Atopic dermatitis, better known as eczema, can be a challenging skin condition to experience. It alters both your skin and daily activities. Thousands of people deal with the symptoms of this condition every day and they’ve talked about how isolating and challenging it can become.
If you’re one of the millions suffering from eczema, you’re not alone. We know how important it is to get relief from all your symptoms.
In this article, you’ll learn the best treatments and routines for relief, from moisturizers and prescription medications to home remedies and tips to prevent flare-ups.
Understanding Eczema and Its Symptoms
Imagine waking up every day with dry, itchy and irritated skin. For 31 million people, eczema is a tough reality. That’s why it’s so important to understand this condition and your treatment options.
What Is Eczema and Who Does It Affect?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a rather common skin condition that can occur in both children and adults. Eczema is a type of dermatitis that can cause itchiness, dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters and skin infections.
Recognizing Symptoms of Eczema
It’s not unusual to confuse eczema with other skin diseases. Here are a few common symptoms that can help you quickly identify if what you’re experiencing on your skin may be eczema:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Dry and scaly skin
- Swellings with a rash
- Bumpiness
These are all common symptoms of eczema and can be easily mistaken for other skin conditions. It’s important to consult your dermatologist to get properly diagnosed and appropriate treatment.
Building a Skincare Routine for Eczema Relief
Living with eczema means you’re on a continuous search for relief every single day. But building a skincare routine can be the change you’ve been searching for. The most important part of your skincare routine is to repair the skin’s damaged protective coating and to hydrate the skin using moisturizer.
The Importance of Moisturizing for People with Eczema
Moisturizing is very important when it comes to managing eczema. This is because it helps to protect and repair the skin barrier. It does this by enhancing hydration. A moisturizer's main purpose is to help keep the skin healthy which is why a lot of people with eczema have it in their skincare routine.
Choosing Fragrance-Free and Gentle Skin Care Products
When choosing your skin care products, you have to be extremely careful about choosing products that do not irritate your skin or cause a flare-up. Products that are fragrance-free and gentle on your skin should be your go-to. One frequently recommended example is Vanicream, which produces a whole lineup of fragrance-free products from cleansers to moisturizers.
Managing Affected Areas with Colloidal Oatmeal
People have been using oatmeal to treat eczema for centuries. Oatmeal has very important properties (emollient) that can help relieve eczema symptoms. Research also shows that 71% of those who tried colloidal oatmeal baths witnessed a reduction in itchy skin after about 3 months of consistent usage.
Medical Treatments for Eczema
Treating eczema mostly requires a comprehensive treatment approach and medical treatment plays a crucial role when it comes to managing eczema.
Topical Corticosteroids: What They Do and How to Use Them
Topical corticosteroids are a type of medical treatment used to reduce inflammation, redness, and itchiness. They are used to treat conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even contact dermatitis. They are applied directly to the skin and mostly the affected area. Topical corticosteroids do their job by reducing the production of arachidonic acid (which is central to the body’s inflammatory process) to the areas it’s applied. Although topical steroids are considered a very effective treatment for controlling eczema, long-term use is not recommended due to the risk of skin thinning and potential scarring.
Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors: An Alternative to Steroids
Topical calcineurin inhibitors (Protopic and Elidel) are a nonsteroidal alternative to topical steroids. Unlike topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors can be used long-term without fear of thinning and scarring the skin. Unlike stronger topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors can be used on the face, including eyelids, neck and skin folds. Calcineurin inhibitors work by calming down the immune system in the skin, which helps reduce redness, itching, and swelling. They work with the immune system to block a protein called calcineurin, which triggers the cells (T-cells) that cause eczema.
Prescription Medications for Severe Cases
Eczema can range from mild to moderate and severe. This all depends on the symptoms you’re experiencing. However, a holistic approach is ideal when treating severe eczema. Lifestyle choices and prescription treatments closely monitored by your dermatology team are the best approach to moderate to severe eczema. Here are a few prescription medications that can help control severe cases of eczema:
- Phototherapy
- Nontargeted immunosuppressive agents
- Biologic agents
- JAK Inhibitors
Partnering with your dermatology team is beneficial for long-term success in controlling severe eczema.
Home Remedies for Eczema
Effectively managing eczema requires a holistic, multifaceted approach that extends beyond prescription medications. Lifestyle choices can play a significant role in reducing symptoms.
