What's With Eczema?

Eczema is a skin disorder resulting from an inflammatory response by your immune system to environmental triggers or skin irritants.  In other words, some form of irritation has caused your immune system to respond in the form of skin inflammation, and you see the effect of that in the symptons of eczema. 

There are seven (7) different forms of eczema, and while you can have more than one form concurrently (at the same time), the most common form seen in modern society is Atopic Dermatitis.  There is no standard "look" or cookie cutter way that eczema will appear. 

Chronic eczema can appear in various forms, based on skin tone.  Individuals with white or lighter pigmented skin tones may see patches that appear as inflamed, red, itchy, or coarse irritated skin, while African-Americans and those with darker pigmentations may see coarse thickened skin, darkened, greyed or cloudy white patches on the skin, small bumps, or even oozing patches on the skin.  This may be observed all over the body, but is most often found on the extremities including legs, knees, forearms, and elbows, as well as the face and back.  Infants, toddlers and small children often experience eczema flares, with roughly 1-out-of-5 African-American children in the United States facing eczema between infancy and early childhood.  Babies and small children typically experience eczema on their cheeks, chin, chest, forehead or scalp. 

Many things can trigger eczema flares, both internally and externally, including: diet, genetics, allergies, environmental temperature changes, pet/animal dander, seasonal changes, exposure to harsh skincare products, chemicals and so on.

How to care for Eczema and Keep it At Bay

Eczema is NOT an auto-immune disorder, nor does it have a particular appearance.  While there is no "cure", consistent and healthfilled personal care and skin care as well as stress reduction will help keep flares sharply reduced and contained. If you are under physician's care, ensure you are closely following all assigned recommendations, where applicable.  

Include adequate water, fruits and vegetables in your daily dietary intake, regular personal hygeine regimens with gentle soaps and care for eczema prone areas, preferrably with a proven plant-based moisturizer such as OShea MUTTER Natural Body Love®.

OShea Mutter is designed to help relieve dry, itchy, inflammed, and irritated skin with eczema. The formula is 100% plant based, with strong nutrient content and hydration retention.  This will help fortify the skin’s natural barrier function to protect against moisture loss and help prevent recurrence of skin irritations and dryness.