Do you have Eczema or Dermatitis?
Copyright 2005 Michael Brooks
Although many people believe that eczema and dermatitis are separate conditions, they are actually one and the same.
The most common form of this skin condition is atopic eczema. Depending on what study you read, there are between 18 and 34 million people that exhibit symptoms of eczema.
Atopic eczema is often genetic and can be associated with a family history of environmental sensitivities and allergic conditions like asthma or hay fever.
What are the symptoms?
One of the most common symptoms associated with eczema is extreme itchiness.
Speaking from experience, once you start scratching it is hard to stop.
You can rub your skin raw trying to get rid of the unbearable itch.
Other common symptoms include:
Rash on the legs, arms, hands and neck (most common but other areas can be involved)
General dry skin even when eczema is not active
Blisters with oozing and scabbing
Redness and inflammation around the blisters
What causes eczema?
There tends to be a general consensus that eczema is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
If a person has atopic eczema there will usually be another family member with an atopic condition, such as eczema, asthma or hay fever.
Many environmental factors are associated with a flare-up and may include the following:
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Wool clothing that scratches and rubs against the skin
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Taking long hot showers or frequent baths
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Activities that involve dust and soil contact
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Extremes in temperature (both hot and cold)
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Contact with chemicals such as bug spray, paint thinner, air fresheners and even certain scented toilet paper
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Scented soaps, detergents and perfume
In addition to the above-mentioned factors, stress and diet can play a role in activating an eczema flare up.
Stress
Staying calm and keeping a positive mental attitude can be an excellent way to keep eczema flare-ups to a minimum.
Personal and work related stresses are potent triggers for eczema.
Feelings of anger and frustration can also increase the chances of a flare-up. My personal battles with eczema have been at there worst during periods of increased stress at work.
Diet
Certain foods have been known to provoke the onset of eczema.
Foods on this list include peanuts, milk and milk products, soy, fish, eggs and wheat.
It's not a bad idea to keep a journal of what you eat and write down the effects it has on your body.
The journal will help you identify and avoid foods that provoke an eczema attack.
Is there a cure for Eczema?
There is no complete cure for eczema.
However, there are a variety of natural treatments and routines that can be followed to help reduce eczema flare-ups.
Treatments are very individual and work better on some people than others.
If these tips don't offer some relief then it is best to consult your healthcare professional.
Various natural healing experts recommend the following for controlling eczema:
GLA - Evening primrose oil is a great source of the essential fatty acid known as GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).
GLA is hard to come by in the diet so it is best to get thru supplementation.
Typical dosage is between 3 and 6 grams daily, taken with food.
Studies for Primrose oil have been mixed but some patients do claim that the oil has helped to reduce symptoms of eczema.
Herbs ? There are a variety of herbs that have had some success in treating eczema.
These include burdock root, red clover, goldenrod, roman chamomile, German chamomile and yarrow.
A great recipe that can be applied to the affected area (2x a day) is the following:
German chamomile
12 drops
Goldenrod
6 drops
Tagetes
6 drops
Dilute this solution in the following:
Almond oil
2 tablespoons
Jojoba oil
25 drops
Evening primrose oil
10 drops
This natural remedy has offered excellent results for numerous people with eczema.
For your first application, treat a small area to insure that your skin is not overly sensitive to the oils.
Ice- placing an ice pack on the aggravated areas can offer a natural way to relieve itching.
A good ice pack can be made from a solution of 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol.
The alcohol will prevent the solution from hardening and allows you to mold the pack to the contours of your body.
Moisturize ? It is very important to moisturize every day with a hypoallergenic moisturizer free of perfume.
I have found sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil to be excellent moisturizers.
Make sure to apply immediately after every bath or shower.
When drying, make sure to pat your skin dry and do not rub.
Relax ? As I have already mentioned, stress has been shown to have an active role in many an eczema flare-up.
It is important to involve yourself in regular stress reducing activities.
This can include daily meditation, yoga, walking or a few minutes of deep breathing exercises.
Pick an activity you will enjoy and that you can do consistently.
Conclusion
Remember that eczema is a chronic condition that is most likely the result of your inherited genetics.
Learning your flare up triggers and making the appropriate lifestyle changes is of prime importance in controlling eczema.
