Eczema is an extremely common medical condition that affects over 30 percent of the population in the United States. It is a common skin condition that affects both people young and old and it can often be difficult to manage the symptoms of eczema.
Eczema tends to leave red, itchy and inflamed patches on your skin. It may appear to start off as a rash but eczema is a long-lasting condition that can be difficult to manage and your eczema rash will often become dry over time. People with eczema suffer from their physical medical condition but they can also suffer emotionally. This is because there are many misconceptions among the general public when it comes to eczema which can lead to people making fun or being afraid of those affected by the medical condition.
Some people will even go as far as to avoid people that have eczema because they think it is contagious, but is that true? Is eczema truly a contagious medical condition? Here we will look at the common question of whether or not eczema is contagious.
The Complicated Question: Is Eczema Contagious?
When it comes to saying whether or not eczema is contagious it can be difficult to give a straight answer because the situation may seem complex. With that being said, eczema itself is not actually contagious. That is right, someone with eczema cannot pass eczema off to another person even if skin to skin contact has been made.
Often times people that have been in contact with someone that has eczema will become paranoid and think that every new scratch, rash, or blemish on their skin is due to catching eczema from another person that has it, however, this is not true. With that being said, in certain situations, there are ways that people with eczema can affect others like when someone has infected eczema.
Infected Eczema may be Contagious
The common symptoms of eczema are red itchy rashes and dry skin. This can cause someone with eczema to start scratching those areas and this can lead to open sores that are prone to infections. When someone with eczema develops an infection, only then may they be contagious to others. This is because the infection itself is contagious and can be passed on to other people through skin to skin contact.
The level of caution you should exercise to prevent spreading eczema infections will depend on the type of eczema infection you have. Some eczema infections are more contagious than others and it is important that you learn the different types of eczema infections so that you can determine how proactive you need to be.
Common Types of Infected Eczema
Infected eczema is bad because it can be contagious to others but it is important to understand that not all types of infected eczema are the same. In fact, there are three common different types of infected eczema and they include fungal infections, bacterial infections, and viral infections.
Each of these different types of eczema come with different symptoms and methods of management. If you have infected eczema or you think that you may have an infection it is important to determine what kind of infected eczema you have to make sure you receive the proper treatment. Using improper treatment methods for your eczema can lead to more difficulties down the road and it could potentially make your eczema problem worse. Make sure you read the 3 common types of eczema infections below.
Common Types of Infected Eczema:
Fungal Infections
The most common type of fungal infection found in eczema rashes are Candida infections. Candida is a fungus that is more commonly known as a yeast infection. A candida infection can be contagious to other people especially if they have had a yeast infection in the past. Most people, especially women, have had a yeast infection so it is important to be careful when dealing with someone that has a candida fungal infection. Another common fungal infection is ringworm which is different than candida. Ringworm is caused by a fungus called dermatophyte.
Ringworm is an unfortunate kind of fungal infection because it can lead to athlete’s foot and infections of the scalp and fingernails. This kind of fungal infection can be very painful at times so it is important to get the proper care and pain management you need to handle this fungus.
Bacterial Infections
Another common type of infection that affects those with eczema is a bacterial infection. One of the most common types of bacterial infections found in those with eczema is known as a staph infection. This infection is caused by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus and it can cause some pretty serious symptoms.
Your eczema infection may be a staph infection if you notice puss around your rash or if you have boils which look like large pimples around your eczema. Staph infections are contagious to other people and they are most commonly transmitted by skin to skin contact however they can also be transferred through clothes, furniture, bedding, sinks, and toilets.
Since staph infections are so contagious it is important to remember to protect others from contracting the bacteria because it can be very hard for others to deal with especially if they are pregnant or elderly.
Viral Infections
Another common type of infection that affects those with eczema is a viral infection. The eczema herpeticum is a type of viral infection that affects those with eczema. This infection is caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus and it can lead to the development of cold sores on your body. Herpes infections can cause a host of additional problems like fevers and swollen lymph nodes.
You may have eczema herpeticum if you notice troubles swallowing, you develop cold sores in your mouth, or you have a lot of blisters that contain lots of puss. Herpes is contagious and you should practise extreme caution if you are infected with herpes. Make sure you cover your sores from herpes if you are planning on physical contact with another person because you do not want them to become infected as well.
