What are the causes of eczema?
Doctors do not know the exact cause of eczema, but a defect of the skin that impairs its function as a barrier, possibly combined with an abnormal function of the immune system, are believed to be an important factors. Some forms of eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema. Changes in temperature or humidity, or even psychological stress, can lead to outbreaks of eczema in some people.

How Eczema can be treated ?
- Apply coconut oil on the affected area.
- Mudpack when applied in the affected area is also helpful in treating eczema.
- Carrot juice and spinach juice in combination is highly beneficial for eczema.
- Tomato juice is regarded as an effective medicine which clears up the eczema in a matter of days.
- Another effective remedy would be making a paste using 1 tablespoon each of turmeric powder and bitter neem leaves. Apply this paste to the affected areas.
- Eczema can also be treated using water. Cold compress or cold wet fomentation when applied two times a day is found beneficial in treating eczema.
- Take an iron vessel and boil 200 grams of mustard oil in it. Add 50 grams of fresh clean leaves of neem in it. Once the leaves turn black, let it cool and then strain it. Apply this oil 4 times a day to cure eczema.
- Mashed papaya seeds when applied on the eczema affected area reduce itching and help a person suffering from eczema.
- Sun bathing is also helpful in curing eczema. It kills the harmful bacteria and thus treating the inflammation caused.

Dietary Treatments for Eczema :
- Soybean products, eggs, nuts, wheat and maize should be avoided, though food allergies may vary from person to person.
- Sour foods like pickles, curds, etc. must be avoided.
- Salt must be reduced in the diet.

What kind of substances can cause contact allergy ?
While each case is different, some common substances that cause irritation are watchstraps, nickel(used in jewellery), cosmetics,
dyes, rubber products and soaps.

How it is confirmed that a person is having contact allergy ?
The dermatologist will conduct a skin test called “patch test” to confirm a diagnosis of contact allergy. This is a very safe procedure.
Usually, several suspected allergies are tested simultaneously. A positive reaction indicates that the patient is allergic to the test
substance and needs to avoid it.

Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease, occuring usually in children. In most cases, the older the child, the more severe is the attack.

CAUSES:
It is caused by virus. The basic cause of disease is however, persistent wrong feeding of children, which results in diminished defence mechanisms of the body.

SYMPTONS:
1. Low grade fever, mild headache and feeling of weakness.
2. Appearance of rash on the skin in the form of red spots mostly on upper back or chest.In severe conditions, rash can appear on face and lower extremeties.
3. The papules turn into blisters and finally become pustules and form scabs, which fall off.
4. They come in successive corps, so that while some are drying, others are beginning to form.
5. The duration of this disease ranges from 10-21 days.

REMEDIES:

Brown Vinegar : Half a cup of vinegar should be added to a bath of warm water. It will relieve the irritation of the skin.

Pea Water : The water in which fresh peas have been cooked can be used to relieve the irritation of skin.

Baking Soda : The victim of chicken pox should be sponged with this water so that soda dries the skin.

Vitamin E : The oil should be rubbed on skin. It will have healing effect. The marks left by chicken pox will fade away.

Carrot & Coriander : A soup prepared from 100 gms of carrots and 60 gms of coriander should be taken once a day.

DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. Juice diet for few days.
2. Intake of raw fruit & vegetable juices.
3. Lemon juice is considered beneficial.
4. Add neem leaves to water.