Eczema: The unknown disorder

Have you ever heard of a skin disorder called eczema? I never heard about it until a family member of mine told me that her son might have it. Listening to her made me think about other members of the African American community that may never heard of eczema. So I started on a research trail into the world of eczema.

The first question to ask of course is, what is eczema. According to the Eczema Association of Australia, Inc, “eczema is a disorder which results in dry, inflamed and sometimes weeping or infected skin. When it comes to African Americans with the disorder it may be primarily follicular based (Lang, 2000).

That definition let us know what it is, I cant imagine how irritating this disease must be. Another thing that makes this disorder a pain is the fact that there is more than one form of eczema. The National Eczema Society website shows a list of the different kinds of the disease:

NAME- Atopic eczema

DEFINITION- it can affect both children and adults, usually running in families. One of the most common symptoms of atopic eczema is its itchiness (or pruritis), which can be almost unbearable.

PREVENTION- includes emollients to maintain skin hydration and steroids to reduce inflammation.

NAME- Allergic contact dermatitis-

DEFINITION- Develops when the body’s immune system reacts against a substance in contact with the skin and the allergic reaction often develops over a period of time through repeated contact with the substance.

PREVENTION- In order to prevent repeated reactions it is best to prevent contact with anything that you know causes a rash.

NAME- Irritant contact dermatitis-

DEFINITION- this is a type of eczema caused by frequent contact with everyday substances, such as detergents and chemicals, which are irritating to the skin.

PREVENTION- Avoiding the irritants and keeping the skin moisturized can prevent.

NAME- Infantile seborrhoeic eczema-

DEFINITION- a common condition affecting babies under one year old, the exact cause of which is unknown. Also referred to as cradle cap, it usually starts on the scalp or the nappy area and quickly spreads.

PREVENTION- Normally this type of eczema will clear in just a few months, though the use of moisturizing creams and bath oils can help to speed this along.

NAME- Adult seborrhoeic eczema

DEFINITION- Characteristically affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40. It is usually seen on the scalp as mild dandruff, but can spread to the face, ears and chest. The skin becomes red, inflamed and starts to flake.