What are the types of eczema?

There are several types of eczema. Each type has unique triggers that can affect your skin’s barrier function, including:

• Atopic dermatitis.
• Contact dermatitis.
• Dyshidrotic eczema.
• Neurodermatitis.
• Nummular eczema.
• Seborrheic dermatitis

• SYMPTOMS

• Dry skin.
• Itchy skin.
• Skin rash.
• Bumps on your skin.
• Thick, leathery patches of skin.
• Flaky, scaly or crusty skin.
• Swelling.
• Symptoms of eczema can show up anywhere on your skin. The most common places where you’ll notice symptoms of eczema include on your:
• Hands.
• Neck.
• Elbows.
• Ankles.
• Knees
• Feet.
• Face, especially cheeks.
• In and around ears.
• Lips

• While less common, eczema can also occur on your:

  Nipples.

  Breasts.

  Folds of skin near your vagina (vulva).

  Penis

• CAUSE

  Several factors cause eczema, including:

  Your immune system: If you have eczema, your immune system overreacts to small irritants or allergens (triggers) in your environment. When you contact a trigger, your immune system assumes that these small irritants are foreign invaders, like bacteria or viruses, that can harm your body. As a result, the triggers activate your body’s natural defense system. Your immune system’s defense is to create inflammation. Inflammation causes symptoms of eczema on your skin.

  Your genes: You’re more likely to have eczema if there’s a history of eczema or dermatitis in your family. You’re also at a higher risk if there’s a history of asthma, hay fever and/or allergies. Common allergies include pollen, pet hair or foods that trigger an allergic reaction. You could also have a genetic mutation that causes your skin’s barrier function to not work as it should.

  Your environment: There’s a lot in your environment that can irritate your skin. Some examples include exposure to smoke, air pollutants, harsh soaps, fabrics such as wool, and some skin care products. Low humidity (dry air) can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. Heat and high humidity can cause sweating and that can make your itchiness even worse.

  Emotional triggers: Your mental health could affect the health of your skin, which can cause a flare-up of eczema symptoms. If you have high levels of stress, anxiety or depression, you may have more frequent flare-ups of eczema symptoms.

• Common triggers that cause eczema include:

  Dry weather (low humidity).

  Fabrics or clothing material.

  Makeup or skin care products.

  Smoke and pollutants.

  Soaps and detergents.

  Stress or your emotional well-being.

  Touching something you’re allergic to

  Complications of eczema:

  Complications of eczema are the following:

  Chronic itchy and scaly skin.

  Scarring

  Other skin infections

  Loss of sleep because of itching.

• AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE

  Ayurveda is treated on the basis of their symptoms, site, involvement of doshas, prakriti of the person and many more factors. It is not always necessary to name a disease.

  eczema is also caused due to vitiation of tridoshas (Vata, Potta, Kapha).

  It means that Vicharchika is a skin disease characterised by pidika (papules, vessicles or pustules), kandu (itching), bahusrav (discharge) and shayavata (discoloration).

  Involvement of three doshas symptoms:

  vata vitiation- Shayavata (discoloration)

  pitta vitiation– pidika (papules, vessicles or pustules)

  kapha vitiation– kandu (itching) and bahusrava (discharge).

  According to Ayurveda, skin is not merely a superficial organ. But it extends deeper into the body. For the same reason, skin diseases are rooted into deeper tissues like fat, muscles, blood etc. Thus, skin diseases need to be treated carefully.

  Due to similar classification like psoriasis, in eczema, aama (toxins) need to be removed.