Before delving into the question, Is eczema contagious, there is a need to first take a look at what is eczema. Instead of being a specific condition, eczema can be described as a group of unrelated conditions, which tend to have an appearance that is very similar. Here we will also look at Causes, Mild Eczema, Remedies, Can Eczema Spread, What to do at Home and Treatment
When a person has new eczema, the skin that has been affected will appear in the form of small blisters that are red in color, and elevated from the skin, and may at times contain a fluid that is clear. Once these blisters have started to break, the affected skin area will begin to ooze and weep.
In the case of older eczema, the skin blisters are not as prominent as in new eczema, and your skin will appear thick, scaly, as well as elevated from the skin surface. In almost all cases, eczema will be itchy.
When it comes to the different types in existence, you will find that there are a number of skin conditions that can all lead to eczema. Before a treatment plan can be devised, there will be a need to first distinguish between all the different types.
Is Eczema Contagious
1. Atopic Dermatitis
It is a condition known to have a genetic basis and happens to be the most common type of eczema known to man.
In many cases, the condition will begin early in life and is common among people who have a higher predisposition to allergies, although the condition does not have any kind of allergic basis.
It is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the neck, cheeks, ankles, and knee creases.
2. Irritant Dermatitis
Common among people who often expose their skin surfaces to substances that are toxic in nature
3. Allergic Contact Dermatitis
When your body is repeatedly exposed to the same substances, the immune system in the body will become activated on the location where the dermatitis is next exposed, and this will automatically lead to eczema.
A good example of this type of eczema is poison ivy.
4. Stasis Dermatitis
If looking for the answer on is eczema contagious, you will likely come across this type of eczema. It is common in the lower legs of individuals who often have a problem with blood circulation in their legs, which may in turn lead to swelling.
5. Fungal Infections
They could produce a pattern that is identical to the various existing forms of eczema. However, this fungus may be visualized by a scraping appearing under a microscope
6. Scabies
Scabies is another form of eczema that is brought about by an infestation of the human itch mite. When a person has this condition, it could lead to the production of rashes that are very similar to those that occur in eczema.
7. Nummular Eczema
It is a non-specific term applied when dealing with coin-shaped plaques of skin that is scaling, mainly in the lower legs of older people.
8. Seborrheic Eczema
It leads to the production of rashes on the face, scalp, ears, scalp, and may at times appear in the mid-chest areas of adults.
In small babies, this type of eczema may produce an oozy and weepy rash in the area behind the ears, and may at times be quite extensive as it could involve your entire body.
How can You Get Eczema? Causes of Eczema
As we take a further look into Is eczema contagious, there is a need for us to also look into what causes this particular condition.
Understanding the causes makes it possible to devise a good treatment plan for it. According to BeyondDisease.com, researchers are not yet a hundred percent sure about what causes this condition, but they believe that eczema is brought about by a combination of many different factors.
The factors that can cause eczema include:
1. Genetics
A person who has a parent or siblings with eczema, or another related condition at a higher risk of developing the condition
The researchers believe that gene mutations may cause your skin to react to both internal and external environments in ways that are not normal.
2. Immune System Dysfunction
Autoimmune diseases can also cause eczema. This is where your body will begin to attack itself, and will in the process cause inflammation.
The inflammation is then accompanied by different side effects and symptoms that are often very unpleasant.
3. Environment
Even though the condition is not brought about by allergic reactions, researchers have observed that kids residing in areas with high pollution rates, cold areas, or higher social classes are more prone to developing this condition.
4. The age of the Mother
According to BeyondDisease.com, researchers have come to the conclusion that children that are born to older women have a higher chance of getting this condition compared to those born to younger women.
However, the reason why this is so is yet to be understood.
5. Dry irritable skin
People with dry and irritable skin are unable to retain moisture, and may thus reduce the ability of the skin to act as a barrier against harmful organisms and bacteria. This may affect their skin surfaces, thereby leading to inflammation.
6. Bacteria
There are certain bacteria that could form a film on your sweat glands, and this will make it impossible for the skin to function in a proper manner.
You will find that the excess moisture that should have been transferred to the skin by the sweat glands in your body will instead be distributed beneath the surface of the skin, and this will lead to severe irritation.
7. Increased sensitivity of the skin
Participating in certain tasks, as well as using various chemicals may increase skin sensitivity, and this may contribute to the start of eczema.
When looking into the topic Is eczema contagious, you will need to understand that the condition is not an allergic reaction of any nature, although people with this condition may suffer from food allergies.
Is Eczema Curable?
