Wrap Up In Cold Weather
Cold, harsh winter winds can dry out skin and cause eczema flares.
Keep the skin covered when temperatures are low. Also, consider covering the face with a scarf if eczema occurs on the face.
Many home remedies are suitable for babies and children, but always speak to a doctor before using them on kids of any age.
The following home remedies may help:
Ultraviolet Treatment Or Phototherapy
Although natural sunlight affects eczema negatively, ultraviolet light is different because it can be controlled and supervised. What happens is that the dermatologist exposed the affected skin on the face with UV light thus reducing overreaction of the skin immune system cells that have been promoting inflammation hence treating the itching and skin rash of eczema. This is widely undertaken if home remedies and medical treatment doesnt work on treating eczema.
You can also use PUVA therapy if you havent gotten result from the UV therapy alone its just taking a medication known as Psoralen which makes the skin more sensitive to UV lights
Causes Of Atopic Eczema
The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it’s clear it is not down to one single thing.
Atopic eczema often occurs in people who get allergies. “Atopic” means sensitivity to allergens.
It can run in families, and often develops alongside other conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.
The symptoms of atopic eczema often have certain triggers, such as soaps, detergents, stress and the weather.
Sometimes food allergies can play a part, especially in young children with severe eczema.
You may be asked to keep a food diary to try to determine whether a specific food makes your symptoms worse.
Allergy tests are not usually needed, although they’re sometimes helpful in identifying whether a food allergy may be triggering symptoms.
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What Should I Do If Over
Sadly, sometimes eczema on the face can prove extremely stubborn to the point where treatment may need to be prescribed by a doctor. “If home treatments are not helping, you may need prescription medications,” says Shah. “I usually prescribe either a topical steroid or a topical calcineurin inhibitor, a non-steroidal medication that can reduce inflammation and treat eczema.”
Shah says she sometimes prescribes special moisturizers called barrier repair creams for patients. And if the eczema is severe and not responding to topical treatments, other options include , aka light therapy. There’s a wide range of treatment options for facial eczema, so it often comes down to trial and error in order to figure out what works for you. We’d recommend always consulting your dermatologist before trying anything new.
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How To Avoid Developing Eczema On Your Face
Whether youre currently suffering from eczema on your face, or youre eager to reduce the chances of developing it because youve dealt with it before, there are various things you can do to keep it at bay. Here are some suggestions:
- Go makeup-free . Wearing makeup might seem like a good idea, because it can help conceal or obscure the eczema, but its only going to make things worse by blocking pores and potentially irritating the affected skin.
- Moisturise regularly. Keeping your skin moisturised is a great habit to keep. It will look better, and be less likely to suffer damage and further the leading causes of eczema. Its also important to stay hydrated at all times.
- Limit exposure to UV light. UV light damages and reddens skin, so be careful when encountering direct sunlight or harsh artificial lights. Wear a cap to shield your face somewhat, and use a moisturising sunscreen of at least spf 30.
- Keep the temperature moderate. Excessive heat will dry out your skin through moisture being lost to sweat, while excessive cold will dry out your skin through losing moisture being lost to the air stick to moderate temperatures whenever possible.
- Steer clear of irritants or allergens. Eczema will often emerge as a reaction to an allergen or an irritant, so if you know that youre allergic to something , then stay away from it.
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How To Treat Eczema On Your Face
Its common and generally safe to treat body eczema with topical steroids, but you need to be careful applying the same products to your face, says Kenneth Mark, MD, a dermatologist practicing in New York City and Aspen, CO. Steroids can thin your skin if used improperly.
Thats why its important to start with more mild, moisturizing products, then go from there. The goal is to restore the barrier function of your skin without causing more irritation, Dr. Mark says.
One extra challenge when treating facial eczema: You probably use a lot of products on your face that you dont use on your body, and some of those products arent the best choice when tackling a flare-up. Avoid any potentially irritating products that can increase inflammation, Dr. Mark says.
