What Kind Of Doctor Treats Eczema

What Causes Intrinsic Eczema

While the exact causes of intrinsic eczema are unknown, the two primary characteristics that healthcare professionals use to make a diagnosis are a typical IgE level combined with a lack of other atopic conditions, such as asthma and allergies.

In general, eczema tends to run in families, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, especially if theres a history of atopic diseases. Your immune system may also play a role by causing your body to overreact in response to everyday substances.

Since intrinsic eczema is not caused by allergies, its not possible to have allergic intrinsic eczema. If your skin condition is thought to be caused by allergies, you likely have extrinsic eczema.

What Do I Need To Know About Immunosuppressants Used To Treat Eczema

• Not specifically approved to treat eczema sometimes used off-label for moderate-to-severe eczema.
• Sometimes used as an alternative to phototherapy.
• Very strong medications, developed for chemotherapy and to prevent organ rejection after transplants.
• Require short-term use and regular blood test monitoring by a doctor.Side effects may include blood pressure and kidney or liver problems.

What Is Dermatitis And What Does It Look Like

Dermatitis is a word used to describe a number of skin irritations and rashes caused by genetics, an overactive immune system, infections, allergies, irritating substances and more. Common symptoms include dry skin, redness and itchiness.

In the word dermatitis, derm means skin and itis means inflammation. The word as a whole means inflammation of the skin. The rashes range from mild to severe and can cause a variety of problems, depending on their cause.

Dermatitis causes no serious harm to your body. It is not contagious, and it does not mean that your skin is unclean or infected. There are treatment methods and medications that can manage your symptoms.

Don’t Miss: What Vitamins To Take For Eczema

What Foods Should I Eat Or Avoid To Reduce My Risk Of Eczema

The connection between eczema and food allergies is unclear. If you have food allergies, then one of the reasons why you must avoid that food is that it may cause or worsen dermatitis. Examples of common allergies include peanuts, dairy, eggs, sugar, alcohol and gluten. Pay attention to what you eat. If your eczema flares up after you eat a certain food, then you might have an allergy to it.

If you dont have a food allergy then there are no foods, including chicken, that will cause or worsen your eczema.

What Is It Like Living With Eczema

Many people live with eczema . As many as 15 million Americans may have this skin condition. Living with it can be challenging.

There may be times when your eczema disappears. This is known as a remission period. Other times you may have a flare-up, which is when it gets worse. The goal of treatment is to prevent such flare-ups, preventing your symptoms from getting worse. Be sure to avoid triggers, moisturize, take your medicine and do anything else your healthcare provider recommends.

Also Check: Best Aloe Vera Gel For Eczema

What Do I Need To Know About Pde4 Inhibitors Used To Treat Eczema

• PDE4 inhibitors are approved to treat mild-to-moderate eczema in adults and children ages 2 and up.
• PDE4 inhibitors work differently than other topical treatments such as corticosteroid ointments and calcineurin inhibitors.
• PDE4 is produced by cells in our immune system and helps the body regulate inflammation.

Your Treatment Plan May Need Adjustments

If you continue to have flare-ups after following the treatment plan prescribed by your dermatologist, tell your dermatologist. It can take time to find the right treatment for dyshidrotic eczema.

In studying dyshidrotic eczema, dermatologists have found that the following can be effective.

Treatment for excessive sweating: If you sweat profusely where you have blisters, treatment that helps to control the sweating can be effective. To treat the excessive sweating, your dermatologist may prescribe:

• A prescription antiperspirant that you apply to the area

• Injections of botulinum toxin where you have dyshidrotic eczema

Most people think of botulinum toxin as a treatment for wrinkles and frown lines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also approved it to treat excessive sweating.

Studies suggest that excessive sweating may trigger dyshidrotic eczema. By reducing the profuse sweating, some people are able to reduce flare-ups. If your dermatologist recommends botulinum toxin, protect your health by seeing a board-certified dermatologist for this treatment.

