Eczema and dermatitis are two very common skin problems. Some people tend to shrug as a simple skin rash, however, if not treated properly they can both lead to more severe problems.

In this article we'll give you some helpful tips and take a closer look at the skin condition itself.

Dermatitis

The term "dermatitis" refers to a group of skin problems that cause inflammation. What these different types of inflammation have in common is an allergic reaction to a specific substance (allergen). Contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and urticaria are all different types of dermatitis.

But, in order to know which type of dermatitis you are suffering from you need to have some context, if not you're looking at a simple rash that you know nothing about.

Eczema

Eczema is a type of dermatitis, usually atopic dermatitis in children, which is commonly characterized by one or several of the following symptoms:

*redness

*skin dryness and itching

*skin edema (swelling)

Severe cases of eczema can present:

*bleeding or oozing

*flaking, crusting, blistering, or cracking

Mild forms of eczema will often subside fairly quickly, however, when more severe forms of eczema are left untreated they can lead to breaking of the skin and subsequent infections. This is the main reason that it is important to deal with eczema promptly.

The first thing you must do is identify the triggers that set off eczema flare-ups. Every person has a different set of triggers. Regardless of this, some common triggers include contact with harsh ingredients and scratchy fabrics, and exposure to sunlight, heat and wind.

Being able to identify your triggers and avoiding them is vital if you want to keep your eczema under control.

If you discover that you react negatively to cleaning agents then changing the brand you are using or avoid them all together. Avoiding scratchy clothing is much easier; simply do not buy clothes made from itchy material. Prefer clothing that is made with cottons and linens instead of clothing made with wool.

If your flare-ups are caused by heat and humidity, then you should avoid visiting areas where the climate is both humid and hot. Stay in shady areas and away from open flames. When you exercise, do so in an open, well ventilated area.

During the summer you should sip cool water to help control your body's core temperature. This will help reduce your chances of having flare-ups.

You can also help alleviate your eczema and reduce the number of flare-ups by changing your skin care routine. Natural skin care balms can give you a gentler treatment than can traditional skin care products. Traditional skin care products usually contain fragrances, fillers and chemical ingredients that can aggravate your eczema.

Healing Balms Treat Eczema Flare-Ups

You should always look for products that are fragrance and alcohol free and steer clear of products containing cinnamon, menthol and ylang-ylang. A great dry skin lotion will also help alleviate the dry skin that usually accompanies eczema.