Are you living with eczema, but struggling with how to best handle the symptoms of your skin condition? You’re not alone. Eczema is one of the most common dermatological conditions in the United States. In fact, most patients with eczema are diagnosed as soon as infancy.
If you are the parent of a young child with eczema, you should rest assured that most infants outgrow their eczema within the first few years of life. However, if you have not outgrown your eczema it is likely that you have grown accustomed to the occasional outbreak of itching, red, scaly skin lesions.
For infants and toddlers, the rash is commonly found on the face and the lower half of the legs. As patients grow older the rash may begin to break out further up the legs, behind the knees and inside the elbows. As an adult your eczema is likely to appear on the face, neck, knees and elbows.
Most eczema outbreaks do not require medical intervention and can be treated by the patient at home. Here are some tips for managing your own eczema, away from our clinic.
Hydration: Take warm baths or showers to alleviate the irritation of your skin. Be sure to completely towel dry your skin after any water exposure.
Mosturize: Seal your skin with an ointment-like moisturizer.
Steroids: Topical steroids are first line treatments for eczema. Hydrocortisone is safe for this application and can be purchased over the counter.
Light Therapy: Narrow band UVB rays can be used twice a week to help reduce the inflammation association with your eczema.
Oral Medication: May be prescribed as needed.
If eczema is disturbing your daily activities, consider discussing your condition with the professional staff at Laser and Dermatologic Surgery Center today. We can help create a custom skin care plan unique to your needs.
