Eczema or dermatitis is a condition affecting our skin that usually results in dry, itchy, cracked and red skin. It can become uncomfortable and bleeding through scratching since it can be so itchy. Face, hands, elbows and knees are the areas that are usually affected by eczema. There are various types of eczema like atopic eczema that typically runs in families. Contact eczema is an irritation of the skin caused by chemicals such as detergents in fabric softener and powder soaps. Sometimes atopic and contact eczema may affect a child at the same time so it is best to change your detergents to ease the conditions.

One may also be affected by allergic contact eczema, a reaction caused by specific substance like the nickel in jewellery and may tend to extend to other parts of the skin. Eczema may occur at any age but infants and children are commonly more affected. It may be upsetting to babies and children since they cannot help but scratch the area affected and may lead to infections. The condition may improve when children grow older but their skin time and again are dry and easily irritated.

There are treatments for eczema but it depends on its severity. For mild cases of contact eczema a low-strength steroid cream are recommended. But eczema can also be treated the natural way like in some part of the world, they utilizes the oil from neem tree to help the skin condition. The use of probiotics, nutritional food supplements can also help to improve the skin condition. A healthy lifestyle can also combat eczema.