{"id":3054,"date":"2022-02-08T08:34:40","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T15:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancederm.net\/?p=3054"},"modified":"2024-03-27T12:50:46","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T19:50:46","slug":"top-tips-and-tricks-for-managing-your-eczema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advancederm.net\/top-tips-and-tricks-for-managing-your-eczema\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips and Tricks for Managing Your Eczema"},"content":{"rendered":"

What keeps you up at night, drives you crazy a lot of the time, and can you make you\u00a0uncomfortable\u00a0at\u00a0times?\u00a0It sounds like a crazy riddle, but if you suffer from eczema, all of this and more can be true for you.\u00a0And considering that the\u00a0National Eczema Association<\/a>\u00a0estimates that over 31 million Americans suffer from some form of eczema, this is\u00a0a\u00a0condition that we are very familiar with at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery.<\/p>\n

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What is Eczema?<\/h4>\n

Eczema is a condition that causes itchy, inflamed, and red skin. Other symptoms include dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, and in severe cases skin infections. It is not contagious, so you cannot give it to someone else. Though the exact cause of eczema is unknown, those who suffer from it tend to have an over-reactive immune system that produces inflammation when triggered by internal or external factors. For most types of eczema, it is considered that a combination of genes and triggers is at fault. Researchers have found that some individuals have a gene mutation that causes them to have a problem creating filaggrin. This protein helps our bodies maintain the top layer of our skin as a protective barrier. If your skin barrier is compromised, it loses moisture, creating dryness, thus becoming more susceptible to infections.<\/p>\n

Eczema is a condition that can be managed. There may be times when you will\u00a0be asymptomatic. Then something will trigger your skin, causing a reaction, or,\u00a0as it\u2019s commonly referred to, a\u00a0\u201cflare-up.\u201d\u00a0Even\u00a0though there is no cure, with treatment and being\u00a0proactive, you can\u00a0find relief.<\/p>\n

There are seven different types of eczema:<\/h4>\n
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  1. Atopic dermatitis\u00a0\u2013\u00a0this is the most common type of eczema.\u00a0Commonly seen\u00a0in\u00a0children, but\u00a0it\u00a0can affect you at any age. A lot of times,\u00a0it is\u00a0accompanied by hay fever and asthma. Adults\u00a0typically\u00a0see it on the insides of\u00a0their\u00a0knees and elbows.<\/li>\n
  2. Contact dermatitis\u00a0\u2013 so called because it comes about when you\u00a0come into contact with\u00a0something,\u00a0causing\u00a0an allergic reaction on your skin, leading to an itchy and sometimes painful rash.\u00a0Typically seen\u00a0on\u00a0the hands\u00a0and anywhere that your skin touches an irritant.<\/li>\n
  3. Lichen Simplex Chronicus\u2013 more common in females,\u00a0starts with a patch of itchy skin that can become thick and leathery\u00a0from scratching.\u00a0Triggers can be insect bites, dry skin,\u00a0or\u00a0tight clothing.<\/li>\n
  4. Dyshidrotic\u00a0eczema\u00a0–\u00a0causes tiny, extremely itchy blisters on the hands and feet. Skin can be flaky\u00a0and\u00a0scaly with redness. Triggers can be stress, wet hands\/feet,\u00a0and\u00a0contact with metals such as cobalt and nickel.<\/li>\n
  5. Nummular eczema\u00a0–\u00a0coin-shaped lesions that are itchy, sometimes oozing.\u00a0The area around the lesion tends to be red, flaky,\u00a0and inflamed. Triggers can be overly dry skin, trauma to the skin, or\u00a0insect bites or scrapes.<\/li>\n
  6. Seborrheic dermatitis\u00a0–\u00a0usually appears on spots on the skin where\u00a0the\u00a0oil-producing\u00a0glands (sebaceous) are\u00a0located, like the scalp, eyebrows, nose, and upper back.\u00a0Spots are red, flaky,\u00a0and oily. Triggers can include stress, hormonal changes, cold\/dry weather.<\/li>\n
  7. Stasis dermatitis\u00a0\u2013 it affects the legs,\u00a0mainly\u00a0around the ankles. Symptoms include redness, scaling, itching,\u00a0and pain. It is caused by poor circulation and the blood pooling in the lower leg.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It is possible to have more than one type of eczema on your body\u00a0simultaneously.\u00a0Consult with a\u00a0Board-Certified\u00a0Dermatologist\u00a0so\u00a0that your\u00a0skin issues\u00a0are\u00a0properly\u00a0diagnosed. Your\u00a0Dermatologist\u00a0will ask you some questions, and they might perform a small skin biopsy. The procedure\u00a0involves numbing\u00a0the area\u00a0and\u00a0removing\u00a0a tiny amount of skin\u00a0that\u00a0gets looked at under a microscope.<\/p>\n

    What Treatments are Available?<\/h4>\n

    A Board-Certified Dermatologist aims\u00a0to reduce flare-ups, ease symptoms such as itch and pain, prevent your eczema from worsening, and lower your risk of infection.<\/p>\n

    To reduce itching and calm inflammation, your Provider might prescribe a corticosteroid cream or ointment to\u00a0apply\u00a0to your rash.\u00a0Keep in mind that topical steroids should not be used more than twice a day.\u00a0Antihistamines like hydroxyzine reduce itching by decreasing your body\u2019s reaction to allergens.\u00a0If you get an infection, your Provider\u00a0will\u00a0treat\u00a0the infection with antibiotics.<\/p>\n

    At Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery, we also offer\u00a0other\u00a0treatments\u00a0such as\u00a0light therapy\u00a0using the\u00a0XTRAC\u00ae\u00a0laser\u00a0\u2013 it\u2019s a light treatment that can safely and effectively treat\u00a0eczema\u00a0by exposing your body to ultraviolet (UV) light. For this to be effective, you will need 2 to 3 treatments per week or as determined by your\u00a0Dermatologist.<\/p>\n

    Triggers and the Importance of Knowing Yours<\/h4>\n

    Identifying your triggers can help you manage your eczema.\u00a0These are things, whether internal or external, that cause inflammation on your skin, leading to redness, itching, flakiness, and other symptoms.\u00a0Working with your\u00a0Board-Certified\u00a0Dermatologist\u00a0can be\u00a0helpful when trying to figure this out. Once you know your triggers, you can learn to avoid them, therefore reducing\u00a0your\u00a0flare-ups.<\/p>\n

    Common triggers include:<\/h5>\n