Side Effects With Using Hydrocortisone Cream As Eczema Treatment
By Evelyn Lim 
In my teens, I was first introduced to using hydrocortisone cream for my eczema treatment. Since then, every time I had an outbreak, I would turn to it. This continued for more than ten years. However, in the last few years, I noticed that increasingly applying hydrocortisone creams on my affected skin is not as effective as before. In fact, it got harder and harder to control my eczema. My affected skin also got thinner and I would get abrasions very easily. I then decided to find out the truth behind the side effects of using hydrocortisone creams.
Hydrocortisone cream (1%) is one kind of topical corticosteroids and is easily available at your local store without prescription. They are packaged in various forms such as creams and lotions and are marketed under different brands.
Corticosteroid creams are topical skin applications which are used for skin itching, redness, discomfort and other skin-related problems. They come in varying strengths. Stronger ones are only available via prescription by your doctor. Corticosteroids are referred to as steroids. The term steroids often have a negative ring to it because of a number of side effects that this drug is known to bring. Corticosteroids for eczema are different from anabolic steroids, which are used by some athletes to increase their endurance.
However, just like any other type of drugs, hydrocortisone cream for eczema treatment also has its own side effects especially if you do not administer it properly. You should always check to see if you are allergic to steroids in the first place. Ask your doctor if in doubt. Secondly, as I have found out, prolonged use can cause skin to thin out. This is a condition known as atrophy. Because your skin is now more sensitive due to thinning out, you are more prone to skin abrasion and infection. That is why if you have eczema and have used hydrocortisone cream for weeks or months, you are more susceptible to a fungi and bacteria infection. With an infection, your eczema symptoms are sure to worsen.
You also get the appearance of stretch marks with prolonged use. Your blood vessels swell and there is loss of skin pigment in the affected areas. Your bloodstream may also absorb the strong steroids and this can affect other body systems. In the worst case scenario, it can also suppress the production of your natural adrenaline, thus causing you to be prone to a lot of illness including Cushing’s syndrome.
In all situations, it is in your best interest to minimize the use of hydrocortisone creams or corticosteroids for your eczema treatment. If you need to use them, do so sparingly and use only as directed. If you find that your medication is not working within a week, stop its usage and see a skin doctor right away. You may need a stronger prescription. It is far better to treat your eczema with an appropriate strength medication than to use one that is not effective. A stronger prescription also allows you to get your eczema treated within a shorter period of time. In addition, look for alternative eczema treatment options which are natural and potentially produce fewer or no side effects.
Evelyn Lim has been suffering from eczema skin symptoms for several years. She now spends her time researching about her condition and reviewing natural skin care products as well as natural therapies. Find out how she recently got herself treated in her newsletter here at http://www.eczematreatmentsecrets.com
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Eczema Natural Remedies – 3 Simple and Natural Ways to Clear Your Eczema
Author: Beth Collington
The unbelievable frustration and distress that is always brought on by eczema is sometimes underestimated and it really is one of the worst skin conditions. However, apart from steroids (that shouldn’t be used as a long-term treatment), there are workable eczema natural remedies to clear and prevent eczema that I will discuss in this article.
Eczema and the diet
One of the top causes of eczema is allergies to foods. If you don’t already know what foods bring on your eczema, now is a good time to find out. You can have a skin test performed at your local surgery or you can keep a diary yourself of what you eat each day and when your eczema flares up. After 3-4 weeks you should see a trend forming and will be able to determine the offending foods and remove them where possible from the diet.
Miniaturization
Another main cause of itchiness leading to eczema is lack of moisture in the skin. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean being able to use any old skin cream. Carefully choose an unperfumed, preferably organic range of skin cream with vitamin E. Look out for labels stating that the cream is dermatologically tested and therefore suitable for highly sensitive skin. If you have used emollients and they have not worked, don’t persevere with them as they are not suited to everyone and can sometimes make eczema worse. Moisturize every day after bathing.
Avoid touching the face and other eczema areas
This may seem impossible, but as someone who has accomplished it, I can tell you that it is not only possible, but extremely important and should be part of your eczema natural remedies regime.
