When dry skin becomes red and itchy, we refer to this as eczema. It can occur at any age and affects both men and women. The causes range from genetics to below-average skincare regimens. The treatment of eczema depends on the severity. The main goal is to re-hydrate or moisturize the skin as much as possible. If moisturizing isn’t enough, it may be time to visit your Dermatologist for some topical steroid treatment at a minimum.
Recommendations on How to Better Manage Eczema:
- Cleanse with gentle soap, such as Dove.
- Use a moisturizer, such as CeraVe, Eucerin, or Aveeno twice daily, especially on damp skin.
- Try not to scratch as this can lead to infection. Sarna lotion, which is an over the counter, can help soothe the skin.
- Amlactin is an over the counter lotion that can assist in exfoliating and moisturizing. There is also a prescription version called Lac-hydrin that can be prescribed.
The most common appearance of eczema is dry, scaly patches with or without redness present. Other conditions can mimic eczema, so if a rash is persistent, please make sure to follow up with your Dermatologist.
For more information on eczema, please read an article written by our very own provider, Patricia Spitzer, PA-C: https://villagederm.com/2018/03/01/much-to-do-about-eczema/