Keeping a regular journal will go a long way in helping to identify your trigger foods and activities.
I would encourage you to learn as much as possible about your condition.
This will give you a sense of control and empowerment while helping you in your self-management of this chronic condition.
Successful management of eczema can be achieved provided you commit yourself to the process.
I wish you well
A whiff of Nostalgia….
Today I was given a whiff of nostalgia. No, not some bottled perfume from my youth (eg 'Evening in Paris', remember? On second thoughts perhaps you'd rather not!!), but the wonderful God-given smell of cowslips from a cottage garden. I was immediately whisked back to my childhood and to the wonderful sight of fields of yellow cowslips and of that never-to-be-forgotten smell of the untouched perfume of wild cowslips mixed with the clean country air. In retrospect, I do not know what use those flower-laden fields were to the farmers, but they certainly brought joy to us, and they would return each year along with the primroses. Alas, of course, they disappeared with the intensive farming and chemicals of the l950's, but the delightful visual memory together with the perfume came back in a flash along with the gift.
The cowslips evoked another childhood memory. How many of you got up at dawn in order to go 'mushrooming'. We only had to look for the 'fairy rings' as we called them...
A whiff of Nostalgia….
Perfume > A whiff of Nostalgia….
Buying Cheap Wedding Supplies
While some people can afford large, opulent weddings, others have to stick to smaller events that are on a tighter budget. If you're the latter, don't worry-there are a plethora of resources online geared towards helping you throw a beautiful but inexpensive wedding.
Buying cheap wedding supplies is probably one of the most important elements to think about when you're planning your wedding. First, figure out a budget. Without a budget, you'll get lost and open yourself up to numerous problems.
Set a realistic budget and stick to it; this alone will help you immensely in planning your wedding.
Get the help of friends and relatives, especially those adept at doing online research. There are some great deals to be had if you look in the right places.
One of those places is in the clearance section of online stores like americanbridal.com. There are often excellent deals on wedding favors, decorations, invitations, and more...
Perfume > Buying Cheap Wedding Supplies
Aromatherapy And Essential Oils - The Basics
Copyright 2005 Donovan Baldwin
Aromatherapy is the use of oils extracted from various, primarily fragrant, plants to aid in the relief of a range of physical or mental discomforts or illnesses.
These oils, commonly referred to as "essential oils" are also used to enhance or encourage positive responses in the user.
These oils may be used by direct application or by inhaling the aromas, hence the name "aromatherapy".
The inhaled aromas can be dispersed by candles prepared with the essential oils, by applying the oil to some object, such as a handkerchief or pillowcase, by spraying a mix of the essential oil and water into the air, or by means of a "diffuser".
A diffuser is a device generally available from essential oil providers which uses heat to disperse molecules of the chosen essential oil into the air.
Although long used in other parts of the world, such as the East and Middle East, aromatherapy is essentially new to...
Perfume > Aromatherapy And Essential Oils - The Basics
Pheromones, Pheromones, Pheromones - You need Pheromones! Not Tonight Darling ? ?I?ve got a headache?, Sound familiar? Well don?t despair - Things are looking up!
(ContentDesk) March 19, 2004--The couples were given a laboratory tested concentrated human pheromone called "Excite", to mix with their favorite cologne or perfume and asked to report on any differences noticed with their sexual activity over a 12 week period.The incredible results showed that 87% of couples reported a significant increase in sexual activity and heightened pleasure, which in turn resulted in improved relationships. Of the 87%, 79% reported a minimum increase of 3 times a week from their previous love making statistics."This is not a smell one can detect, neither person is aware of it, but it is very powerful. This chemical appears to heighten a person's sexual attraction to their partner." Dr Woods explains, a psychology professor of 15 years.Pheromone99.com has just unveiled their strongest pheromone to date "Extreme", using a 99% pure human pheromone, Alpha-Androst-16-En-3-One. This product has a powerful combination of 3 human pheromones- Androstenone, Androstenol,...
Pheromones, Pheromones, Pheromones - You need Pheromones! Not Tonight Darling ? ?I?ve got a headache?, Sound familiar? Well don?t despair - Things are looking up!
Perfume > Pheromones, Pheromones, Pheromones - You need Pheromones! Not Tonight Darling ? ?I?ve got a headache?, Sound familiar? Well don?t despair - Things are looking up!
Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Lakeland, FL (ContentDesk) February 18, 2004 -- Sweet Escence Bath & Body is a company that was established in Lakeland, Florida in January of 2001. It shows promise as a young corporation that is determined to distribute products of enormous value with superior quality but by means of inexpensive prices that would appeal to their clientele. Sweet Escence carries wonderful items that are prepared to soothe the straining muscles. These extracts are enriched with oils and vitamins to restore smoothness to dry skin. Also, the body spray manufactured has an additional purpose of freshening everyday objects to leave the air fragrant and refreshing.
An assortment of hand and body lotions are found along with splendid massaging oils, soaps, and salt rocks for the bath. In addition to these pleasant goods, Sweet Escence also generates a potpourri gel that can be rehabilitated by the addition of distilled water and perfume. There are a variety of aromas that Sweet Escence provides, ranging...
Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Perfume > Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Lakeland, FL (ContentDesk) February 18, 2004 -- Sweet Escence Bath & Body is a company that was established in Lakeland, Florida in January of 2001. It shows promise as a young corporation that is determined to distribute products of enormous value with superior quality but by means of inexpensive prices that would appeal to their clientele. Sweet Escence carries wonderful items that are prepared to soothe the straining muscles. These extracts are enriched with oils and vitamins to restore smoothness to dry skin. Also, the body spray manufactured has an additional purpose of freshening everyday objects to leave the air fragrant and refreshing.
An assortment of hand and body lotions are found along with splendid massaging oils, soaps, and salt rocks for the bath. In addition to these pleasant goods, Sweet Escence also generates a potpourri gel that can be rehabilitated by the addition of distilled water and perfume. There are a variety of aromas that Sweet Escence provides, ranging...
Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Perfume > Sweet Escence Bath & Body Products Hit the Retail and Wholesale Markets with Moisturizing Results
Secret #1 To Your Acting Audition Success
How many times to do you walk out of an audition and think
?well that was a waste of time? I felt like an idiot'?
One very powerful secret that will put you at the top of the
list is bringing in PROPS to your acting audition.
Now this isn't always valid but let me tell you when it is.
It's valid if the SCRIPT demands it!
And it's valid if you feel like your going to be on stage or
camera twiddling your thumbs!
Yes sometimes the casting agent will have them there for you
but why rely on them to determine YOUR success.
Be prepared!
Be proactive!
Show them that you've put some thought into your acting
audition.
For example, you go into an acting audition and they want you to
look like you're getting ready for your day in the bathroom,
quickly eat some cereal, pack your...
Perfume > Secret #1 To Your Acting Audition Success
Aromatherapy And Essential Oils - The Basics
Copyright 2005 Donovan Baldwin
Aromatherapy is the use of oils extracted from various, primarily fragrant, plants to aid in the relief of a range of physical or mental discomforts or illnesses.
These oils, commonly referred to as "essential oils" are also used to enhance or encourage positive responses in the user.
These oils may be used by direct application or by inhaling the aromas, hence the name "aromatherapy".
The inhaled aromas can be dispersed by candles prepared with the essential oils, by applying the oil to some object, such as a handkerchief or pillowcase, by spraying a mix of the essential oil and water into the air, or by means of a "diffuser".
A diffuser is a device generally available from essential oil providers which uses heat to disperse molecules of the chosen essential oil into the air.
Although long used in other parts of the world, such as the East and Middle East, aromatherapy is essentially new to...
Perfume > Aromatherapy And Essential Oils - The Basics
televisions Perfume Do you have Eczema or Dermatitis?
Laser-Based Natural Gas Sensors: Can the Natural Gas Industry Afford To Be Without This Advanced Technology?
(ContentDesk) February 8, 2006 -- Until recently, natural gas producers, processors and distributors have relied on direct contact, surface-based electrochemical and crystal sensors for measurement of moisture in gas. However, these natural gas sensors are often highly unreliable, producing false data that can result in contaminated gas getting through lines and causing system disruptions as well as potentially...
laser printer Laser-Based Natural Gas Sensors: Can the Natural Gas Industry Afford To Be Without This Advanced Technology? Perfume
Perfume > Laser-Based Natural Gas Sensors: Can the Natural Gas Industry Afford To Be Without This Advanced Technology?