Diet
Can diet and lifestyle changes help manage eczema? Lifestyle definitely…diet maybe? An article written by Dr. Peter Lio and published by the National Eczema Society dives deep into the complex subject starting with the following patient story…“Even though 19-year-old Brandon Hipps of Avon Park, Florida, loves to go fishing with friends and family, he can’t eat what he catches. In addition to living with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), Hipps is allergic to seafood, peanuts and dairy. These foods, along with eggs, sugar, alcohol or gluten, tend to top the “do not eat” list among people with AD, who swear that consuming certain foods will trigger their skin to break out in an eczema rash. But is there really a correlation between eczema and food allergies? According to Dr. Peter Lio, assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University in Chicago, founding director of Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and member of the National Eczema Association’s Scientific Advisory Committee, the answer is yes.”The article later goes on to debunk the myth that eating certain foods may be the cause of eczema. While eating certain foods may cause a flare-up, Dr. Lio noted that it's very difficult to test and draw the connections between diet and eczema. Further complicating things is the fact that for some patients, when they are very inflamed, Lio continues, "...almost anything they eat seems to make their eczema worse."Lio also cautions against elimination diets as he has seen patients become malnourished as a result. Instead, he encourages patients to first stabilize their bodies and eczema before excluding any foods that could be contributing to flare-ups.Dr. Lio’s article highlights the need for ongoing research exploring the connection between food and eczema.
Lifestyle Recommendations
If you’re tired of experiencing eczema symptoms, like itching and inflammation, the best thing to do is to learn how to decrease and manage your flare-ups. Know what triggers it, and how to avoid those triggers. Maintaining healthy, moisturized skin is critical to controlling the symptoms of eczema. Here are a few skin care tips to help prevent the development of itchy rashes:
- Moisturizing your skin daily with fragrance-free moisturizers is essential.
- Avoid long, hot showers/baths. Hot water can dry out the skin, which worsens eczema.
- Adding colloidal oatmeal to your bath has been shown to provide relief to dry, itchy, or irritated skin.
- Use a small amount of soap only on the areas that need it (like armpits, groin, feet). You do not need to soap or scrub your entire body and never scrub areas with an active rash.
- Use hypoallergenic moisturizing soaps.
- Thick moisturizing creams or ointments such as petroleum jelly should be applied to damp skin at least once daily, often after showers or baths.
- Avoid exposure to heat, low humidity, detergents/soaps, abrasive clothing, chemicals, smoke, environmental allergens (e.g., trees and grasses), and stress as much as possible.
- Fragrance-free household products and laundry detergent may also be beneficial.
- Avoid fabric softener. Wool balls are a great alternative (as long as you’re not allergic/sensitive to wool).
- Keep the home from getting too dry using a humidifier, especially in the bedroom.
For additional recommendations, go to The National Eczema Society which is a wealth of information for patients suffering from eczema.
Lifestyle changes: Do They Work?
Yes, they do work. However, they can only help reduce the symptoms. They have not been proven to be effective enough to control eczema. If your symptoms persist after you’ve tried home remedies, you need to consult with your dermatologist.
What Triggers Eczema
There are a lot of things that could trigger your eczema, and these triggers vary by person. Learning your personal triggers can help. Let’s check out a few common ones::
- Skin products
- Weather
- Water
- Environmental allergens
- Hormones
- Stress and anxiety
- Soaps/detergent
- Skin infection
Treating Complications Like Skin Infections
Living with eczema is already challenging, but when it becomes complicated and leads to skin infections…it can become overwhelming. There are a few things you can do to help treat and reduce these complications.
When Eczema Leads to Skin Infections: Signs and Solutions
When you have eczema-prone skin, it can get very dry leading to breaks in the skin. These breaks make it easier for your eczema to be infected by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This can make your eczema worse. Here are a few signs of an infected eczema;
- Pain
- Worsening of redness
- Swelling
- Warmth to area
- Pus and/or weeping
- Blistered and/or crusting
- Fever
- Generally unwell: achy, fatigued, nauseous, etc.
If you suspect an infection, do not delay—contact your healthcare provider immediately or seek care at a medical facility, such as urgent care, to prevent potential complications.
Looking for Eczema Relief? Work With a Piction Dermatologist
Have you been living with eczema for a long time and nothing seems to be working? Is your search for treatment and relief taking longer than you expected? Get help from an expert dermatologist today to diagnose and treat your eczema.
