Eczema

What is eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition in which your skin looks red and inflamed. Eczema also causes severe itching and irritation. Eczema usually starts as a red rash on your skin. The initial rash can then develop round or indistinct dry patches, raised crusty bumps or patches, oozing blisters, skin discoloration, and scaliness.

The most common kind of eczema is atopic dermatitis, which often affects infants and young children. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, severe form of eczema that frequently occurs in people who have other allergic conditions like hay fever or asthma, or a family history of these conditions.

Although eczema can occur anywhere on your body, it's more likely to appear on your:

• Face
• Inside of your arms
• Behind your knees
• Hands and feet
• during direct skin-to-skin contact.

You might also develop eczema or dermatitis for other reasons, like having dry skin, chemical irritation, allergies, and as a reaction to certain medications.

How is eczema diagnosed?

during a physical examination and patient consultation. There's no specific test for eczema, but dermatologists can diagnose eczema by looking at your skin and talking to you about your family's medical history.

Many people with eczema also have other allergies, so your provider might do some allergy tests to identify possible triggers. Triggers are substances or situations that set off your eczema or make it worse. Common triggers include:

• Soaps and detergents
• Upper respiratory infections
• Food allergies
• Animal dander
• Very hot baths or showers
• Stress

Identifying triggers for your eczema can be a big help in managing the condition.

How is eczema treated?

The main aim of eczema treatment is to relieve and prevent itching. Scratching skin affected by eczema makes it much worse. It can cause crusting, scabbing, thickening, and cracking of your skin, and makes infection more likely.

There are several treatment options available at Honet Dermatology and Cosmetic that can ease the discomfort of eczema and stop the itching. Your provider creates a treatment plan suited to you that could include options such as:

• Consistent skincare
• Moisturization
• Hydration of the skin
• Antihistamines
• Topical corticosteroids
• Changes in bathing habits
• Changes in laundering habits
• Antibiotics for infection

Honet Dermatology and Cosmetic provides a range of carefully selected products to moisturize and hydrate your skin. They also have brands like Restorsea™ and La Roche-Posay ranges that include products designed to soothe skin problems like eczema.

There are also new medications available that target the part of your immune system responsible for causing atopic dermatitis. These are particularly valuable for resistant cases and people suffering from severe eczema.

To find out more, call Honet Dermatology and Cosmetic or request an appointment online.