Skin: Condition: Infomation Moisturisers
These should be applied several times every day to help the outer layer of your skin function better as a barrier to your environment. The drier your skin, the more frequently you should apply a moisturiser. Many different ones are available, varying in their degree of greasiness, and it is important that you choose one you like to use. The best one to use is the greasiest one you are prepared to apply. Moisturisers containing an antiseptic may be useful if repeated infections are a problem.
Aqueous cream was originally developed as a soap substitute. It is often used as a moisturiser but can irritate the skin and make your AE worse. For this reason it is recommended that aqueous cream is not used as a moisturiser.
CAUTION: This leaflet mentions emollients . When paraffin-containing emollient products get in contact with dressings, clothing, bed linen or hair, there is a danger that a naked flame or cigarette smoking could cause these to catch fire. To reduce the fire risk, patients using paraffin-containing skincare or haircare products are advised to avoid naked flames completely, including smoking cigarettes and being near people who are smoking or using naked flames. It is also advisable to wash clothing and bed linen regularly, preferably daily.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- What treatment is best for me?
- Should I use a steroid cream or ointment?
- What are the side effects from the steroid cream or ointment?
- Do I need to take any other medicines?
- What is the best way to prevent flare-ups from eczema and atopic dermatitis?
- Is there a certain type of soap I should use?
- My child has eczema. What kind of moisturizer is best for him/her?
- How can I keep my child from scratching the rash?
- I have eczema. Will my children have it?
- How should I care for the rash if I have a flare-up?
Why You Shouldnt Use Cortisone
If you really want to get rid of itches and eczema permanently, then dont use cortisone creams. Why?
Because steroidal creams temporarily suppress your symptoms, and the toxins from your body are simply delayed for their eventual responses that are bound to happen anyway.
Problem 1) Delayed Response
In other words, as soon as you stop the steroid treatments, your eczema symptoms will come back, multiple times worse and most likely spread to more places .
Problem 2) Physiological Weakening
Other that the delaying problem, prolonged use of cortisone creams on your skin will promote skin thinning and weakened cells tissues. Would you really want to get a huge purple bruise as soon as you are lightly hit with an object?
Problem 3) Addiction & Reliance
Another problem is, the longer you use the steroid drugs, the more youre prone to addiction. The problem with this addiction isnt just about the money, its also about needing more doses and stronger doses as time gradually pass by, as your skin and body begins to tolerate the drugs. It happens.
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Medical Treatment For Eczema
Eczema cant be cured. But it can be managed by preventing and treating flare-ups as soon as they appear.
If your childs skin is inflamed and itchy, theyll probably need some corticosteroid ointment or cream. For mild eczema, you can buy mild corticosteroids over the counter at your pharmacy. The most common is hydrocortisone 1% cream. For more serious eczema or if the over-the-counter products arent working, youll need to see your GP to get a prescription for a stronger corticosteroid.
Other eczema treatments include pimecrolimus, a non-steroidal cream. Doctors might prescribe this cream for children with mild to moderate eczema on the face and in body folds.
If your child is scratching at a rash, you could ask your pharmacist or GP about using an antihistamine medication for a few days. Together with a corticosteroid cream, this might give your child some rest and help the flare-up to settle.
If your childs eczema rash gets infected, your doctor will prescribe a course of oral antibiotics.
Lets Learn From Each Other
As a doctor, I learn continuously from my patients, and I know that all of my patients and families are unique. Each person is an individual each family has their individual issues. But you are not alone. Birds of a feather who flock together are happier. You are fortunate to have a support organization like the National Eczema Association. Not all patients do.
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Deeply Moisturize Dry Cracked Skin
Cracks and open areas are one of the biggest problems when you have weeping eczema. Staph A bacteria cause the most damage when they get underneath the skins tissues. When your skin cracks, it will draw in more bacteria, and it can also set-off alarm bells with your immune system!
It goes without saying that when you have weeping skin, it is NOT the time to do a moisturizer withdrawal
A moisturizer withdrawal wont be effective if you have a bacterial problem. It can just make things worse! Save that for later, when your skin is no longer cracked and under attack by bacteria.
For now, your skin needs all the moisture it can get!
How To Use Topical Corticosteroids
Do not be afraid to apply the treatment to affected areas to control your eczema.
Unless instructed otherwise by a doctor, follow the directions on the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
This will give details of how much to apply.
Most people only have to apply it once a day as there’s no evidence there’s any benefit to applying it more often.
