema is first and foremost an allergic phenomenon. Children affected by eczema have a genetic predisposition, family, and awareness to allergens in their environment. Other allergic eczema often accompany such as allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or asthma or urticaria.

Signs and symptoms of eczema

The rash eczema develops four symptoms: itchy rash, blisters can come together and form a bubble, oozing blisters burst by forming a crust and finally scarring.
Itching is systematic, sometimes very large, creating a compelling envenomed scratching the lesions.

Adult and strength of itching and scratching, the skin becomes dry, rough and talk about xerosis. After several years, the thick skin turns gray and is called lichenification. Pruritus and lichenification are two elements in adults with severely affected areas like the face, neck, flexures and bust.
The development of symptoms is characteristic sawtooth (relapsing, remitting), outbreaks are reducing gradually with age.

Eczema in adults Prevention


With what should we not confuse eczema in adults?


Contact eczema is a disease independent of atopic eczema or atopic. Contact eczema manifested on contact with an allergenic product remains highly localized and this contact area. Skin tests performed by a dermatologist or allergist can identify the trigger (nickel costume jewelry, hair dyes or colorings among professionals ...). The removal of the product concerned cure.

Will it possible prevention of eczema?


The comfort of the skin is enhanced by simple hygiene measures:

- Toilet or bath daily with soap surgras;

- Dab the skin dry (do not wipe) and moisturise with an emollient cream;
- Prefer cotton wool and synthetic clothing;
- Do not use fabric softener but phosphate-free detergents or soap.
General measures to eliminate mites or allergens from the home are beneficial. Similarly, spa treatments improve symptoms.


To reduce the urge to scratch, it is best to stay cool (avoid differences in body temperature), use moisturizers when itching and refrigerate (placing the tubes in a refrigerator), and if the desire is too strong, better rub or pinch the skin rather than scratching.
Eczema in adults Prepare consultation

When you consult?


Eczema is a chronic disease requiring medical treatment at the first signs. Dry skin in adults should be supported and the vicious circle "scratch-itch-injury" broken.

What is the doctor?

The diagnosis is easy on the lesions presented and their location, scratching and chronic evolution and outbreaks of eczema. No examination is therefore required. Eczema adolescent or adult usually follows a form of the infant, but spontaneous late forms are possible.

The affected areas are reversed compared to infants with pleats (elbow, knee) with head and nipples. During outbreaks, medical treatment based ointments corticosteroids applied locally and in small quantities on the patches of eczema, prescribed and it should never be stopped abruptly but gradually. If intense itching, antihistamines improve symptoms. The fight against dry skin is a priority.

How to prepare my next visit?


Stress, anger, but also outside temperature are all triggers that should be noted and report to the doctor. Some allergens (animals, dust ...) cause more severe attacks: spot eliminates them more easily.