Stronger medication: People who have dyshidrotic eczema likely have a hypersensitivity. Its believed that this hypersensitivity causes the blisters. Applying corticosteroids to your skin can help lessen this hypersensitivity, but some patients need stronger medication.

Seeing an allergist can be helpful if you continue to have flare-ups

Don’t Miss: What Causes Eczema In The Ear Canal

Varicose And Spider Veins

Bulging, raised veins on your legs or other parts of your body, known as varicose veins, are typically benign, as are their smaller counterparts called spider veins. However, sometimes these veins cause aching pain and may signal a serious circulatory problem. A dermatologist helps you determine the best methods for managing or treating this condition.

You May Like: Cetaphil Pro Eczema Soothing Moisturizer For Face

What Are Five Types Of Eczema

Eczema is an inflammatory condition characterized by patches on the skin with severe itching, redness, and dryness anywhere on the body. It can occur in children, teenagers, or adults. Eczema is not contagious. It is a lifelong condition with multiple flare-ups and periods of remission .

There are five different types of eczema:

• Atopic dermatitis: It is the most common type of eczema. Hence, eczema is often called atopic dermatitis. The skin is extremely sensitive to certain substances.
• Contact dermatitis: This is caused by skin contact with irritants. It takes prolonged contact with the irritants for the rash to develop.
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis: It affects the fingers, palms, and soles. There are deep-seated blisters that cause pain. The causative agent may be stress, metal jewelry, or sweat.
• Nummular dermatitis: It usually occurs during the winter. Coin-shaped areas of itching and scaling are seen.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: More commonly called dandruff, it is caused by yeast and is characterized by yellowish flakes over the scalp. It occurs on the scalp and hair-bearing areas such as the eyebrows or eyelids.

Also Check: How To Treat Dyshidrotic Eczema At Home

Dermatologist Located In Greenville Sc Simpsonville Sc And Greer Sc

The itchy, red rashes of eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, can seriously disrupt your physical comfort, self-esteem, and entire lifestyle. Expert dermatologist John Humeniuk, MD, FRCP, treats patients in Greer, Simpsonville, and Greenville, South Carolina, who are struggling with eczema. If you need relief from atopic dermatitis, call John M. Humeniuk, MD, LLC, or request an appointment online today.

What Is A Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor who focuses on conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. They see patients of all ages, treat over 3,000 different conditions, and many specialize in treating specific conditions like cancer and patient groups like People of Color.

A pediatric dermatologist has specialized training in treating children with conditions affecting their skin, hair, or nails.

There are three boards that provide certification in dermatology in North America:

• American Board of Dermotology
• American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

To be board certified, a dermatologist must pass an exam from one of these boards to test their medical knowledge and expertise.

Following board certification, a dermatologist may choose to become a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the largest organization of dermatologists in the United States. A dermatologist who is a fellow will have FAAD after their name.

Read Also: How Do You Get Eczema On Your Feet

Are There Any Universal Triggers To All The Different Types Of Eczema

According to Dr. Lio, soaps and detergents can trigger almost anyone to flare up in the right context. I would also argue that stress is a fairly universal trigger, he added. Allergens are much more nuanced and individualized. Environmental stressors like heat and cold are fairly common, but not universal.

Where Does Dermatitis Form On The Body

The location of your dermatitis depends on the type. For example, atopic dermatitis can appear anywhere on your skin. But, in teens and adults, its typically on the hands, inner elbows, neck, knees, ankles, feet and around the eyes. Seborrheic dermatitis and cradle cap are typically on your scalp, face and ears. Periorificial dermatitis is found around your eyes, mouth, nostrils and sometimes the genitals.

Recommended Reading: How To Stop Eczema On Scalp

Lets Get The Basics On The Seven Different Types Of Eczema

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, affecting more than 9.6 million children and 16.5 million adults in the United States. For complex reasons that researchers are still studying, the immune system becomes overactive, triggering inflammation that damages the skin barrier, leaving it dry and prone to itching, rashes and infection. AD is usually treated with moisturizing lotions, topic corticosteroids, non-steroidal topicals and biologics. Lifestyle changes to lower stress and ensure regular sleep and healthy dietary habits can also help.How to know if you have it: AD can appear anywhere on the body and at any time of life, but it often appears in childhood and tends to be chronic. It can be hereditary and it is more likely to happen to people who have asthma, hay fever and/or food allergy.

