Back to Back Issues Page
Eczema Bulletin, Issue #032 - Eczema and Rosacea
March 06, 2016


Eczema Bulletin, Issue #032 - Eczema and Rosacea



Welcome to March's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.

This is the 32th edition of Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you

You can contact me here


This month's Eczema Bulletin includes

  • March's Featured Article – Eczema and Rosacea
  • My favourite eczema news article
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....manage eczema in pregnancy


Eczema and Rosacea


There are a few similarities between eczema and rosacea.

The main symptoms of both are the red, inflamed looking skin. They can both feel itchy and irritated. One way to know if it's not rosacea is that rosacea mainly appears on the face. It can appear on the neck and torso but in the majority of cases it is on the face.

As well as the skin looking red there may also be some acne like pimples. It can also cause dry eyes, that become itchy, so avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes.

Eczema tends to first appear in sufferers when they are babies or young children. Rosacea isn't generally seen in infants, its actually rare in children. It leaves it later in life to appear, mainly in people aged over 30.

There are a few triggers that can cause both eczema and rosacea to flare up. These include very hot or cold temperatures, stress, alcohol and certain foods, like dairy products.

One reason to make sure that the condition is diagnosed correctly is that certain medications can make the symptoms of rosacea worse. One medication that does that is topical steroids, one of the main eczema treatments. So if you mis-diagnose your rosacea for eczema and use a steroid cream, you could make the symptoms worse.

If you want treat rosacea then using an antibiotic can help. A topical or oral antibiotic are one of the first line treatments. You may also be prescribed an oral or cream anti-inflammatory. The treatment you'd be given would depend on what symptoms you have and how severe it is.

There is no known reason why rosacea develops in some people and not in others. Like eczema there are a few suggestions of the cause but it seems there isn't just one answer.


Eczema News Article


A research institute in Milan have done a study on 451 patients with atopic dermatitis diagnosed in early childhood.

It has been found that when a baby is weaned, introduced to solid foods, at 4 or 5 months old, then the risk of developing atopic dermatitis drops. They found this was true whether the child's family had a history of allergies, on not.

There has never been a definite answer for parents on the best way to reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis developing. This is especially true with the best way to feed your baby. Hopefully more studies like this will help parents decide the best way to go.



Tip Of The Month - What is Lanolin?


Whenever you look on the internet for information on how lanolin affects eczema you normally find two very differing views on it.

Lanolin is a greasy, yellow substance that is extracted from the wool of sheep. It is made up of esters, fatty acids and alcohols. After it has been extracted it goes through some processes to remove any pesticides and allergens. It is then tested to make sure that it is safe to use. Though if you have really sensitive skin then you may still find it irritates your skin.

While the sheep is still wearing it's woolly coat the lanolin helps to protect the sheep from extreme weather and acts like a waterproof barrier.

When it is used on our skin as an ointment, or when added to beauty products, it can be a great emollient. It can help stop the skin from losing water and can make the skin soft. Alot of people, eczema sufferers included, say that lanolin is beneficial for their skin and helps to keep it smooth and soft.

Lanolin is probably no different to most other ways of managing and treating eczema. Some people they suit, and for others it can make the symptoms worse. Though if you have an allergy to wool then lanolin is definitely something to steer clear of.

As with all treatments, if you decide to try it place a little bit on a small area of skin to see if any irritation or inflammation occurs. If there is, stop using it.

I'd love to hear your experiences of lanolin. Does it help you to manage your eczema, or did it make your symptoms worse.


Do you have a tip you would like to share? Let me know :)



5 Ways To.......manage eczema in pregnancy


1. Moisturise. And then moisturise some more! Again this is number one on a list. I don't think I could ever tell anyone enough how important this is. The main reason to use an emollient when you're pregnant is that it can help stop the skin from drying out and breaking. When the skin breaks there is more of a chance of your eczema becoming infected. Once it's infected you'll probably need some antibiotics and perhaps a stronger topical steroid cream. Amoxicillin is considered to be a safe antibiotic to use during pregnancy, but some women would prefer to not use anything that they think may be a risk to their little one. The best way to prevent having to use stronger treatments is to manage the symptoms of your eczema before they get worse

2. Topical steroids. Although there are mixed views on using topical steroids, used the right way they can be an important part of eczema treatment. Most topical steroids are reported to be safe for pregnant women to use. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest strength that you need to clear a flare up. Very potent creams are not recommended to use during pregnancy. It has been found that they may increase the chance of the body being born at a lower weight

3. Stay cool. Even if you're pregnant during the winter months you may still find yourself in a situation where you stay to feel hot. This can cause your eczema to get irritated, and the heat can also be uncomfortable and distracting when you're pregnant. You may get really warm at night under a mountain of blankets, or during the day when you're sat at home in a room heated by the dry heat of a radiator. You should try and wear cotton or linen clothing, and layer up. It's easy to take off a layer when you're warm, and to add a layer when cold. During the night it's a good idea to keep a window open, to get some fresh air in. At all times drink plenty of water, it helps to keep you cool and hydrate the skin

4. Have an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal has some great properties that can help eczema. It soothes the skin and relieves itching. The best thing about oatmeal is that it's natural. To use in the bath cut the foot part off a pair of tights. Place some colloidal oatmeal, finely grounded, in it and tie the end so it makes a tight ball. You can then place it in a warm bath for around 10 to 15 minutes, before you enjoy a lovely soothing soak...though for no longer than 20 minutes. Pat your skin dry and apply plenty of emollient

5. Try some coconut oil. Coconut is a great all-round natural product. It helps prevent inflammation, reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin and it also moisturises your skin. You cause it directly on your skin or add some to your bath. It is also used a lot in cooking because of it's great taste. It's used even more so as the benefits of coconut oil are becoming more known. Not only is consuming it good for your eczema, but it also helps to build up yours and your baby's immune system. Well worth a try :)



Keeping Up-To-Date With What is Eczema


For the latest news about eczema, and any updates to What is Eczema you can subscribe to The Eczema Blog.

You can subscribe by going to www.what-is-eczema.com

In the navbar is the RSS feed link that you need. If you would like some information about subscribing click on the “?” in the box.

You can also follow what-is-eczema.com on Facebook



The April's edition of Eczema Bulletin will include

  • April's Featured Article - How gluten can affect eczema
  • My favourite news item of the month
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....manage nummular eczema



Hope you enjoyed March's Eczema Bulletin, and thanks for reading

Teri


Back to Back Issues Page