Oct

19

What Is Lichen Simplex?

Filed Under Eczema Skin Symptoms, Eczema Symptoms | 2 Comments

Lichen Simplex pictureWhat is lichen simplex?  Lichen simplex sounds like a disease but it is not.  It describes more of a condition or a symptom. It develops  when you habitually scratch a certain area of your skin for a long period of time.  Gradually, you find that this scratching causes a hardening and thickening of your skin.  The affected area becomes more noticeable. The pigment of this area also can make it look darker.

What causes lichen simplex?  It is normally most common in eczema patients, but it can be a condition that anyone may suffer from.  This itching is due to the fact that the nerve endings in a particular area are irritated and this irritation causes you to begin the scratch-itch-scratch cycle that worsens the lichen simplex. The more you scratch this specific area, the more that it may itch.

Lichen simplex is usually concentrated on one specific area of the body, most commonly the ankle, hand, or a spot on the back.  This area is not normally a huge area; it can be a very small area, even as small as the upper eyelids.

Oct

16

Dyeing Or Coloring Your Hair Can Set Off Eczema Symptoms

Filed Under Eczema Skin Symptoms, Eczema Symptoms | 2 Comments

A subscriber of mine triggered my memory when she told about her story about having an eczema outbreak due to coloring her hair.  It became a nightmare for her as her eczema symptoms became uncontrollable and affected her self esteem.

I used to colour and highlight my hair to different shades. My hairstylist had given me this idea about making my hair look more interesting when the light catches on. Look at all the fashion magazines, he said.

I don’t color or highlight my hair all that often now.  But I realised that in recent years, I would develop itching and scaly dry skin around parts of my surrounding skin.

I found out that the culprit is known as paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical substance that is widely used as a permanent hair dye. PPD is known to trigger skin reactions in people.

When used on the hair, some amounts of this chemical is absorbed through the exposed part of your skin.

Hence if you know that you are prone to developing [tag-tec]eczema symptoms[/tag-tec] or is in the midst of an eczema storm, do not go and dye or color your hair in the name of vanity. All that itching and dry scaly skin may cost you a subsequent trip to your physician for help.

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