Everyday our hands come into contact with all sorts of potential irritants and we then transfer the irritant to out faces and areas with eczema when we touch them. Keep this in your mind at all times. Be aware that touching your face can bring on eczema and you will soon train your mind to avoid it. Keeping you hands clean, is also essential and there will be less cause for concern if the areas are touched.
These are just a few methods for beginning your road to clear and itch-free skin. There are also other extremely effective eczema remedies to keep it away for good. To access the full guide to getting rid of eczema, continue to Eczema Natural Remedies.
About the Author:
Having suffered from eczema for 15 years and finally found a way to cure and maintain my skin, I feel qualified to pass on my advice. Remember to consult your doctor when embarking on a new treatment.
Article Source: www.linkroll.com -
Eczema Natural Remedies – 3 Simple and Natural Ways to Clear Your Eczema
I Have A Skin Rash: Is It Allergic Contact Dermatitis?
By Dr. Richard Thomas, MD, FRCPC
When you talk to a dermatologist about allergies, you may think of a condition called allergic contact dermatitis.
This occurs when a substance has come in contact with the skin and the immune system, over 1-2 weeks, mounts an immunologic response causing swelling, redness and itching. This is different from an irritant contact dermatitis, which is caused by an irritant breaking down the protective barriers of the skin. For example, it’s what you’d see if you were to wash your hands with strong soap 50 times/day. Dermatitis sometimes looks like eczema, so check out the rest of this site to compare them.
How does allergic contact dermatitis look?
- Well defined, red, swollen blisters that are ongoing during the acute stage. They form initially at the place of contact with the allergen, but may later become more widespread.
- If the process has gone on for a long time, the skin may become thickened and scaly.
Food Allergies
Many patients think of skin allergies as those related to reactions on the skin from foods or pollen or molds. Food allergies occur most commonly in infants and children who have atopic eczema. Cows’ milk, eggs, peanuts, soy and wheat are the highest risk foods. Others will react to other foods, such as shellfish, strawberries, and tomatoes. True food allergies are much more difficult to accurately test; the best way may be to abstain from eating the food for a period of time, then try the suspected food again and look out for skin changes. Hives (urticaria) may also develop in response to foods allergies.
How do you prove an allergic reaction?
- Perform patch tests. A standard battery of known allergens are placed on the skin in small chambers and left in contact for 2-3 days. Allergic reactors will be seen as swollen red bumps. Those tests are performed by dermatologists.
- Take the suspected product and rub it on to a spot on the inner upper forearm twice a day for 3-4 days. A reaction should be seen if an allergy is present.
What are the most common substances that we are allergic to?
Your symptoms can be an allergic reaction to the fragrances and preservatives in products including:
- Skincare products 28 per cent
- Haircare products 24 per cent
- Facial cosmetics 11 per cent
- Nail cosmetics 8 per cent
- Fragrance products 7 per cent
Also pay attention to natural products that contain rosemary, sandalwood, arnica, chamomile, vitamin E, tea-tree, lavender oil, cinnamon alcohol, eugenol, genaniol, musk ambrette.
Other common allergy triggers include:
- Nickel
- This is the most common test to be positive. It is commonly found in costume jewelry, such as earrings and necklaces, as well as buckles and snaps. - Balsam of Peru
- This is a naturally occurring fragrance found in cosmetics, and also in spices such as cloves, cinnamon. - Fragrances
- These are often found in cosmetics. - Thimerosal
- This is a preservative used to prevent bacterial growth in cosmetics.
- It is also used as an antiseptic in contact lens solutions. - Formaldehyde
- This substance can be found many products, such as textiles, paints, cigarette smoke, paper, plastic bottles, etc.
- It is rarely used in cosmetics these days.
- In textiles, it is used as a finish on wash and wear, wrinkle resistant, permanent press, or drip dry clothes. - Quaternium 15
- This is a preservative used to prevent bacterial and fungi from growing in personal care products. - Neomycin and Bacitracin
- These are found in commonly used OTC antibiotic creams.
If you find you have an allergy, the only way to prevent reactions to the allergens is to avoid them.
Six tips to stay comfortable
- If the irritated areas itch, apply cool, damp compresses.
- Do not scratch – it can cause scarring, infection, increased pigmentation, and thickening of the skin. Instead, gently pat the skin.
