Skin asthma commonly refers to atopic dermatitis, which is also usually referred to as eczema. However, there are different types of eczema; it’s just that atopic dermatitis is the most common, hence it also goes by the more colloquial term, “skin asthma.”
In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of skin asthma (or eczema) to shed light on its various causes and symptoms, so you’ll know how to address them accordingly.
We’ll also provide you with the different skin asthma treatment options, including the health benefits of moringa, such as using the right herbal soap for skin asthma’s symptoms.
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.
The Different Types of Skin Asthma
Skin asthma is quite common in children, teenagers, and even adults. It usually causes the skin to itch, which then causes the skin to turn red every so often. Since atopic dermatitis is the most common type of skin asthma, people usually attribute it to the skin’s allergic reactions, like irritation. That being said, each type of skin asthma will have unique symptoms and causes.
Heres’ a list to quickly enumerate the various types:
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Contact Dermatitis
- Dyshidrotic Dermatitis
- Hand Eczema
- Neurodermatitis
- Nummular Eczema
- Stasis Dermatitis
Skin Asthma Symptoms
We’ll get into more detail for every type later on, but generally speaking, here are the overlapping symptoms for all types of skin asthma:
- Dryness in the skin
- Appearance of scales in the skin
- Reddened skin
- Varying levels of itchiness and irritation
Skin asthma can lead to certain complications when these symptoms are aggravated. From experiencing asthma and hay fever at the same time, children below the age of 13 will first experience the symptoms of eczema.
Once it develops, skin asthma will also manifest in teens and adults, who will also experience flare-ups that involve itchy and scaly skin. This can be a type of skin asthma or eczema known as neurodermatitis, which appears in the body as a patch of irritated skin that grows itchier, and when scratched habitually, changes in color, grows thicker, and feels leathery.
It is important to note that you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of skin asthma, nor should you scratch the affected areas without any regard for possible complications, as it can lead to infection. Once damaged, the skin can break, crack, and lead to open sores, making it more prone to bacteria.
Skin asthma can also develop into another more specific type known as hand dermatitis, which is often seen in people whose job involves constant exposure to dirty water or harsh chemicals, like detergents, disinfectants, and soaps.
And the worst complication of skin asthma is how it can affect one’s sleep due to symptoms such as extreme irritation and itchiness. Once sleeping becomes uncomfortable, it will be hard for your body to recover.
Skin Asthma Causes
There can be a wide range of causes for eczema or skin asthma, so when your skin is unhealthy and does not have enough moisture, it lacks the protection necessary to fight off bacteria and resist irritation.
However, this lack of defense is mostly attributed to one’s environment or surroundings (if not due to hereditary conditions), which can lead to the skin getting irritated.
Skin Asthma Treatment Options and Prevention
There is no definitive cure to skin asthma and its various types, and at best, treating its symptoms will help manage the condition. At its core, you will want to address flaring up, so it helps to keep your skin moisturized as much as possible.
- Find a moisturizing product that works for your skin, such as an herbal soap that fights off bacteria, a moisturizing lotion that helps with water retention in the skin, or a therapy oil that reduces flaking and itchiness.
- Identify the triggers that cause your flare-ups, such as excessive sweating, stress, poor eating habits, harsh chemicals, allergens like pollen, dust, or detergents—and avoid these triggers to keep your skin cleared up.
- For infants, it can help to watch out for certain types of food, as these can also cause flare-ups. This includes egg, milk, and soy products, to name a few. It is best to see a doctor for your child’s possible food allergies.
- Shorter baths with warm water can also help reduce flare-ups by avoiding the skin from getting too dry. Try to limit your time bathing to 15 minutes or less, but always make sure to wash and rinse thoroughly. Dry your body with care by patting the skin softly with a towel.
- Opt for gentle and mild products when bathing, because you will want to avoid the complete removal of the body’s natural oils, which can then lead to dryness.
- A bleach bath is also an option you can take to manage the symptoms of skin asthma. Soak your body from the neck down in a half-cup of household bleach (not concentrated) mixed with 40 gallons, or 151 liters, of warm water in a tub for 10 minutes. At most, you can do this twice a week.
So, now that we’ve covered skin asthma in general, let’s proceed with the different types.
Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
As the most common type of skin asthma or eczema, AD will often manifest in childhood. It does go away on its own, but it can also appear during adulthood.
When you have AD, your skin’s natural protection against allergens and irritants is no longer that capable, so you will experience the following symptoms of skin asthma:
- Dryness in the skin, which can lead to itchiness
- Patches of red or brown color all over the body
- Rashes that appear in the creases of elbows and knees, hands, feet, wrists, neck, chest, and eyelids
- The skin in the affected areas of the body can thicken and turn darker
- Tiny fluid-filled blisters may appear
- Infants will have rashes in the scalp and on the cheeks
- Scratching the affected area of the skin can lead to infection
The causes for this type of skin asthma can include any of the following factors:
- Genes
- Skin dryness
- Problems in the immune system
- Environmental triggers
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that can leave the skin clear and blemish-free for prolonged periods, but it can also worsen due to flare-ups, which can occur in the body alongside asthma and hay fever. And as of today, there has yet to be any known cure, so at best, all you can do is manage its symptoms.
