Eczema is a skin condition that just wasn’t that well know about a decade ago. But over the years more and more people are becoming aware of what eczema is and even more have been diagnosed with it. However, what many people may not know is that there are different types of eczema, all with its own set of symptoms and treatments.

Not knowing you have eczema and not being knowledgeable of what kind you have can lead to using the wrong treatments and can make your skin condition worse. To avoid this, it’s important to know what the common types of eczema there are and what signs to be on the lookout for as well as how to remedy it.

One area that eczema affects in both men and women is the hands. Hand dermatitis is another name for this condition and is identified by redness and dryness on the hands, specifically the fingers. More severe cases can include crusting and scaling, along with being very itchy. The more you scratch, the worse the hand dermatitis will be. This condition can be caused by frequently washing and drying your hands as well as exposing your hands to extreme cold. People in occupations that deal with frequent hand washing, such as waitresses, bartenders, and nurses have an increased chance of developing hand eczema. The best way to prevent this skin condition include wearing gloves when washing dishes, avoiding soaps and hand washes that contain harsh ingredients or strong fragrances, avoid washing hands in really hot water, patting hands dry, and wearing a shielding lotion to keep hands moisturized while repairing the skin barriers.

Coming into contact with certain household items can also result in a type of eczema known as contact dermatitis. This condition appears in the form of tiny blisters that can be itchy and irritating. Continuous exposure to the irritant can result in cracking and scaling skin. Contact dermatitis can be experienced by either an allergic reaction or an irritant to the skin. The most common culprits of contact dermatitis include soaps, cleansing products, detergents, solvents, and animal saliva. Because a number of factors can trigger contact dermatitis it can be difficult to figure out what is causing the reaction. If you believe you have contact dermatitis, slowly phase out certain products or items you normally use and see how your skin reacts. You can also visit a dermatologist to see if there is any medicine that can be used to treat the area.

Lichen simplex chronicus is a severe form of eczema that can be especially painful to deal with. This type of skin condition is characterized by small papules that cluster together to become plaques, which cause the skin to thicken. Common areas where lichen simplex chronicus appear are on the shins, ankles, and the back and sides of the neck. Scratching and rubbing makes the skin thickening worse and can result in a cross-hatched pattern on the skin. The problem with this type of eczema is that there is no known cause. The main way to treat the condition is to stop scratching, which is easier said than done. Doctors will typically prescribe topical steroids. To prevent the person from scratching at night, sedatives or oral antihistamines are used. Lichen simplex chronicus is difficult to treat but with determination and the right combination of treatment, the condition can be managed.

Related Articles
	Makeup & Eczema: How to Make Over Dry Skin Millions of people suffer from eczema in varying degrees from moderate to severe. And with no cure on the horizon, the only relief is in attempting to control the outbreaks, soothing them when they come, and doing our best to cover them. Eczema is a condition where a reaction in the epidermis   ...Read more		Eczema It is an inflammation of the skin which results in dryness, heat, flakiness and itching. A number of factors can result in Eczema and only a small area of the skin may be affected but it can affect any part of the body. A number of things cause eczema. The most common cause of eczema is a general   ...Read more