Eczema flareups can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. This is why people seek out the help of eczema specialists like ours at Dermatology Center of Northwest Houston.
Our experienced dermatologists offer a variety of solutions for treating and preventing eczema flareups. They focus on customized treatment plans that ease your existing symptoms and protect the long-term health of your skin. We can also recommend lifestyle modifications to reduce the frequency of eczema flareups.
Understanding eczema
Eczema describes noncontagious medical conditions that cause your skin to become irritated, inflamed, and itchy. This skin condition is more common in children, but adults can also struggle with eczema throughout their life.
One of the most common types of eczema is atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that is triggered by asthma and allergies. You might also be susceptible to contact dermatitis, a condition that results in itchy, inflamed skin when you come into contact with dyes, chemicals, and other skin irritants.
Your risk for developing eczema increases if you have a family history of the disease or because of certain environmental and genetic factors that trigger an immune response in your body.
Symptoms to look for with eczema
Besides itching and inflammation, common eczema symptoms can include:
- Red rash
- Burning
- Scaly skin
- Cracked skin
During an eczema flareup, you might also notice that your skin blisters and oozes clear liquid. This liquid can crust over and harden on your skin.
Eczema symptoms tend to flare up for several days or weeks before going into remission. For some, these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life and affect how you feel about your skin and your appearance.
While eczema can’t be cured, we can create a treatment plan to manage your symptoms in the long-term and reduce your risk factors for skin damage, infections, and other complications.
Managing eczema symptoms with medications
There are several over-the-counter and prescription products we offer to treat eczema. After a careful evaluation of your skin and the severity of your symptoms, our physicians customize a treatment plan to treat existing symptoms and prevent new flareups. Your treatment may include one or more medications like:
- Antibiotics
- Antihistamines
- Hydrocortisone
- Corticosteroids
- Immunomodulators
Often, these medications are applied topically to the skin to treat your eczema symptoms. Some medications you may need to take orally. Cyclosporine is an oral medication that can be useful in the treatment of eczema cases that don’t respond to other medications.
Other care methods for eczema
In addition to medications, you also need to be diligent about keeping your skin clean and moisturized to prevent infection. Avoid scratching the area because it can cause skin damage that can lead to scarring.
Our dermatologists can recommend high-quality moisturizers, sunscreens, and cleansers that protect the health of your skin and help it look and feel its best. They also can recommend ways to avoid allergens, stress, and other triggers of eczema to reduce the frequency of your outbreaks.
You don’t have to struggle to manage eczema alone. Call Dermatology of Northwest Houston to schedule an eczema consultation or book an appointment online today.