The Itch that Scratches | Eczema Talks

ppl without skin conditions: why don’t u just like not itch it? me: wow thanks brainwave never thought of that!

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for checking out my first post! I would like to apologise for the lack of posts recently due to my placements and the fact that we’re in a 6th lockdown here in Melbourne and kind of stuck in a rut and procrastinating, but I’m all good! 👍

The main reason why I decided to create this little blog was to educate everyone about a certain condition which you may have heard of, which is Atopic Dermatitis, or more commonly known as Eczema. I wanted to bring awareness from a wholistic point of view of how to manage and treat the condition from babies, children and into adulthood. If you have eczema, psoriasis, acne, or any skin condition, you understand how irritating and debilitating these disorders can be, as well as how difficult it may be to find answers. So let’s get straight into the facts surrounding Eczema.

What’s the difference between Eczema, Dermatitis and Atopic Dermatitis?

Eczema is a broad term used by medical professionals to describe a collection of skin diseases that cause skin to become red, dry, itchy, and scaly, and, in extreme cases, may leak, bleed, and crust over, causing significant agony for the individual and a decreasing quality of life. Dermatitis is a broad term that health professionals refer to as any type of skin inflammation. Atopic Dermatitis, sometimes called Atopic Eczema elsewhere, is the most common and prevalent type of eczema. AD is generally defined as a chronic, relapsing, pruritic, inflammatory eczematous eruption that normally begins in early life.

Is there a cure for Atopic Dermatitis?

According to Martin et al., 2013 In Australia, 1 in 3 children and over 1 million Australians have eczema. It is important to note that there is currently no cure and it can only be managed. It has been advised that individuals shouldn’t constantly seek different treatments, i.e. changing medications.

What causes Atopic Dermatitis?

Why someone may develop the condition is still ambiguous. What research tells us is that there is a possibility of internal and external factors, such as genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, that may play a role in development. One of the most probable is the FLG gene mutations. FLG means Filaggrin. Filaggrin is a fibre related protein that binds itself to keratin strands in epithelial cells. Filaggrin is super important and plays a vital role in skin barrier function. It does this by bringing together primary proteins in the outermost skin cells to frame tight packages, straightening and fortifying the cells to make a healthy and organised barrier.

FLG is also important as it assists in making NMF (natural moisturising factors) of the skin, which is a cocktail of humectants (ingredients) of the skin naturally created to keep the outermost skin layer hydrated by drawing water in. This maintains hydration levels in the skin and protection against foreign pathogens, as well as barrier homeostasis, desquamation, and plasticity.

What symptoms are associated with it?

Symptoms may either be mild, moderate or severe.

• Pruritus (Itchy asf skin!)
• Rash-Appears red, dry, cracked and patchy.
• Rashes are commonly found most often inside the elbows and behind the knees. It can also be on the neck, wrists, or ankles, or the area between the buttocks and the creases at the top of the thighs. However, it can appear anywhere.
• Rash may feel warm to the touch,
• Raised patches that look scaly and may crust over
• Skin may weep fluid
• Rough, “leathery,” thickened skin.

How do I know I have Eczema?

Only a medical professional or skin specialist can formally and accurately diagnose whether you have the condition.

A precise analysis requires a total skin assessment, a careful clinical history, and the presence of a constantly repeating rash with extreme itchiness that is consistent with dermatitis. Pruritus is a significant hint to diagnosing skin inflammation. In the event that an itch is not present, the odds are the condition isn’t skin inflammation.

As we now know a little bit about eczema, in my subsequent blog posts I will further explore different treatments and management options. So please keep a look out for my next post by hitting the follow button! Or you can follow me on twitter: @danielle_twts! If there are any topics you want me to discuss or have any questions, let me know by responding below!

I appreciate you all reading this and being here, even if you’ve just read one sentence! 😭 In the meantime, I’ll catch you in my next post! 👋

Stay safe,

Danielle

*For medical advice, consult your health professional.