Eczema

Eczema










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Three midterms, extra household chores because his mom was on a business trip, and inventory at his part-time job had left Rick exhausted by the end of the week. But he wasn't just tired - the skin on the back of his neck and upper chest was beginning to get red and itchy, too. Not again, he thought - not another eczema flare!
Eczema is a common teen skin problem. If you have eczema, keep reading to find out more about it and how you can deal with the skin stress.
Some Skin FactsYour skin, which protects your organs, muscles, and bones and regulates your body temperature, can run into plenty of trouble while you're a teen. Acne occurs when your pores become clogged. But zits aren't the only skin problem you may have to worry about - have you ever tried a new type of soap and developed an itchy rash? That's your skin's way of telling you, "Hey, there's something in that soap I don't like - stop using it!"
What Is Eczema?Eczema (pronounced: ek-zeh-ma) is a group of skin conditions that cause skin to become irritated. Teens who have it may develop rashes more easily and more frequently than others. There are many forms of eczema, but atopic (pronounced: ay-tah-pik) eczema is the most common form. Doctors don't know exactly what causes atopic eczema, also called atopic dermatitis (pronounced: der-muh-tie-tis), but they think it's caused by a difference in the way a person's immune system reacts to things. Skin allergies may be involved in some forms of eczema.
If you have eczema, you're probably not the only one you know who has it. Eczema isn't contagious like a cold or mono, but most people with eczema have family members with the same condition, so researchers think it's inherited or passed through the genes. In general, it's fairly common - about 3% of all the people in the United States have eczema.People with eczema also may have asthma and certain allergies, such as hay fever. In some people with eczema, food allergies (such as allergies to cow's milk, soy, eggs, fish, or wheat) may bring on or worsen eczema. Allergies to animal dander, rough fabrics, and dust may also trigger the condition in some teens.