Eczema
“Patches of dry and irritated skin due to eczema can cause more than a bit of itching. The condition can limit the use of your hands and cause you to lose sleep in the pursuit of relief from the itching. At Petrin Dermatology in Redmond, Washington, Dr. James Petrin and the team help you find relief with preventive care and anti-inflammatory products. For help stopping eczema-related scratching, call Petrin Dermatology or book an appointment online today.”
What is eczema?
Eczema, also called dermatitis, is a type of skin irritation that flares up intermittently over the course of your life. While children get flare-ups more often than adults, eczema can affect you at any age. It’s most common on your hands because you use them often, and it’s hard to protect them from irritants.
Although eczema has no cure, you can relieve your symptoms and prevent future flare-ups by taking the right steps to protect and care for your skin.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
The irritation typically appears in patches on your skin. Common characteristics are:
Redness
Flakiness
Dryness
Itchiness
Cracks or scales
Bumps that leak liquid when scratched
The first signs of eczema usually appear during early childhood. Some people continue getting flare-ups into adulthood. For others, they stop appearing before adolescence.
If your eczema oozes with pus or has yellow scabs on the surface, it may be infected. Even if you can typically get your eczema under control, you should visit Petrin Dermatology as soon as possible if you see signs of an infection.
How is eczema treated?
Eczema doesn’t have an easy cure, but the team at Petrin Dermatology may prescribe you with treatments and medications to control your symptoms. They may recommend:
Corticosteroid ointments
Oral anti-inflammatory drugs
Antibiotics
Wet dressings
The best way to reduce eczema inflammation is to protect your affected skin and use recommended products. Your provider recommends antibiotics to fight infections or prevent them from happening if you have cracks in your skin.
How can I prevent a future eczema flare-up?
Eczema tends to flare-up when your skin comes into contact with certain irritants. You might already know several irritants that cause flare-ups for you. If you don’t, taking precautions to avoid common irritants might help keep your skin clear.
To prevent eczema-related skin irritation, you should:
Use vinyl or cotton gloves instead of rubber
Protect your hands from harsh weather and wind
Use only prescribed lotions and creams
Avoid washing the dishes with your bare hands
Use lukewarm or cool water while washing your hands
Use mild soap
Your provider at Petrin Dermatology may give you other recommendations based on potential irritants that you often encounter because of your job or lifestyle.
Eczema is hard to ignore. For expert help in managing a flare-up, call Petrin Dermatology or book an appointment online today.