Eczema Symptoms

The word eczema comes from the Greek language, and it means to “BOIL OVER”. It is a description that sums up only too vividly the classic eczema symptoms that are associated with the condition.

Eczema symptoms may begin in infancy and occur on and off through out one’s lifetime. The classic eczema symptoms are itchiness, redness, dryness and scaling of the skin. However, there are also many other eczema symptoms that are not obviously related to the skin.

Symptoms such as thirst caused by loss of fluid from the skins tissues, over sensitivity to cold and heat, and the prevalence of other allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis), are all types of eczema symptoms that many people experience.

Following is a brief list of the most common eczema symptoms you may experience.

Most common eczema symptons

• Skin inflammation – swelling of the skins surface and the underlying tissues of the skin.
• Redness – caused by widening of the blood vessels in the skin and associated increase in blood flow to the affected area.
• Itching – can vary in intensity and leads to scratching – inflammation and worst case – infection.
• Dry, scaly skin – depends on the individuals skin type, but dry skin can often predispose a person to the development of eczema.
• Pale skin and loss of pigmentation – due to reduced blood flow caused by eczema’s disruptive effect on the skin’s circulation.
• Thick leathery skin – overtime the skin can become thicker due to the constant scratching. The skin tries to protect itself from this by producing more keratin (the tough protective protein found in skin cells).

Eczema symptoms can be wide ranging, but you don’t have to let the condition rule your life – you just have to learn how to manage your eczema. It may seem like a nuisance to always have to think about your skin, but when you adopt a good skin care routine into your daily life, it will eventually become no more of a burden than cleaning your teeth or brushing your hair.

Mel Sinclair, RN