Saturday, June 27, 2009

Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis

Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis
The terms eczema and dermatitis are now used synonymously. They refer to a distinctive reaction pattern of the skin showing a combination of signs which depend on the duration of rash and type of eczema.


Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - CAUSE
Based on the etiology, eczemas are divided into two basic groups:
1. Exogenous - This can occur due to contact with some irritant or allergen
2. Endogenous - This group contains all other types of which cause and mechanism is poorly understood. Many factors like heredity, hypersensitivity, fungal infection, senile changes, venous stasis etc are implicated in various forms of endogenous eczema.
Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - MECHANISM - WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS?
It is not very well understood. In acute stage of eczema, edema of the epidermis and intra-epidermal vesicles form. In chronic stage there is thickening and pigmentation of skin.
Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Acute Eczema
·  Redness ans swelling, usually with ill defined margins
·  Papules, vesicles, and more large blisters
·  Exudation and cracking of skin
·  Scaling of skin
·  Itching in and around the lesion
Chronic Eczema
· All the above plus
· Thickening and  lichenification ( a dry leathery thickening with increased skin margins, is secondary to rubbing and scratching and is most often seen in atopic eczema.)
· Fissures and scratch marks
· Pigmentation of the skin in and around the lesion
Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - COMPLICATIONS
Super infection - most often with bacteria (staph-aureus) and yeast (candia). Super infection is encouraged by the use of local steroids.
Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED?
Usually eczemas are diagnosed clinically. Patch test and prick test may be required for allergens.
Eczema / Allergic Dermatitis - WHAT TO DIFFERENTIATE FROM?
· Simple pruritis
· Fungal, bacterial, and other infections
· Exfoliative dermatitis
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT & Medicines for Eczema, Allergic Dermatitis
Homeopathy offers very good treatment for eczema, but the approach used by homeopaths is very different from that of conventional treatment. Homeopaths usually do not give anything to apply topically. Instead they try to remove the basic disposition/sensitivity to develop such a lesion using internal medicine. This approach not only successfully removes the eczema but also removes the possibility of development of  other hypersensitivity disorders like asthma after the eczema is cured. To find the proper remedy a homeopath collects all the past medical history of the person, his/her family history, his/her physical and psychological characteristics etc. All this information helps the homeopath to find a remedy which not only will remove the eczema but will also remove the disposition to acquire such diseases. As a note of caution I would like to add here that after a proper remedy is given the eczema may occasionally ( not often) show a mild flare up. This should not worry the patient  as it is often considered a good prognostic sign by homeopaths.
There are many medicines in homeopathy that are used for this condition. ars-alb, bovista,  dulcamara, graphites, lycopodium, mezereum, peteroleum, rhus-tox, sulphur, cicuta etc are some commonly used medicines. But which medicine will work in a particular case can only be judged by a trained homeopath.

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