Eczemasymptoms can range from mild to severe.
This chronic inflammatory skin condition affects more than 31 million Americans.
Itchiness is the most common symptom of eczema.
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Other possible symptoms include dry skin, rashes, blisters, and scaly patches.
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Eczema usually begins in childhood, but it can start at any age.
Severe eczema can be managed with the help of a board-certified dermatologist who can determine an effective treatment plan.
Severe Eczema Symptoms
Specific symptoms depend on the punch in of eczema.
Symptoms that may indicate eczema include:
Eczema can look different depending on skin tone.
On lighter skin, it may appear red.
Severe eczema can cause symptoms intense enough to affect your quality of life.
With severe eczema, the itching can be constant and difficult to control.
Periods when symptoms are worse are calledflare-ups.
Between flare-ups, the skin heals, and symptoms are milder or not present.
The eczema rash is usually the same on both sides of the body.
Common Triggers of Eczema Flare-Ups
Triggers vary by person.
Talk to your healthcare provider before trying this with your child.
Skin Care
A good skin care routine that helps hydrate your skin is vital for managing eczema.
Your individual skin care regime should be determined with your dermatologist if you have severe eczema.
Medication
Severe eczema often requires medication in addition toavoiding triggersand using a thorough skincare routine.
Topical Treatments
Medicated creams and ointments are available, both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription.
Hydrocortisoneis one option available for infants, children, and adults.
It is a steroid that can help reduce the symptoms of eczema.
It’s important to use only the amount directed.
Topical steroids should be used short term.
They help calm the immune system, similar totopical steroids, but do not cause skin thinning.
They can be used for people aged two and older.
It’s also possible that severe flares will happen when they are discontinued.
To help prevent this, an intensified skin care routine should be used while tapering off oral steroids.
Antihistaminesmay help make itching more bearable and let you get a better night’s sleep.
They may not work directly on the itch, but they have sedative effects and can make you drowsy.
It is intended to be used when topical therapies aren’t working well enough or cannot be used.
Eczema and Cold Sores
The herpesvirus can cause a serious skin infection in children with eczema.
Keep your child away from anyone who hascold sores(also called fever blisters).
Prognosis
Eczema is a chronic condition, but it tends to get better with age.
Treatments may not completely eliminate severe eczema flare-ups, but they can help improve symptoms.
Coping
Although it is hard to do, attempt to resist scratching.
Scratching can make the itch worse andlead to infection.
Then you apply a wet dressing and cover it with a dry dressing.
Leave this in place for two to six hours.
Talk to your healthcare provider about other tactics to cope with the itching.
Stress management techniques may help to reduce stress as a trigger for flares.
If you find you have symptoms of anxiety or depression, talk to your healthcare provider.
Summary
Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition primarily characterized by itching.
For some people, eczema symptoms aresevere and disruptiveduring flare-ups.
Severe eczema can be managed with a good skin care routine and with treatments such as medication and/or phototherapy.
Food allergies are a factor in 30% of young children who have severe eczema, particularly in infants.
Cow’s milk and eggs are the main allergic foods associated with eczema.
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