What is Eczema?

Hey y'all! Eczema is super common, in fact, it's believed to affect 15 million Americans, so I wanted to talk about it with you guys!

WHAT IS IT?

Atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, causes red, itchy inflammation of the skin. It is very common in children, and often lasts into adulthood.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of eczema include itchiness and dryness of the skin, red, raw, and sensitive patches where skin is affected, and cracked or scaly skin. These symptoms may persist in certain spots such as the elbows, underneath the knee, or behind the ears. Oftentimes, inflammation occurs in crevices of the body, but can flareup anywhere. These flareups may periodically come up and then go down.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Eczema is caused by a gene variation which affects the skin's ability to lock in moisture and protect the skin from outside irritants and allergens.

HOW CAN I PREVENT IT?

Eczema occurs when the skin is unable to retain moisture, so in order to prevent this, moisturizing is incredibly important. Taking shorter showers and baths will limit the skin's exposure to water, which further dries the skin out. After showering, pat yourself off with a towel to avoid irritation and be sure to moisturize while the skin is still damp, to ensure moisture is retained. Using gentle soaps and lotions with few, natural ingredients will help lessen irritation, as well as avoiding certain triggers that cause flare ups.

A SPECIAL TIP...

In my opinion, one of the best ways to calm eczema, or even just dry, irritated skin, is to rub coconut oil over the affected areas of the skin and then wrap the skin with cloth, such as gloves, socks, or a soft towel. By doing this, the skin is able to retain more moisture and is not exposed as directly to the air, which strips it of moisture.