Eczema can be treated by following certain remedies. The normal treatment regimen for eczema will often comprise of three parts:
- Ensuring you avoid all skin irritants as well as potential eczema triggers whenever possible
- Making sure to use emollients (moisturizers) on a daily basis to make sure that you will not develop any kind of inflammation
- Utilizing ointments and steroid creams-these are particularly important for when you have an inflammation flare-up
Is Eczema Contagious – Can Eczema Spread
Is eczema contagious? -Atopic dermatitis happens to be one of the most common types of eczema. This form is not contagious.
However, you should note that were the raw, irritated eczema skin to become infected, the agent causing the infection could be contagious.
Even though the main cause of this condition is not known, there is a strong belief among researchers that inherited genes could be the leading cause of its development.
Eczema can however spread from one part of the body to the next. Often, you will find that scratching the skin surface tends to make the condition worse.
How to Stop Eczema from Spreading
As you look into Is eczema contagious, you will note that this condition is highly personalized, and it could become serious if you do not take measures to address it when it is still in the initial stages.
You can ensure that it stops spreading by ensuring that you do not scratch your skin. Scratching the skin surface is one of the easiest ways of spreading this condition.
Additionally, consider reducing your intake of dairy products. You may also see more on how to get rid of acne marks.
Mild Eczema
Mild eczema is often closely associated with hay fever as well as asthma. It is normal for it to affect both adults and children, and is characterized by itching.
At times, the itching may become unbearable, but can be soother by applying moisturizers, and staying away from the irritating factors.
Note: Don’t use harsh soaps, instead you can use goat milk soap for eczema. Which is mild, organic, and doesn’t contain harsh components, scents, or essential oils.
Severe Eczema
Severe eczema is mainly brought about by complications arising from mild eczema. In its worst form, it could lead to skin infections, eye complications, as well as eczema herpetic.
All these are characterized by severe itching, which may make the skin surface to open up, and in the process exposing your body to numerous infections.
Eczema Home Remedies
When looking into Is eczema contagious, you will find that the itchy scratch cycle associated with this condition is as vicious as it comes, and the scratching will often be followed by unbearable discomfort.
- Eczema is the general term used to describe all the various skin conditions in existence today, which may lead to inflammation and discoloration of your skin surface. Normally, a person with eczema will find that their skin surface will become red, inflamed, and may blister from time to time.
It is also important to note that this term is used interchangeably with dermatitis, which when translated means inflamed skin. Although there exist many different types and forms of eczema, the most common one is atopic dermatitis and is thought to be hereditary.
- The condition can be triggered by allergens and is most commonly found in small children, even though it can also appear in adults.
The following remedies are ideal for a person who has eczema, as they mainly focus on strengthening the skin surface and protecting it against barriers, filling in any gaps that could have arisen, and in helping the skin retain moisture.
The home remedies include:
1. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is the simplest and most straightforward home remedy that a person can find. It does a great job of sinking into the skin, as well as filling in the intercellular spaces that may have opened up, which are making you lose moisture.
When you have eczema, oils and fats are what you need the most to protect the skin from becoming dry, which may lead to further irritation.
What to do at home
- Wash your hands and gently rinse them, ensuring that they are completely dry
- Take your coconut oil and rub it to all the areas that are affected before allowing it to dry naturally
- You should apply the coconut oil on the skin throughout the day for as many times as necessary
2. Jojoba
Even though coconut oil is fantastic in dealing with eczema, not all people will be successful using it, given that the condition is highly individualized.
- Therefore, if coconut oil does not work for you, consider jojoba. This is not oil but is rather a form of liquid wax, which is known to penetrate the skin, as well as its molecular structure.
According to Dr. Axe, jojoba is composed of fatty alcohols, long-chain fatty acids, and happens to be highly rich, as well as moisturizing.
Fatty alcohols should not in the least bit scare you away, as they are not in any way harmful to your skin surface, and will not dry your skin in any way.
What to do at home
- Rinse the hands using warm water and ensure you pat them dry
- Take your jojoba oil and massage it to the skin surface that is affected, and ensure that it is absorbed partially.
- Jojoba oil is rich in rich and you will not need to apply a lot of the oil for it to work.
- It is recommended that you apply the jojoba oil at least three times each day
3. Prepare a soothing butter
As you continue researching on Is eczema contagious, you will notice that for you to soothe the dry, painful, and itchy patches of skin associated with eczema, nothing will be as effective as butter.
The soothing butter will combine four ingredients that are highly healing, and which include shea butter, butter-jojoba oil, beeswax, and coconut oil.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons shea butter
- 2 teaspoons beeswax
- Six teaspoons of coconut oil
- Four teaspoons of jojoba oil
- Airtight tins
- Lavender essential oil (optional)
What to do at home
- Melt the jojoba oil and beeswax in a double boiler
- Once melted, add in the coconut oil and ensure you stir it properly
- Lower the heat a little, add in the shea butter, and continue stirring
- Take the resulting mixture and put it into your airtight jars
- Allow it sufficient time to cool down
- Liberally apply it to the areas that are affected
4. Make long term changes
To ensure that you will get long term relief, there is a need for you to make long-lasting changes. You can try to keep a small logbook, which will help you track everything that you are doing and what you are eating when the flare-ups begin to take shape.
