Eczema (or dermatitis as it is sometimes called) is a type of inflammatory skin condition which can affect all ages and can vary in its severity. In its mild form, the skin becomes dry, hot and itchy but in its more severe form, the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Eczema is not contagious but it can sometimes look unpleasant.



Eczema symptoms are characterised by a dry, red, scaly rash, which is extremely itchy. Eczema commonly affects the face, neck hands and in creases of the limbs.

The rash usually starts off as minute pearly blisters beneath the skins surface. When it's severe the rash may weep and can cause sleeplessness due to the intense itching.

Eczema blisters commonly occur consequently of an eczema condition, though they are not known as being a common side effect of the condition. They are little fluid-filled sacs that appear on the surface of the skin, and which vary in size from being so small they are hardly noticeable to so large they may be mistaken for a growth of some sort.

No one really knows what causes eczema (atopic dermatitis), however, we do know of certain things that can cause eczema to "flare-up", or get worse. A flare-up occurs when the immune system in people's skin overreacts to environmental or emotional triggers and causes symptoms such as an itchy rash to appear.

Eczema is due to a hypersensitivity reaction (similar to an allergy) in the skin, which leads to long-term inflammation. The inflammation causes the skin to become itchy and scaly. Long-term irritation and scratching can cause the skin to thicken and an have a leather-like texture.

Dry Skin. Some would say that the dry skin is just another symptom of the Eczema condition, but did you know that if you work at keeping the skin moisturised, the Eczema will not affect it so badly? Moist flexible skin can prevent both the itching and the cracking that occurs.

The rashes are easy to eliminate, although they return sometimes even with proper treatment. To prevent eczema, bubble baths, exposure to extreme heat, strong soaps and other triggers must be avoided. In cases where these triggers are sometimes hard to avoid or identify, moisturizers may be the most important weapon one can use to prevent any flare-up of the condition. Since atopic dermatitis can accompany dry skin, individuals with this skin type will benefit from taking a daily bath - of about 5-10 minutes - with lukewarm water and using only a mild soap with moisturizing properties.

The first step in natural treatment is to treat the skin and stop it from becoming dry and losing more moisture. The use of tamanu oil is advised to help make a barrier on the skin and put off the loss of moisture. This oil is usually rubbed onto the skin and it has a soothing effect on the affected area.