Eczema is a common skin condition often first detected as dry skin. Many ignore the condition or try to treat it with basic skincare products, but getting medical care may stop the condition from becoming serious or leading to infections and other issues.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition that can flare up from an irritant such as soap or shampoo, an allergen such as dust or mold, or even the weather. This condition causes dry skin, redness, itchiness, rashes, thick skin, bumps, and darkness around the eyes. Eczema affects the skin on the face as well as the body, and you may experience it more or less depending on the season or varying environmental factors. If you notice issues with your skin that you did not have before or that you find especially concerning, consider seeing a dermatologist to see if eczema is to blame.
Types of Eczema
It is important to seek the help of a dermatologist for your eczema because of the varying causes and forms that eczema can take:
- Atopic Dermatitis: a common form of eczema that causes inflammation, dryness, and itchiness
- Contact Dermatitis: caused by contact with an allergen in the environment
- Neurodermatitis: small patches of itchy or scaly skin
- Dyshidrotic Eczema: this type dries out the skin and can cause a burning sensation along with rashes and blisters
- Nummular Eczema: creates small, round lesions on the arms and legs
- Seborrheic Eczema: inflammatory eczema on the scalp
- Stasis Dermatitis: skin discoloration that looks similar to varicose veins on the legs
Eczema Treatment
Whether you notice issues on your skin or the skin of one of your children, it is important to get the help of a dermatologist. Eczema is a common condition for infants as well as adults and one that you want to address. If you leave eczema patches alone, without treating them, they can grow itchy and become infected.
There are different types of eczema, and a dermatologist can help you figure out which type you or your child are dealing with. Different types of products can be used to manage the condition, and a dermatologist will help you go through those products, trying them out and seeing which ones work the best for your specific symptoms. Special creams and ointments like topical steroids, JAK inhibitors, and calcineurin inhibitors can be used, but these require a prescription and the care of a physician. These prescription topical medications block immune signals that trigger eczema symptoms.
Schedule a Consultation
At Trillium Creek Dermatology, our providers have access to a variety of eczema treatments and we can help you find the right treatment for your specific skin condition. Schedule a consultation today and let one of our skin experts examine your skin so that we can give you an accurate diagnosis. Our goal is to help you restore healthy skin and we look forward to making that possible.