Contact dermatitisoccurs when your skin becomes irritated or inflamed in response to physical contact with an allergen unlike atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis does not run in families and isnt associated with other allergic conditions such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. Standard treatments include topical steroids, as well as patch testing to determine the source of the allergen.How to know if you have it: Contact dermatitis can appear out of the blue and typically disappears when the allergen or irritant is removed. It usually occurs in the spot where your body comes into contact with the allergen or irritant.

How Do Dermatologists Treat Dyshidrotic Eczema

Your dermatologist will create a treatment plan for you to follow at home. This treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs and may include the following:

Soaks and cool compresses: Medicated soaks and cool compresses can be very effective for drying blisters. You will apply these two to four times a day for 15 minutes at a time.

Corticosteroid that you apply to your skin: After each soak or cool compress, youll likely need to apply a medicated cream or ointment, such as a prescription corticosteroid. This helps to reduce the inflammation and clear the blisters.

Anti-itch medicine: An antihistamine pill or other anti-itch medicine can reduce your discomfort. Anything you can do to reduce scratching is helpful because scratching tends to worsen dyshidrotic eczema. One anti-itch medication that dermatologists frequently include in a treatment plan is pramoxine . Available as a cream or lotion, this medication helps to relieve itch and pain.

Moisturizer or a barrier repair cream: Dyshidrotic eczema can make your skin extremely dry. To reduce dryness and decrease flare-ups, your dermatologist will recommend a moisturizer or barrier repair cream.

Be sure to use the moisturizer or barrier repair cream that your dermatologist recommends

You want to apply it when your skin is still damp after every:

• Bath

• Shower

• Handwashing

Recommended Reading: Deodorant For Kids With Eczema

Best Treatments For Eczema

There is no cure for eczema, and eczema treatment can be complex. There are many types of eczema that all might need a different treatment. However, there may be some self-care and home care practices that you can do to manage your skin and your symptoms.

Medications

• Antibiotics

Home care and remedies

A significant part of eczema treatment is caring for the skin at home and avoiding allergens and triggers. It is important to establish a regular bathing and moisturizing routine to maintain skin health.

To manage your eczema at home, you can:

• Bathe in lukewarm water
• Use a gentle, unscented, fragrance-free cleanser
• Gently pat the skin dry without rubbing
• Apply any topical medications to the area
• Apply a liberal amount of moisturizer all over your body within 3 minutes of your shower
• Apply a dressing or wet wrap
• Avoid scratching the skin
• Avoid harsh soaps, lotions, or detergents

You may find that a bath soothes the skin. Some bath treatments that might help include soaking in a full tub of lukewarm water with one of the following:

• ¼ cup of baking soda to relieve itching
• ½ cup of regular bleach to help with skin infections
• 1 cup table salt to relieve stinging

Managing stress is also an important piece of your eczema treatment.

Alternative therapies

Some complementary therapies may also help eczema. These include:

• Coconut oil as a moisturizer
• Sunflower oil as a moisturizer
• Topical vitamin B12

Vein Surgery May Be An Option

Researchers are studying whether this may be an effective treatment for stasis dermatitis. In one small study, 10 patients who had poor blood flow in a certain vein underwent a surgical procedure called flush ligation and saphenectomy. Between eight and 10 weeks after this surgery, all 10 patients saw the stasis dermatitis go away. One year after surgery, none of the patients had signs of stasis dermatitis.

While the results from this study are encouraging, more research is needed to know how effective and safe this surgery is for stasis dermatitis.

Read Also: How To Fix Eczema On Arms

Is There A Cure For Eczema

Eczema is a chronic condition, and there is no cure currently. It is more common in children, and symptoms often lessen in adulthood.

However, adults can also develop eczema, which is often more severe than childhood forms of the condition. Adult eczema typically involves periods of flare-ups when it is worse and periods of remission when it gets better.