We love reducing wrinkles, dark spots, and saggy skin just as much as anyone else, but eliminating facial eczema should be your number one priority. Eczema is a medical condition that can turn into an infection if untreated, Dr. Peredo says.
Ready for your super approachable treatment plan? Keep your routine simple and hold off on makeup during a flare-upno eye shadow if you have eczema around your eyes or lip stains if its on your lips. After taking a lukewarm shower , apply a fragrance-free moisturizer as soon as you dry off when your skin will absorb it better, Dr. Peredo says.
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What If None Of That Works
If all else fails, its time to head to the dermatologist. Schedule a consult with a board-certified dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis, Shah says. If your dermatologist does end up saying that OTC products simply wont cut it for your complexion concerns, theyll be able to prescribe you a treatment on the spot, navigating you one step closer to the redness- and irritation-free complexion of your dreams.
Eczema Vs Psoriasis Whats The Difference
Both eczema and psoriasis are chronic skin diseases that are difficult to manage and cause great discomfort.
Both skin conditions show symptoms of itchy patches of dry skin and thickened skin that is inflamed. Both are connected to the immune system and are triggered by similar conditions. But psoriasis doesnt affect as many people as eczema and it usually starts showing symptoms after the age of 16. The patches of skin are usually much thicker with psoriasis and are covered with silvery scales.
The good news is that there are many natural home remedies to successfully treat psoriasis and eczema. So give them a try and see what works best for you.
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Identifying An Eczema Outbreak
There are various types of eczema, but the most common and the type were discussing here is also known as atopic dermatitis. It often affects children before clearing up by adulthood, but it also affects a lot of adults .
Atopic dermatitis usually appears as a dry, flaky and itchy rash of thick, bumpy skin. If scratched or damaged in some other way, it may become infected and ooze a substance that will subsequently crust over. It commonly appears in skin creases, but can affect almost any area of skin.
If you notice that a patch of skin on your face is getting itchy and starting to flake, you havent come into contact with an irritant, damaged that skin, or been exposed to any extreme conditions, and there are no other symptoms suggestive of a broader problem, then it could be that youre dealing with eczema.
Before you reach any conclusions about how to proceed, consult a medical professional for some advice. Theyll be able to diagnose any new skin condition. You can always start a free consultation with one of our doctors online, by going to one of our treatment pages like buy Betnovate and starting a free assessment with our medical team.
Eczema On The Face Of A Child Or Baby
So far, we have only considered eczema in adults but eczema does occur in newborns, infants and older children. You may not be able to use the same relieving and calming brands on that delicate baby face. Take medical advice on how to treat it and obtain a diagnosis as it may not be eczema. Eczema in the very young can behave quite differently to eczema in mature people and development and growth agendas complicate treatment.
It is imperative not to adjust the diet of a growing toddler without taking professional advice as it may not be possible to exclude items like dairy for example. Managing itching is challenging to say the least unfortunately, very young children will scratch anything that itches. Use scratch mitts which work until they are old enough to take them off or you can reason with them.
Keeping youngsters cool is tricky as they are not able to self-regulate core temperature through sweating. Cool baths and fans in the bedroom during the summer months are invaluable. Only use cotton or linen fabrics next to babys fragile skin. Bad outbreaks can be managed using steroid cream in moderation, your doctor or health visitor will advise on the best remedy for acute episodes.
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How Is Eczema Diagnosed
There is no specific test used to diagnose eczema. A doctor will look at the rash and ask about your symptoms and past health, as well as your family’s health. If you or your family members have any atopic conditions, that’s an important clue.
The doctor will want to rule out other conditions that can cause skin inflammation. The doctor might recommend that you see a dermatologist or an allergist.
Try To Reduce The Damage From Scratching
Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin.
But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur.
The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching.
Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.
Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead.
If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.
Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching.
Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.