How do I Prevent Infected Eczema?
If you want to make sure you do not develop infected eczema it is important that you refrain from scratching your eczema rashes at all costs. Scratching is one of the most common ways that infected eczema can occur and once your eczema is infected it will only cause your symptoms to be worse. This can lead to a never-ending cycle of you scratching and infecting your skin.
One of the most common ways your eczema will become infected is by having open sores. Eczema can dry your skin and that can lead to cracks and open sores which make you vulnerable to infections. Make sure you stay hydrated and keep your skin moisturized to prevent cracks and open sores from occurring. If you can follow these tips you should be able to lower your chances of developing an eczema related infection.
How to Get Eczema Relief
If you are trying to get relief from your itchy skin the best thing to do is see a doctor and discuss some of your options. You should speak to a doctor that has a lot of experience with eczema or if you can, speak to a dermatologist as they are skin experts.
Generally, a doctor will discuss some of the different options you have available to you and they will prescribe you something to give you relief from your itch. You may get a prescription for an anti inflammatory medication or a prescription for a medical cream or ointment. In most instances, these will provide you with relief and it will help you stop scratching your eczema.
If your skin is already infected do not worry because your doctor will most likely prescribe you an antibiotic to help get rid of your infection. You can also purchase some relief crams online or in retail stores like Walmart. These creams may not be as strong as those prescribed by a doctor but they can definitely give you the relief you need.
According to the experts at OurEczemaStory.com one of the best creams to help manage your eczema itch is O’Keeffe’s Skin Repair Cream. This cream may be able to provide relief for those with mild eczema and some people have reported that it has helped their children manage eczema symptoms. If you are looking for relief from your eczema symptoms it is important to remember that there are options out there that will help.
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My Friend has Eczema – What should I Do?
My Friend has Eczema – What should I Do?If you have a family, friend, or loved one that has eczema it can be hard to know what to do. You do not want to avoid them and make them feel bad about their medical condition, but you also want to make sure you do not develop a medical condition that could put the quality of you and your families life in jeopardy. If you know someone that has eczema the most important thing to do is have an open dialogue with them.
People with eczema generally know a lot about their condition and often times they will be happy to explain some of the common misconceptions of the condition. Generally speaking, it is important to remember that eczema is not always contagious and that you will most often be okay interacting with someone with eczema.
On the other hand, eczema that is infected can be contagious so it is important to ask them if their eczema is contagious because they will have a better idea than you. If you are dealing with someone that has infected eczema make sure you take some extra precautions to ensure you do not contract the infection.
Make sure you do not touch their eczema especially if you are breastfeeding or pregnant as you do not want to risk passing an infection to your child. Avoid skin to skin contact and take extra care if you have any open sores, cracks, or wounds on your skin, as those can make it easier for an infection to make it into your body.
Determining if eczema is contagious or not can be a difficult question to answer. That is because generally speaking eczema itself is not actually contagious but it is the infection that is contagious instead. One of the best ways to make sure your eczema is not contagious is by preventing an infection from occurring but that may be hard to do.
People with eczema will unfortunately often experience some infections. This is because the condition itself makes you more prone to developing them. If you want to lower your chances of developing an infection you will need to make sure you do not scratch your skin.
Remember, open wounds are one of the main causes of infected eczema and you can minimize that by avoiding scratching. Also, if your eczema has cracks you will want to focus on healing them. Make sure you get a moisturizer to help heal your skin as it will help close any cracks or open sores on your skin.
If you are worried about contracting eczema you should speak to the people in your life that have it so you can determine whether or not they have infected eczema. Remember that eczema is generally not contagious but infected eczema is.
If someone you know has infected eczema make sure you learn what type they have so they can get rid of their infection and so that you can take the necessary precautions when interacting with them. Remember that some infections can be more contagious than others. Eczema can be difficult enough to live with and having infected eczema can only make things worse.
Managing your eczema infection can be difficult at times but it is important to remember that there are products and people out there that can help you. If you follow these steps you may be able to prevent your eczema from being contagious.
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Interesting related article: “Face Massage for Glowing Skin.”