Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that probably results from exposure to allergens and irritants in susceptible individuals. This common skin condition usually appears within the first 5 years of life and sometimes, but not always, is accompanied by other allergic diseases such as hay fever and asthma.

The rash of eczema is often weepy (one that emits a fluid) and is very itchy, typically occurring in the creases of joints, neck, face and about the trunk. Scratching may lead to bleeding and infection.

The condition often diminishes in intensity as you grow older and more than 40 percent of us will outgrow the problem when we become adults. The rashes of poison ivy and other poisonous plants are similar to eczema, but are short lived and limited to the areas of contact.

Some people find that mechanical irritation and heat make their rash worse. Dietary factors are occasionally important and many physicians will eliminate certain food allergens (milk, eggs, citrus juices and nuts being the most common).

Treatment of eczema is aimed at reducing dryness, itching and inflammation. Topical agents include wet dressings and steroid ointments and creams provide relief from scaling and dryness. Oral anti-itching drugs such as Benadryl^R and other antihistamines may be quite helpful. Secondary infections that develop when bacteria invade the irritated skin are treated with the appropriate antibiotic.

Warts are caused by the papilloma virus and are very common, with as many as 10 percent of all people infected at any one time. They can take a variety of appearances - the most common is that ugly little critter than looks like a wrinkled pimple on the fingers and around the nails. Another form is the tiny round flesh colored flat wart usually located on the back of the hands, neck or face. The third type is the plantar wart that resembles a hard pebble like bump on the soles of the feet. Warts are harmless, but depending on their location can be painful. They would definitely take last place in a beauty contest of skin diseases!

How warts are actually spread is poorly understood. It is thought to be due to a susceptible person’s direct contact with the virus through a break in the outer layer of the skin. While you can spread warts on yourself, they are not very contagious to other people. They are rare in kids under the age of 2.

The "success" of folk remedies for warts is due to the fact that warts often disappear by themselves. "Warts are harmless, so treatment should be conservative," according to Largo, Florida, dermatologist Fred Gurtman, MD. "and they tend to recur even after treatment that seemed successful." So when should warts be treated? "They should be removed when the warts appear to be spreading, or enlarging, cause you discomfort because of where they are located or if you are embarrassed by their appearance," says Dr. Gurtman. Sometimes your physician will recommend an over-the-counter medication that contains salicylic acid or refer to a dermatologist for surgical removal by scraping, cauterizing or freezing.

Molluscum contagiosum is a harmless skin infection caused by a virus. The rash is commonly found under the arms and the adjacent chest areas and consists of flesh tone, waxy-looking pimples. In the center of each pimple is a small dimple that so that rash resembles small pearls with an indented centers. With gentle pressure from the side the molluscum discharge a firm granular white mass. There is usually no symptoms except for occasional itching. Dozens and often hundreds of lesions may be seen. Despite its name, the contagiousness of molluscum is generally low. Because of the difficulty in treating that many lesions on a person, watchful waiting is usually the best therapy. Furthermore, the molluscum naturally go away within six to 12 months without treatment or scaring. Some physicians treat the molluscum with the topical application of tretinon (Retin A), salicylic acid or surgical removal when the rash occurs in areas where there’s discomfort from the pimples being rubbed.

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