Do you find yourself with itchy, dry skin patches? Have you noticed red, dry irritated areas on your kiddos elbow creases, backs of knees, cheeks or neck?
Eczema is a chronic irritation of the skin when the skin’s natural barrier is disrupted. It is a very common skin condition to occur both in children and adults. It is caused often by irritants in our life, clothing, scents, detergents, lotions, and sometimes by allergies to foods or the environment.
It occurs in any age, but is often seen in infants and children and brings them into my office because of the scratching and inevitable worsening of these skin conditions. Often, there is no trigger found, but have a look at the image below to think about common triggers that may be present in your household. Some children with eczema who have a strong family history of asthma or eczema seem to be more likely to get asthma.
Once we identify the condition as eczema, a LOT of the therapy relies on (a) removing any triggers in the house and (b) repairing that skin barrier with moisture moisture moisture. And not with water. With creams/lotions/moisturizers, over and over again. You should feel like you are CONSTANTLY slathering that skin with lotion. And which one to choose? I\’ve provided a starter list below, but honestly, as long as your lotion is not irritating the skin and free of scents, the best moisturizer is the one you will use regularly. I have tried expensive ones and find they are wonderful, but I probably don\’t use them liberally enough because I\’m trying to make the product last longer… but you gotta try a bunch and figure out your individual skin.
Often I will prescribe a topical steroid like hydrocortisone, or betamethasone valerate to relieve some of the itching and inflammation. Use it as directed, until the rash is better controlled, usually 7-14 days. Then typically I will advise you to start using it every other day, while continuing to aggressively moisturize 2-3 times daily. Again, talk to your doctor about what recommendations are right for YOU.
If I cannot get it controlled in my office, I may refer you to a dermatologist to consider further treatments, which sometimes include oral steroids like prednisone, light therapy, or even newer biologic medications which can help to control the disease.
Some conditions that mimic eczema are:
– psoriasis
– drug reaction
– heat rash
– ringworm (fungal infection)
So it is important that the diagnosis is made by someone in your health team.
Taking pictures at home when the rash is flared is a great way to make sure your doctor sees exactly what you were dealing with! I cannot tell you how many times the rash has disappeared by the time someone makes it to my office.
For most patients, eczema can be treated and will not interfere with functioning once well controlled.
Have a look at a summary:
Looking for more information?
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| https://eczemahelp.ca |
https://eczemahelp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ESC_Managing-Eczema-Guide_Sept-2019.pdf
Dr. Lorraine Sharp 