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What is it? The most common form of eczema, more accurately called atopic dermatitis, appears as a red, swollen rash. Depending on the stage, the rash could appear scaly or thick; it could appear moist or leak fluid; it may even contain small, raised bumps. Clients will complain of itching, a classic tell-tale indicator of eczema. Small rashes may appear around the eyes and lips, but most flare-ups are on the inside of elbows, the backs of the knees, or the underside of the hands.
How do you get it? The form of eczema identified as atopic dermatitis is believed to be the result of an allergen. An allergen is anything that triggers an allergic reaction. Often this form of eczema is hereditary; the client may have suffered from it since childhood. However, it is possible to develop eczema as an adult. Allergens can come from food, animals, the sun, the cold, or any number of environmental factors. During a flare-up, a person’s immune system is working overtime to try to combat a foreign substance.
How is it treated? Treatment of eczema works best along a two-prong approach. The first is to strengthen the body’s immune system through supplements. Healthy eating, regular exercise, and adequate rest also help build a healthy immune system. The second approach is to pinpoint the source of the allergen and get rid of it. Sometimes, however, it’s impossible to identify the trigger. In this case the only thing left to do is to treat the rash. Warm soaks, creams, light therapy, cotton material against the skin, and antihistamines are all useful treatments. Proper moisture is crucial to reduce the itch of eczema, so creams should be applied immediately after a warm soak, and the skin should be kept hydrated throughout the day. Creams can be natural, such as calendula cream, or they can be by prescription, such as cortisone or steroid creams.
Specific Product Recommendations: Footlogix Very Dry Skin formula and the Footlogix Foot Soak as your hand washing soap. The soap is phBalanced and moisturizing and the moose application of Very Dry Skin #3 will penetrate into the deeper layers of the dermis which creates healthier skin over time as old skin is exfoliated off. I have seen great results with these products for many clients.