When using a topical corticosteroid:
- apply your emollient first and ideally wait around 30 minutes until the emollient has soaked into your skin, or apply the corticosteroid at a different time of day
- apply the recommended amount of the topical corticosteroid to the affected area
- continue to use it until 48 hours after the flare-up has cleared so the inflammation under the skin surface is treated
Occasionally, your doctor may suggest using a topical corticosteroid less frequently, but over a longer period of time. This is designed to help prevent flare-ups.
This is sometimes called weekend treatment, where a person who has already gained control of their eczema uses the topical corticosteroid every weekend on the trouble sites to prevent them becoming active again.
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Weeping Eczema After Stopping Steroid Creams
While primary and secondary weeping eczema are well-known in the medical world, some people can still experience weeping eczema when they first stop using steroid creams. Why is this?
One doctor found that the steroids in the cream itself, indirectly kills Staph A, making it near to impossible for Staph A to colonize the area where you put your steroid cream.
In other words, when you use a steroid cream, the bacteria doesnt like it and leaves the area alone. So when you stop using it the bacteria comes back, sets up camp, and you experience weeping! This is especially the case if you have open eczema areas, where a higher concentration of Staph is likely to be found.
Eczema Symptoms In People Of Color
In People of Color, an eczema rash may appear gray or brown. This can make outbreaks harder to see.
However, People of Color who get eczema may also get dark or light skin patches even after eczema symptoms go away. These can last a long time. Doctors call these patches hyperpigmentation and depigmentation or hypopigmentation.
A dermatologist can evaluate these patches, which may respond to treatments like steroid creams.
The following atopic dermatitis symptoms are common in babies under the age of 2:
- rashes on the scalp and cheeks
- rashes that bubble up before leaking fluid
- rashes that can cause extreme itchiness, which may interfere with sleeping
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How Do I Take Care Of Myself
Reducing your stress is very important. Try these tips:
- Count to ten as you take a deep breath.
- Exercise daily.
- Try not to drink as much caffeine and alcohol.
- Sleep eight hours a night.
- Eat healthy.
- Try to have a positive attitude.
- Journal every day.
- Talk about your life with friends, family and a therapist.
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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Eczema On Face: Best Creams And What To Avoid
For most of us, the last place we want to have eczema in on our face. It is our most distinguishing body part which we generally spend the most amount of time caring for. We preen it, we nurture it, and we are identified by it.
Eczema can occur on any, and sometimes every, part of the body. Unfortunately for many people, the face is the area which seems to attract the worst and prolonged bouts of eczema, bringing misery into the lives of less fortunate sufferers.
Creating sometimes disfiguring images of the person who lies underneath, the symptoms can include swollen and crusty eyelids, split mouths, shedding, and burning red skin that could fry an egg.
In actual fact, eczema on the face most commonly occurs in infants, and because the majority of people with eczema are under the age of five years old, then eczema on the face is one of the most common areas to present with this unfortunate symptom.
Gentle Soaps And Detergents
Laundry detergent can contain harsh chemicals that aggravate eczema.
Many body washes and cleansers contain detergents, which help provide a soapy lather. Detergents and other lathering agents can dry out the skin, especially in people with eczema.
Bar soaps can also be harsh on the skin because of their alkalinity.
Try using a gentle, no-lather, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid products with rough particles for scrubbing or exfoliating, as these can further irritate the skin.
Many people with eczema also find that switching to a more gentle, fragrance- or color-free laundry detergent can help improve symptoms.
Additionally, try skipping fabric softener, which lingers on clothes and often contains fragrances and chemicals that can irritate the skin.
Sitting next to a fireplace or near a furnace may feel good, but it can worsen eczema symptoms. The hot, dry air can dehydrate the skin and aggravate the itchiness of eczema.
Use a humidifier during the dry winter months and avoid getting too close to heaters and fireplaces.
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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Eczema
There are steps you can take that may prevent eczema outbreaks:
- Establish a skin care routine, and follow your healthcare professionals recommendations for keeping your skin healthy.
- Wear gloves for jobs where you have to put your hands in water. Wear cotton gloves under plastic gloves to absorb sweat, and wear gloves outside, especially during the winter months.
- Use mild soap for your bath or shower, and pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. Apply a moisturizing cream or ointment immediately after drying your skin to help seal in the moisture. Reapply cream or ointment two to three times a day.
