Eczema patients have numerous risk factors for injury, including disrupted sleep, use of antihistamines, and coexisting psychological illnesses. The risk of fracture and injury associated with eczema has long been unexplored, but fractures are a public health problem that is increasing as populations continue to age.
Researchers Nitin Garg, M.D., and Jonathan I. Silverberg looked at 34,500 adults with a history of eczema within the last year.
The prevalence of eczema was 7.2 percent, and the prevalence of injury-causing limitations was two percent. The prevalence of injuries in eczema patients rose with age, especially for those in the 50- to 69-year-old age group, but decreased after the age of 70.
Patients with daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbances, and fatigue had higher prevalence for fracture and bone or joint injuries. Eczema patients with psychological illnesses had an additional risk for these types of injuries as well.
The study concluded, “In conclusion, adult eczema is associated with an increased risk of injury, particularly FBJI [fracture and bone or joint injury], which is only partially related to the presence of sleep symptoms and PBDs [psychiatric and behavioral disorders]. Taken together, these data suggest that adult eczema is a previously unrecognized risk factor for fracture and other injury, emphasizing the importance of developing safer and more effective clinical interventions for itch and sleep problems in eczema, as well as preventive measures for injury risk reduction in eczema. Future studies providing better measures of fracture risk are needed to confirm these associations.”
Natural home remedies for eczema
Eczema can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, from disrupting sleep to being incredibly itchy to simply being embarrassed by the appearance, which can affect someone’s mental health and self-esteem.
Although there is no cure for eczema, there are things you can do in order to reduce itchiness and improve quality of life. Some of these home remedies may offer you the relief you need in order to obtain more sleep, fight fatigue, and reduce your risk of injury.
- Moisturize the skin, especially after bathing or showering, when it can get dry and itchy.
- Try an oatmeal bath to reduce itching, and a diluted bleach bath in order to reduce the risk of infection.
- Use cold compresses to relieve itching.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting fabrics.
- Keep fingernails short in order to reduce skin damage by accidental scratching.
- Talk to your doctor about eczema treatments, whether topical solutions or medications.
- Apply coconut oil, which is known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Apply aloe vera gel.
- Bathe in Epsom salt.
- Soak a cloth in steeped chamomile and apply to the eczema spots.
- Make a paste of nutmeg and olive oil, and leave on the affected area for up to 20 minutes, then rinse it off.
- Soak cucumbers in water and apply them to the affected skin.
These natural remedies can help you relieve itchiness as well as improve the skin condition and reduce your risk of infection.
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Sources:
http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/adult-eczema-may-be-unrecognized-risk-factor-for-fracture-other-injuries/
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/treatment-11/eczema-itching?page=2
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-eczema.html/3