- Avoid hot water. Decrease the number of showers and baths you take.
- Avoid soaps, detergents and overheated rooms.
- If the irritated area is dry, use an emollient such as Aquaphor, Eucerin, Vaseline or Acid Mantle.
- Do not put alcohol or antiseptic lotions on your lesions.
Follow the link for information on various types of dermatitis and to compare it with eczema. For more general information about treating your skin correctly, go to SkinCareGuide.ca.
About the author:
Richard Thomas, MD, FRCPC is Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Division of Dermatology, University of British , Vancouver, Canada.
Eat Your Way to Healing Eczema Naturally
By Audrey Lynn
A strong immune system is crucial to healing eczema. The important key to a strong immune system is through a healthy diet. This basic information regarding the importance of a nutritious diet is something that each dermatologist or physician should discuss with their eczema patients. It’s not that the body needs to be medicated; but rather, that it needs to be fed the nutrients for which it is deficient.
These are some food groups which are absolutely essential in healing eczema. This does not mean that you must eat everything listed here all at once. However, try to make sure that these essential nutrients become a part of you or your child’s daily diet.
(1) Vitamin A
Commonly we associated Vitamin A with good eyesight and skin. Not many of us realize that this is an immune boosting nutrient as well. Because eczema is an immuno-disorder, you can understand the importance of this essential nutrient towards the healing process. In other words, an eczema flare up signifies a deficiency in Vitamin A (especially beta carotene which is a major contributing factor in eczema healing). As a matter of fact, and if I had to do order of importance, replenishing this nutrient would be my first focus.
There are two forms of vitamin A: beta carotene & retinol. You want to focus your attention on the beta carotene form. Some of the foods that contain this essential nutrient are green vegetables (like broccoli, collard, kale, mustard, & spinach), green & romaine lettuce, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, and pink grapefruit (to name a little more than a few). Daily servings of one or more of these vegetables will begin the healing process. Green vegetables are especially important as they play the dual role of providing both the beta carotene and the fiber which are critical to healing eczema.
A word of caution here, just as vitamin A deficiencies can cause disease, so can over-dosage. This is why you need to be careful when supplementing this vitamin, as in the form of pills. I would prefer consuming this essential nutrient through whole food consumption which is the safest way.
(2) Vitamin B
B2 (riboflavin) helps the body cells to use oxygen and promotes tissue repair/healthy skin. B3 (niacin) is essential for cell metabolism and the absorption of carbohydrates which also helps to maintain healthy skin. Whole food sources for vitamin B2/riboflavin are milk, cheese, liver, fish, & poultry. A major whole food source for B3/niacin is liver.
(3) Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine which regulates histamine release in a healthy manner without promoting the harmful side effects as those created by steroid and other eczema medications. And, of course, Vitamin C is essential for boosting the immune system. You must make sure your body gets a constant daily supply of Vitamin C as it is not stored in the body.
(4) Fiber
Fiber is especially important for good digestive health. Fiber promotes good digestion. This will not only help rid the constipation problem; but it will also remove candida. Candida is a yeast like parasite that promotes eczema. Fiber promotes healthy digestive flow and helps in ridding the body of the candida that promotes eczema flare ups.
(5) Essential fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, omega-9, GLA) and Vitamin E
The essential fatty acids and vitamin E addresses the skin and cells moisture levels. EFA’s are responsible for maintaining the cells moisture. This is important because the skin’s moisture barrier serves as a protective barrier against the elements (free radicals). Some of the food sources of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids are fish and shellfish, flaxseed (linseed), soya oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, hemp oil, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, and walnuts.
EFA deficiency is definitely a factor that has to be addressed in eczema sufferers; however, it is not the only deficiency an eczema manifestation represents. As a result, people who focus solely on replenishing EFA deficiency, (at the exclusion of the other deficiencies), end up frustrated in the healing process. In their frustration, they then reject the importance of EFA replenishment regarding eczema treatment. EFA replenishment is still essential to eczema healing; it just needs to be done in conjunction with nutritional replenishment of the various other vitamin/mineral deficiencies eczema represents.