- Take baths or showers with tepid rather than hot.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Water helps to keep your skin moist.
- Try to avoid getting too hot and sweaty.
- Wear loose clothes made of cotton and other natural materials. Wash new clothing before wearing. Avoid wool.
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity.
- Learn to recognize stress in your life and how to manage it. Regular aerobic exercise, hobbies and stress-management techniques, such as meditation or yoga, might help.
- Limit your exposure to known irritants and allergens.
- Avoid scratching or rubbing itchy areas of skin.
A Compromised Skin Barrier
A basic skin care regimen should focus on the fundamental aspects of atopic dermatitis. In atopic dermatitis theres a skin barrier function problem. The people with the worst atopic dermatitis have absent or abnormal skin proteins in which the cells at the upper layers of the skin, called keratinocytes, are not producing appropriate proteins. That can reduce the skins ability to do all of the things that its supposed to do.
For example, because were mostly made of water, normally the skin is supposed to keep water in. When you have the impaired skin barrier that comes with atopic dermatitis, the skin isnt able to hold water in, and so it gets very dry.
Whats more, that compromised skin barrier allows for the penetration of many chemical irritants and potential allergens, which may become true allergens for an individual. On top of that, once those microbes have gotten through, an increased number of microbes can penetrate the skin barrier, and the skin is less capable of combatting bacteria and viruses to prevent a full-blown infection.
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Balancing The Skins Acidity Levels
Vinegar is highly acidic. The skin is naturally acidic, but people with eczema may have less acidic skin than others, which can weaken the skins defenses.
Applying diluted apple cider vinegar could help balance the skins acidity levels, but vinegar can cause burns if it is not diluted.
In contrast, many soaps, detergents, and cleansers are alkaline. They can disrupt the acidity of the skin, which can leave the skin vulnerable to damage. This may explain why washing with certain soaps can cause eczema flares.
Some Other Points About Using Moisturisers
- Another common mistake is to stop using emollients when the skin appears good. Patches of eczema, which may have been prevented, may then quickly flare up.
- A dry dressing may be helpful if your eczema is moderate or severe. This helps to keep the emollient from being rubbed off the skin and stops scratching. However, you should not use a dressing if infection is present.
- Paraffin-based emollients are flammable. Keep them away from lights and flames.
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Atopic Dermatitis Vs Atopic Contact Dermatitis Vs Irritant Contact Dermatitis
There are three types of eyelid dermatitis that are common in eczema patients, and we will discuss them in this post. They are: 1. Atopic dermatitis with eyelid involvement 2. Allergic contact dermatitis and 3. Irritant contact dermatitis. However, there are many other causes of eyelid dermatitis including psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and other conditions. It is very important to see your doctor to get the right diagnosis before proceeding with treatment.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is the most common cause of eyelid inflammation in atopic dermatitis patients. Allergic contact dermatitis is a type IV delayed-hypersensitivity reaction, which means that your immune system comes into contact with a foreign particle that triggers the immune system to react. ACD requires a re-exposure to the allergen/offending agent before symptoms are noted. The symptoms typically manifest hours to days after re-exposure.
If you are experiencing red, itchy eyelid, flaky skin or skin irritation due to topical exposure to poison ivy/oak, metals , chromates , adhesives, sunscreens, fragrances, personal hygiene products, or pet dander, then allergic contact dermatitis may be the cause of your eyelid inflammation.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Common causes of ICD include irritants such as chemicals, solvents, some adhesives and very hot or cold temperatures. The irritant can enter the eye area, cause friction and damage leading to temporary discomfort and redness.
Weeping Eczema: Natural Ways To Heal
As if dry, red, itchy skin wasnt unpleasant enough, eczema can sometimes lead to the development of blisters that ooze or weep clear fluid. This entity, known colloquially as weeping eczema, is especially prone to infections. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus can sneak into the cracks in the skins protective barrier and turn that clear fluid into infected pus.
Weeping skin occurs most frequently in colder, drier weather in the fall and winter, when skin tends to dry out for long periods of time. Although many people rely on conventional weeping eczema treatments such as topical corticosteroids and antibiotic ointments, there are complementary and alternative modalities that can augment these conventional treatments and soothe weeping skin.
Below are some alternative modalities that may help soothe weeping eczema. Please be sure to seek immediate medical attention if you have weeping eczema and signs of an infection including fever, lesions with blood or pus, chills and shivers, nausea, vomiting, or other serious symptoms.
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