Eczema Information

The various forms of eczema, while similar, have different causes, therefore, different treatments. The initial step should be to contact a dermatologist to conduct a diagnosis.

Eczema Types 

The most common of all eczemas is Atopic and has been linked with asthma and hay fever. People of all ages can be affected, but there seems to be a trend for it within some families. A common symptom is itchiness that can become very uncomfortable. The skin has an overall dryness, can become very red, and highly inflamed. Persistent scratching only worsens the condition and can cause skin infections. If infected, the skin can weep and have cracks in it. Skin hydration must be maintained. Emu oil, one of nature's most effective emollients, can be used for both skin hydration and to reduce inflammation. Another benefit from using emu oil is that it is anti-bacterial and may help greatly in preventing any skin infections.

The Allergic Contact Eczema results when the body has a reaction to a skin contact with a substance that the immune system finds unacceptable. The reaction may be immediate, or can develop over an extended period of time. Some of the typical substances are nickel, perfumes, cloth, rubber, and tin. Some of the offending substances may be found of the commonest of items, such as rings, buckles, the buttons on clothes, watches, and other jewelry. Once a reaction to any particular substance has been known, every attempt to contact that substance should be made.

Irritant Contact Eczema is caused by contact with substance that could be encountered daily, such as soaps, certain chemicals, and detergents. Hairdressers and beauticians often find themselves with rashes and inflamed skin. As with atopic eczema, keeping the skin moist can help in preventing an outbreak. Substances like emu oil and herbal products containing emu oil, unlike remedies containing drugs, can be used often during the day without any adverse side affects.

Infantile Seborrhoeic Eczema can be very common for children under 1 year of age. The reason for this condition, also called cradle cap is not fully understood. While it is not considered to be serious and causes the baby no unwell feelings, it can be treated with emu oil products to help clear the condition. It usually lasts only a few months. The same emu oil product that it used for diaper rash can be used for this type of eczema, too.

Adult Seborrhoeic Eczema can be more serious than the infant version. It can be found in the scalp and can spread to the face, ears, neck, and chest. The skin becomes inflamed, red, and can flake. Using a product, like emu oil, that can hydrate the skin while also protecting again infections should offer quick relief for this eczema.

Varicose Eczema is a condition found in the lower leg. People in their middle to late years are found most likely to encounter this eczema. Poor circulation is suspected. The ankles are most often affected and if the skin is left untreated, ulcers can develop. Typical treatment is an emollient, especially one that can improved the general health of the skin.

Discoid Eczema most often is an adult condition. It appears as a small, coin shaped redness of the skin. Most often it is found on the trunk or lower legs. These can erupt or weep. Emollients are a usual treatment, but care should be taken that the skin does not become infected.

Questions that are often asked about eczema

1) How important is diet? Experienced eczema sufferers know to avoid the food allergens that effect them. Until these allergens are found and avoided, controlling eczema is highly unlikely. Remember the foods that causes eczema outbreaks and refrain from eating them again. Taking emu oil gel caps can help by increasing the amount of Omega-3 and linolenic acid in your system. Both of these substances are known to help in skin repair.

2) What methods should be used in cleaning the skin?  Keeping the skin clean and bacteria free as possible is advisable to all people, but is very important to sufferers of eczema. Conventional commercial soaps may be too harsh for the sensitive skin and should be shunned. The collection of emu oil based soaps from Featherstone are gentle and will not dry out the skin when bathing. In fact, the skin is left feeling soft and moist even after the bath. A post-bath application of an emu oil product will help keep the skin hydrated.

3) Can clothing contribute to eczema outbreaks? Most certainly, some people are bothered by wool, nylon, polyester, and other fibers. Cotton seems to be non-irritating and should be used where possible. Pay attention to the detergents used in laundering your clothes since some of the ingredients found in laundry soaps and fabric softeners have dyes that can irritate the skin.

4) What can be done about the terrible itching? It is not possible to ignore the need to scratch the itches of eczema. There is a danger of infection if the hands are not kept clean and bacteria buildup occurs under the nails. Topical products from Featherstone should ease the itching, thus reducing the chances of further skin damage. Some patients keep a small bottle of emu oil with them during the day and then use Neemu™  or Skin Therapy at home. 

5) Can diet supplements work for eczema? There is some evidence that Vitamin E will give some additional therapy since it helps with skin healing. However, more evidence points to emu oil as being very effective in skin repair and should not be overlooked as a diet supplement. Gel caps containing emu oil are available and should be considered in your treatment plan. Emu oil contains Omega-3, Omega-6, and linolenic acids. It is believed that eczema is a symptom of Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. Neem capsules can be taken with the emu oil gel caps with no side effects.

Treatment Tips 

Treatments for eczema are like political opinions; there are many, many of them. An obvious plan is to stay away from substances that cause reactions. Keep the skin as healthy as possible. When bathing, use soaps that are not harsh to the skin. The emu oil soaps from Featherstone are gentle and act like a emollient while cleaning. Do not use any cortisone products that contain steroids. Steroid-bases products are known to have many side effects and should be avoided. Natural products containing herbs and emu oil should be used. Emu oil could be used daily as a preventative measure.

Diet is very important. Some common foods known to contain allergens that can aggravate the body are daily products such as milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Eggs should be avoided. Crustacean meat should be greatly reduced or avoided altogether. Lobster, shrimp, squid, prawns, clams, oysters, and other crustaceans can cause allergic reactions. Salmon should also be avoided along with calcium supplements and color dyes, especially Yellow #5. Additional allergens are products containing NutraSweet. Mushrooms sometime cause reactions to eczema patients and should not be eaten. Hot, spicy foods can cause intestinal inflammation which can cause outbreaks of eczema.

Featherstone products that may be beneficial to eczema patients include Neemu™, Skin Therapy, Ultra Moisturizing Cream, and Emu Oil. Except emu oil, our products contain skin enhancing herbs such as aloe vera, neem, calendula, ginger, cats claw, and tea tree. Not all skin reacts the same way to the same herb, so we provide a wide spectrum of emu oil and herbal formulations. Some patients have reported that they found the best results by alternating use of several of the products. For more information about the products, click on Products to visit our main site.

These eczema guidelines are for information and not to be construed as medical advice. It is not suggested that you should forego seeking the services of medically trained personnel, however, alternative solutions are suggested  that may offer pain relief to those who suffer from eczema and other skin problems.