From the list of food sources that I have given you, there are probably others that I’ve overlooked. Nonetheless, becoming familiar with the nutrients that food provides the human body goes a long way in making us more health conscious and aware of the benefits, (or lack of benefits in some cases), of the foods we consume. Feeding the right food to our body is the first step to healing eczema.
EczemaFreeNaturally.com is created by a mother who is determined to find a natural cure for her son’s eczema and sick of all the hypes on eczema lotions and potions. EczemaFreeNaturally.com offers natural and organic way of treating eczema, an increasingly common skin disorder. Check out http://www.eczemafreenaturally.com for more information on the healthier way to an eczema free lifestyle.
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The Types of Eczema Explained
Eczema, with its itching, inflammation, and sometimes weeping and crusting, is a frustrating condition that virtually affects many areas of the sufferer’s life. There are several types of eczema each with their own unique causes, symptoms, and body locations. It is common to classify the various types either by their causes or by their symptoms. Below you will find a listing and description of the most common types that will help you identify, if need be, what form you may be suffering from.
Atopic eczema is by far the most common type. If you’re wondering what causes this form, you inherited it and are born with the tendency of having a hypersensitivity or an allergy to various allergens. Allergens are many and can be anything from dust mites to pet dander to peanuts, and everyone’s allergy to allergens is different. Since you are born atopic (hypersensitivity to allergens), the condition usually shows up when you are an infant. Some sufferers outgrow it and some do not, but it does seem to get worse the older you get. The body location in infants is usually the torso, neck, ears, and face. It can also occur in the diaper area as well. A very common area for it to occur in older children is behind the knees, the creases of the elbow, wrists and arms, and sometimes the legs as well. The symptoms of this form vary person to person as well and range from itchy, dry, and scaly skin to skin with vesicles or blisters that ooze or weep and crust.
Contact dermatitis is much like the atopic form as it can be an allergic reaction to a particular substance that our skin comes in direct contact with. This type is another one of the more common types. A classic example is the rash one develops after coming into contact with poison ivy. Irritants or allergens are many and vary from person to person. Some common irritants are sweat, saliva, urine, bubble bath, soaps, and even water. Other common irritants that trigger this form include cosmetics, deodorants, cleaning products, medications, fragrances or scents, lotions and skin cream, shampoos and even the contents of our clothing, such as wool. The symptoms of this condition also vary by each case. Some of us experience a blistering or weeping type of rash that crusts, especially when exposed to poison ivy or the likes, and others experience a scaly, dry itchy rash. No matter the symptoms, you can always be assured that intense itching accompanies them all.
Seborrheic dermatitis is another type that has several different symptoms. Instead of a drier type of rash, the rash is oily or greasy and somewhat yellowish in color and does not tend to itch quite as much. If you have ever heard someone say that their child has “cradle cap”, it is actually the seborrheic form. This type also tends to run in families as well but does not seem to be allergy related. It occurs most commonly on the scalp but can also occur on the face and neck.
Varicose or stasis eczema typically occurs in people who are in their later years and is caused by varicose veins or other conditions that cause circulation problems in the lower legs. Accompanying leg swelling or edema, the symptoms of this type are usually inflamed, itchy skin that may have small red bumps or vesicles and skin that sometimes darkens. If the condition worsens, it is common for the skin to actually ulcerate.
Nummular or discoid eczema is one of the more uncommon types of eczema. It is named for the shape the rash occurs, which is a circular pattern like a coin. The coin patterns usually occur on the legs and arms and sometimes the chest, back, and buttocks and are typically scaly, very itchy, and can even weep and crust. This form tends to occur in people who have a genetic history of atopic dermatitis. Although this type does occur in women, it is more common in men.
Dyshidrotic or pompholyx eczema affects both men and women. It usually occurs on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands but can also occur in between the fingers and toes as well. The typical symptoms are fluid-filled blisters or vesicles that are extremely itchy and somewhat burn. Doctors do not know the cause of this form, but it was once thought to be related to excessive sweating. The word dyshidrotic actually means “bad” sweating.
As you can see by the descriptons of the many types of eczema, it is truly one of life’s most unbearable and irritating skin conditions. No matter what type you might be suffering from, there is hope, and you can have victory over it.
To find out more about the various types of eczema and how to permanently eliminate it, please visit http://www.eczematreatmentanswers.com
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