You can do this by managing the triggers that lead to flare-ups of skin asthma. This includes: self-care measures focusing on enabling clear, clean, and healthy skin to triumph. Get rid of harsh soaps or any skincare product with strong chemicals that might cause irritation, keep the skin moisturized, and make use of gentle, yet effective medicated creams, oils, or lotions. Herbal skincare products are a good option, too.
It is recommended that you see a doctor for the following reasons:
- The condition affects your life to the point that it’s disrupting sleep and day-to-day activities
- Infections, such as red marks and streaks, pus-filled blisters, or yellowing scabs appear
- The symptoms cease to be alleviated—even when there is consistent effort to remedy the conditions of skin asthma
Contact Dermatitis
Having reddish and irritated skin whenever it grazes a surface or is touched by a particular substance might be a sign that you’re experiencing one type of skin asthma. This skin condition is known as contact dermatitis, which can be categorized into these two:
- Allergic contact dermatitis is rooted in the immune system’s response to certain irritants such as metals or fabrics.
- Irritant contact dermatitis is rooted in the skin’s reaction to chemicals and substances.
The symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
- Itchiness, redness, and a burning or stinging sensation on the skin
- Hives or bumps on the skin that feel itchy
- Fluid-filled blisters that turn crusty over time
- The affected areas of the skin thicken, turn scaly, and become leathery
The causes of contact dermatitis will often be relative to which type you have, as people’s triggers will vary accordingly. However, here are the most usual causes:
- Chemical detergents like bleach
- Certain types of metals used in jewelry
- Latex and some types of paints
- Nickel
- Different types of plants with toxins like poison ivy
- A variety of makeup products and other chemicals found in skincare products
- Soaps or perfumes with harsh ingredients
- Solvents
- Smoke, smog, or nicotine in cigarettes
Dyshidrotic Eczema
Another type of skin asthma, dyshidrotic eczema often causes tiny blisters to manifest in the hands and feet. It usually occurs in women more, as opposed to men. Apart from the general symptoms of skin asthma, dyshidrotic eczema’s symptoms also include:
- Itchy, fluid-filled blisters found in the hands and feet, particularly in the fingers and toes, palms and soles
- Cracking, flaking, and scaling skin that can feel painful
Meanwhile, the causes for dyshidrotic eczema include:
- Allergies
- Constantly having damp hands and feet
- Prolonged exposure of the skin to substances like nickel, cobalt, or chromium salt
- Unmanaged stress
Hand Eczema
This type of skin asthma specifically affects the hands, hence its name. It usually occurs in people involved in jobs that require their hands to be in constant exposure to chemical irritants, such as hairdressing, cleaning, and certain industrial manufacturing work.
The symptoms of hand eczema include:
- Constantly itching red hands that feel irritated and dry
- The skin on the hands eventually develop blisters
- Cracking or breaking skin in the hands
The causes of hand eczema is primarily due to prolonged interaction with various types of chemicals on a daily basis. This means that jobs wherein workers have to use their hands and come into contact with irritants are prone to this type of skin asthma. Here are some examples:
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Hairdressing or hairstyling
- Chemical manufacturing
- Metal fabrication
- Laundry or dry cleaning
- Healthcare or medical laboratories
- Earthworks, mining, foraging
Neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is a form of skin asthma that is often confused with AD, since it also causes patches of scales in the body to appear. However, its causes are different. Here are its primary symptoms:
- Thick patches of scales that appear on the arms, legs, and other areas of the body
- Itchiness
- Scratching the patches will lead to bleeding and infection
The causes or triggers neurodermatitis have yet to be discovered, but here are some of the most prevalent examples:
- Allergies
- Insect bites
- Excessive dryness of the skin
- Poor blood circulation in the body
- Previous skin conditions, such as AD or psoriasis
Nummular Eczema
This type of skin asthma is recognized through the round spots that form on the surface of the skin. It can look more distinctive when compared to the other types and it also can be itchier. Its symptoms include:
- Round spots about the same shape or size of a coin that develop on the skin
- The spots gradually itch
- The spots gradually develop into scales
The causes of nummular eczema can range from insect bites, allergens, and dryness of the skin. Similar to neurodermatitis, having other skin conditions such as AD can cause this type of skin asthma to develop.
Statis Dermatitis
This type of skin asthma develops when the blood flow in the legs is disrupted through weakened veins. This can occur due to a range of underlying conditions like chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, or DVT. The fluids that leak from these damaged veins breach into the skin, which then leads to swelling, redness, and pain.
The symptoms of statis dermatitis include:
- Swollen legs
- Aching and heavy feeling in the legs
- The skin over the veins feel dry, which causes itchiness
- Open sores on the lower legs and feet
The primary factor that causes stasis dermatitis is usually the poor blood circulation in the lower legs, wherein blood accumulates in the veins, hence the swelling.
Use an Herbal Soap for Skin Asthma
Now that you’re familiar with the different types of skin asthma, its symptoms and causes, you’ll find that the best way to go about it is by managing the symptoms.
In mild cases, it’ll be much easier to deal with, as dryness, flaking, and irritation can be addressed with soothing herbal products like what Moringa-O2 has to offer.
The Herbal Soap offers a wide range of health benefits, which include antibacterial and antioxidant properties, to help you manage the itchiness and inflammation due to skin asthma. With a powerful combination of nature’s essential oils, like moringa, sunflower, and olive oil, you get a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals targeted at addressing skin asthma’s symptoms.
Check out this article and discover how moringa oil can be effective for eczema, or visit our blogs for more hair and skincare tips!
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