What is Eczema and How do I Treat it?

What is Eczema and How do I Treat it?

If you’ve been diagnosed with this itchy skin condition find out what you can do.

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that is reported to affect around 35 million Americans. If you are part of this statistic, find out more about this condition from  Affiliated Dermatologist in Morristown, and how you can effectively manage your symptoms.

What is eczema?

Eczema is a generalized term for any kind of inflammation of the skin, also referred to as dermatitis. Dermatitis causes an itchy red rash to appear just about anywhere on the body, but it most commonly appears on the elbows or backs of the knees. Eczema is usually diagnosed during childhood, but adults can also develop this condition.

What are the symptoms of eczema?

Everyone experiences different symptoms of eczema. The appearance and location of the rash can change. You may experience only minor symptoms, while others may have a more severe case. Those with eczema generally have sensitive and dry skin. You are also likely to experience itching. The itching may become so intense that a patient may even scratch their skin until it bleeds, which causes even more itching and inflammation. Here are some other common symptoms:

  • Scaly patches of skin
  • Inflamed, red skin
  • Leathery regions of skin
  • Oozing or crusting rash
  • Swollen areas
  • Dark patches of skin

How do you properly treat eczema?

While there is no cure for this skin condition, many symptoms of eczema are manageable with the right treatment. Proper skin care is critical to managing your symptoms. Here are some lifestyle changes you can make to treat your eczema:

Mild cleansers: Since mild skin care products won’t dry out your skin it’s always best to look for gentle washes, soaps and moisturizers. You can easily find these kinds of products at your local drugstore. Talk to your Dr. Lauren Cooper about what products would be ideal for your skin.

Take short baths/showers: Again, the last thing you want to do when you have eczema is dry out your skin, so avoid hot water and long showers or baths, which can strip your skin of necessary oils.

If you are looking for medications to help ease symptoms you can turn to over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or antihistamines like Benadryl, which can help relieve itching and inflamed skin. Be aware that some of these medications can cause drowsiness.

If you find that these remedies aren’t helping your symptoms then it’s time to talk to  Dr. Lauren Cooper about prescription-strength cleansers and medications, as well as other treatments that could help alleviate your eczema symptoms. Call Affiliated Dermatologist in Morristown today to schedule an appointment with us.


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