Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 7-20-18

Health
Eczema can be an uncomfortable topic of discussion for those affected directly or indirectly by the skin condition. The constant itching, excessively dry skin and the overall misinformation leaves many scared to touch this issue or someone else for that matter. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome list to dispel the elephant in many people’s room. While over 30 million people in the United States suf- fer from the skin inflammation, the condition still leaves many people puzzled.
Here are five of the top myths about eczema and the truth about this condition:
the same.
#1: All eczema is
All eczema is dif-
#2: You can’t go swimming if you have eczema.
People with
eczema can cer- tainly go swimming. The National Eczema Association does advise that those affected by the condition should take the proper precautions before swimming. The NEA strongly advises that you wash well be- fore entering the pool and apply emollients and moisturizers be- fore swimming to avoid any po-
tential flare ups.
#3: Eczema is contagious.
This is one of the most common myths about eczema. Eczema is, in fact, NOT conta- gious and cannot be transferred to another person by physical touch. Although the cause of the disease is not known, doctors believe that it’s caused by envi-
ronmental and genetic factors.
#4: Eczema is caused by stress.
Eczema is not
caused by stress. Stress can be a trigger that makes the symptoms of eczema worse, but it hasn’t been shown to be the causation of the condi- tion. Studies are still being done to point out the exact relation- ship between stress and eczema.
#5: People with eczema aren’t clean.
A big misconcep-
tion is that people with eczema aren’t clean or simply put, not worthy of being touched. This is ex- tremely false. Eczema has noth- ing to do with personal grooming or hygiene habits. Meticulous daily skin care is key to keeping the condition under wraps. The National Eczema As- sociation recommends that you use warm water and avoid scrubbing your skin with a washcloth while bathing. The use of mild, non-soap, fra- grance-free cleansers is essential to avoiding skin flare ups from eczema. Lastly, they suggest ap- plying any topical medication prescribed and a moisturizer to your skin while it’s still wet. This regimen will seal in the water and make the skin less dry,
which will decrease itching.
ferent. In fact, eczema is a general term for dermatitis. All forms of eczema come with some form of itching and inflamed skin. How- ever, there are more severe forms of the disease that will cause blistering, weeping or peeling. Eczema is typically found on the backs of the knees, inside of the elbows and face, but some forms of eczema can
cover the entire body.
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