You should ensure that you note down the date, time, and all foreign products you may have consumed prior to the flare-up.
Eventually, you will notice patterns begin to emerge, and these patterns will allow you to get a better sense of everything you need to avoid.
Staying away from allergens and triggers is a good approach, which will allow you to ensure that you do not get another eczema flare-up.
5. Soak your oats
A good oatmeal bath will never hurt your skin in any way and has been known to help soothe and moisturize the skin surface.
Oatmeal contains chemical constituents that contain anti-inflammatory properties, which are vital in helping relieve discomfort that could be brought about by inflammation that arises when you have eczema.
It is vital when a person is dealing with itchiness.
What to do at home
- Take your oatmeal and pour it into a muslin before securely tying it to form a small bundle
- Obtain a long piece of material and tie it at the tip
- Go to your tub and fill it with water before using the long cloth to hang the bag
- Allow the water t turn smooth and milky
- Get into the tub and soak the affected parts of your skin for a good ten minutes
- Use a dry towel to pat your skin dry
- Apply the normal skin moisturizer
6. Chamomile tea
Chamomile is highly effective when it comes to soothing the skin surface. It not only tames itchiness, but it also helps in reducing inflammation, and in healing the spots that may have become over scratched.
What to do at home
- Take your chamomile and place it in a muslin
- Fill the water tub with warm water
- Once your bathtub is filled with water, you may proceed to drop this bag into the tub
- Soak the skin areas that are affected
- Pat your skin until it becomes dry using a clean and dry towel
- It is recommended that you follow up this remedy with a moisturizer
7. Honey
Honey has been known to perform a number of tasks, which will help in relieving the discomfort associated with eczema.
Honey comes with-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, all of which play an essential role in helping speed up the healing process of your skin.
The downside to using honey is that it tends to become a little sticky, and is therefore ideal for use when dealing with very small areas.
What to do at home
- Confirm that your hands are clean and completely dry
- Obtain a thin honey layer and apply it on all the affected areas
- Cover these areas using a bandage
- Allow it to stay there for at least twenty minutes before you can rinse it off with cool water
- Pat this area dry and then proceed to reapply at least three times each day
8. Clay
When you scratch your skin a lot, there is a probability that you will start to go crazy because of all the itchiness. When looking into Is eczema contagious, you will notice that itching and scratching will make the skin to get little sores, and begin to scab.
It is also important that the more you scratch your skin, the more the inflammation will become worse.
What to do at home
- Use witch hazel or water with the clay to form a paste
- The creamy paste should be applied directly into the area that is affected
- Allow the clay enough time for it to dry up before rinsing it off using cool water
- Use a clean cloth to pat it dry
Is Eczema Curable?
As you look into Is eczema contagious, you may begin to wonder whether the condition is curable. The truth is that to date, no cure has been found for the condition.
However, skin moisturizers and topical steroids are currently the major forms of treatment used by eczema patients, in combination with the home remedies discussed above.
The remedies will help in relieving the symptoms, while the moisturizers ensure that the skin gets to retain as much moisture as possible.
Treatment
As described earlier, treatment for this condition comes in three main parts:
- Staying away from irritants
- Moisturizers
- Use of steroid creams
1. Avoid Irritants and allergens
Many individuals suffering from eczema often have to deal with flare-ups every once in a while. Skin irritants can trigger some of the flare-ups.
Therefore, you need to:
- Avoid bubble baths when washing
- Stay away from fabric conditioners
- Ensure you do not scratch your skin
- If you use detergent when washing the clothes, make sure that the clothes are properly rinsed
2. Moisturizers
It is common for people with eczema to have skin that is very dry. When you have dry skin, you can expect it to flare up every so often.
You, therefore, need to ensure that you use moisturizers on a daily basis. If not sure about which moisturizers are the best, you can ask for a recommendation from your nurse or GP.
When shopping for a moisturizer, make sure to look for one that is thick and greasy. This type will work for longer, but you may find that it is messier
You should liberally apply the moisturizer to your skin
3. Steroid creams
Steroid creams also are known as topical steroids function by doing away with the inflammation that may be present on your skin surface.
These types of steroids are different from the ones that are utilized by athletes as well as body-builders.
It is always best to try out the home remedies before trying out the steroids. In some cases, you may need to combine both the steroids, as well as the home remedies, for you to get relief from the symptoms.
