March 5, 2007.Monday
Eczema and Its Unbearable Itch(1)
New eczema research looks at why itching is so intense
Danielle Alexzander, 36, spent nearly every day of her childhood scratching. She wore long pants and sleeves to hide her skin condition called eczema. Scaly, itchy rashes covered most of Alexander's body, except her face. She ran home every day after school,took off her clothes and scratched until she bled.
There is no escape from the "constant itching, itching, itching. You itch and you scratch and you can't stop yourself," she said. "It's just a vicious cycle. "
Alexander is one of an estimated 17 to 30 million people in the United States who have eczema, an inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy skin.
The research
Every itch is different and can be unbearable, said Dr. Gil Yosipovitch, a dermatologist at WakeForestUniversityMedicalCenter. He is investigating how the brain deals with the itch signal. Yosipovitch founded a forum for researchers dedicated to understanding itching, the most disruptive, uncomfortable and bothersome symptom of eczema. The group is small, but their research may soon be able to explain how the brain processes chronic itching and to develop drugs that offer relief.
New research is starting to explain why eczema patients such as Alexander and Casey Richards, 9, itch so much. Casey has eczema from her head to her feet. For Casey, sun, sweat, hot showers, allergies and anxiety all set off uncontrollable itching that at times disrupts her sleep.
Medication only provides temporary relief.
"She is never comfortable in her own skin," said her mother Pat.
A different kind of itch
When a healthy person gets a mosquito bite, it itches. The person scratches and the itch goes away. A cream to stop the inflammation is sometimes needed, but most people find relief.
Not so with people with eczema. Their itching is high in intensity and can cover large patches, even areas that aren't affected by a rash or dry skin. They often have more sensitive skin than others. And the itching doesn't stop.
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Vocabulary Focus
vicious cycle (n phr)--- a continuing, unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem, which then makes the first problem worse
bothersome (adj)--- causing annoyance or trouble
set (something) off (v phr)--- to cause an activity or event, often a series of events, to begin
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Specialized Focus
inflammatory (adj)--- 发炎的 causing or related to swelling and pain in the body
dermatologist (n)--- 皮肤科医师 a doctor who studies and treats skin diseases
forum (n)--- 论坛；讨论会 a meeting in which people can talk about a matter of public interest
allergy (n)--- 过敏症 a condition that makes a person become ill or develop skin or breathing problems because they have eaten certain foods or come in contact with certain substances