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What Else Should I Know
If you live with eczema, tune in to what triggers it and how to manage it. For example, if you find that some types of makeup irritate your skin, ask a dermatologist to recommend brands that are less likely to do so.
Your self-esteem doesn’t have to suffer because you have eczema, and neither does your social life! Getting involved in your school and extracurricular activities can be a great way to get your mind off the itch.
Don’t forget to exercise. It’s a great way to blow off stress try walking, bike riding, swimming, or another sport that keeps your skin cool and dry while you work out.
What To Do If Eczema Gets Infected
These are pictures of infected eczema.
Go to the doctor is any of these things happen:
- areas of skin start swelling and become more painful
- pus develops
- the infected eczema is bigger than a 10 cent coin
- small red spots appear around eczema.
Your child may need special cream, such as steroid cream, blood tests and antibiotics, if their eczema gets infected.
It is important for your child to take the antibiotics every day until they are finished, even if the infected eczema seems to have cleared up. The antibiotics need to keep killing the infection in the body after the skin has healed.
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Other Types Of Eczema
Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin.
Other types of eczema include:
- discoid eczema a type of eczema that occurs in circular or oval patches on the skin
- contact dermatitis a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance
- varicose eczema a type of eczema that most often affects the lower legs and is caused by problems with the flow of blood through the leg veins
- seborrhoeic eczema a type of eczema where red, scaly patches develop on the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and scalp
- dyshidrotic eczema a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to erupt across the palms of the hands
Page last reviewed: 05 December 2019 Next review due: 05 December 2022
Working With Your Dermatologist
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Tea Tree Oil For Eczema
This oil is a popular natural relief ingredient for skin-related diseases. It has antiseptic, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that combat skin inflammation and irritation. Try adding tea tree oil to your skin products like shampoos and body washes for effective results.
Ingredients
- 10 drops of tea tree oil
- 1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Store the mixture in a sealed container.
- Apply to the areas of your body affected by eczema 2 times a day until symptoms disappear.
5. Nutmeg
Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and ease pain from eczema. This is one reason why nutmeg is a common ingredient in beauty products. You can scrape a whole fresh nutmeg against a cheese grater to get it in powder form.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of nutmeg powder
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
Directions
- Mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil with 1 tablespoon of nutmeg powder to form a thick paste.
- Apply the paste on the affected area of your skin.
- Leave for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse off using cool water.
- Repeat once a day until you finally get rid of eczema.
Identify And Avoid Potential Triggers
A person can take steps to improve eczema by avoiding substances that may irritate the skin, such as soap, essential oils, and scented products.
While sun exposure can decrease inflammation in the skin and improve eczema, the heat and sweat from sun exposure can trigger a flare.
Other potential triggers for eczema symptoms include:
- dust mites
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What You Can Do
You can help reduce your child’s discomfort by:
- keeping their fingernails short to reduce the damage to their skin from scratching
- washing them with aqueous cream instead of soap – ask your pharmacist about aqueous creams and always follow the instructions on the product
- using non-biological detergent and a double rinse cycle when washing their clothes or bedding
- avoiding herbal, ‘natural’ or alternative creams – these can make eczema worse, as they may contain bacteria or high doses of steroids
- rinsing and drying them well after swimming
- dressing them in cool, breathable fabrics like cotton
- keeping them away from anyone with a cold sore – as the cold sore virus can cause eczema to become infected
- using extra moisturiser on areas your child scratches a lot
- avoiding anything you know that causes your childs eczema to get worse
Around 6 out of 10 children with eczema will grow out of it by the time they’re teenagers.
See A Doctor If Otc Moisturizers Dont Work
Applying moisturizer twice a day, especially after cleansing your face, helps your skin retain moisture. If over-the-counter moisturizing creams dont work, or if your facial eczema doesnt respond to self-treatment, see a doctor.
Your doctor might recommend other therapies, including:
- prescription topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
- prescription antihistamine
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