Because doctors cannot cure the condition, treatments focus on a person managing symptoms. Doctors can also recommend that someone with eczema make changes to their everyday life to avoid key triggers.

When Referral To A Dermatologist Is Needed

Some examples when a referral to a dermatologist is needed are:

• There is an uncertain diagnosis
• Attempts at managing the condition have not controlled the symptoms
• The patient has AD on the face that has not responded to treatment
• There are frequent flare-ups or severe AD
• There is a need for systemic therapies
• AD is causing significant psychosocial disturbances, including sleep disruption or reduced attendance at work or school
• Contact dermatitis is suspected2

Read Also: Vitamins To Take For Eczema

When To Seek Professional Help

You should see a doctor if you think you have a skin allergy so that you can have patch testing performed. If your patch testing comes up positive for a skin allergy, your doctor can prescribe topical or oral steroids to treat your contact dermatitis.

Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis can worsen with a bacterial infection. If your rash has exudate or pus, weeping, or crusting, schedule an appointment with your doctor to receive further treatment.

What Do I Need To Know About Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors Used To Treat Eczema

• Topical calcineurin inhibitors are an alternative to topical corticosteroids, when skin is being damaged or there is concern about overuse of steroids.
• They are approved for adults and children age 2 and up.
• They may be used 2-4 times weekly as maintenance/preventive treatment.
• When used, you need to avoid sunlight and sunlamps calcineurin inhibitors may cause skin to be more sensitive to light.
• They may cause skin pain , especially when applied to acutely inflamed skin.
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors have an FDA warning. They may increase risk of skin cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The American Academy of Dermatology says this risk applies to oral forms of the medication taken at high doses for long periods of time the risk is lower with limited topical use.

Recommended Reading: Ways To Prevent Eczema Flare Ups

What Are Some Types Of Eczema

There are many kinds of eczema and each has its own particular set of causes, symptoms, and treatments. Some types of eczema include:

• Atopic dermatitis. A type of eczema characterized by dry, itchy, inflamed skin. It is the most common form of eczema and most frequently occurs in children, but can develop in adults. It is associated with certain allergies and asthma.
• Contact dermatitis. This develops due to skin exposure to allergens, chemicals, materials, or other irritants. Symptoms vary depending on the allergen or irritant involved, but can range from reddening to blistering to a burning sensation.
• Dyshidrotic eczema. Also known as pompholyx, this type of eczema is characterized by tiny itchy blisters that resemble tapioca pudding on the palms, fingers, and soles of the feet. It typically occurs in young adults.
• Nummular eczema. Also called discoid dermatitis, this produces itchy, circular patches of inflamed skin that measure 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter. It usually affects the arms and legs.
• Seborrheic dermatitis. A chronic form of eczema that causes inflamed, scaly skin in parts of the body with a high concentration of sebaceous glandsglands that produce a kind of oil called sebumincluding the face, scalp, and chest.
• Lichen simplex chronicus. Also called neurodermatitis, this form of eczema develops as a result of chronic scratching which results in thickened, or lichenified, skin that is usually itchy, dry, and darker than surrounding skin.

Why Do I Get Eczema In My Ears

Eczema can develop anywhere on your skin, including your ears. Different types of eczema can develop in your ears, including:

• Allergic eczema : Your immune system overreacts to minor irritants or allergens if you have allergic eczema. This overreaction can inflame your skin. Common irritants and allergens include earrings, hair and skin care products, food, pollen, cell phones or headphones.
• Asteatotic eczema: Asteatotic eczema commonly affects people 65 years of age and older. Changes in the weather or temperature cause asteatotic eczema, and it tends to flare up during the winter season. Low humidity can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. Harsh soaps, wool and hair and skin care products can also cause it.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis commonly affects the oily parts of your body, including your ears, scalp, nose and chest. No one knows exactly what causes seborrheic dermatitis, but a surplus of a type of yeast on the surface of your skin may be the cause.

Read Also: Best Eczema Cream For Black Skin