What is Eczema?

The most common form of eczema is Atopic Dermatitis. It is a chronic skin condition caused by a barrier dysfunction and increased inflammation, and, for the most part, hereditary. The easiest way to understand it, is that where healthy skin has an outer skin barrier that allows moisture to penetrate the skin while keeping irritants out, those that have eczema have a weak skin barrier that causes moisture to escape and irritants to enter. By having a weak skin barrier, your skin becomes dry and itchy, causing the urge to scratch the infected area, and therefore creating an outbreak. Eczema usually presents itself on the scalp, face, and flexural areas such as armpits, elbows, and groin, which makes it even more annoying to endure; either it’s somewhere seen, or somewhere that we’re constantly moving. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to calm and soothe our infected areas. Triggers Everyone has different triggers as to what causes their eczema in Houston, and once we understand our specific trigger, we can be aware of what to look for and when to catch it. There are three main triggers to be aware of; irritants, environment, and emotional. Irritants can cause bacteria to enter your skin causing an outbreak. Things such as synthetic fibers, detergents, perfumes, dust, sand, etc. can cause inflammation. Your environment can also play a key role in your trigger. Understand what kind of weather affects you, be it hot or cold temperatures, humidity, or dry air. The last trigger, which can be hard to control, is emotional. Although at times can be hard to manage, anxiety and stress can cause flares, so if your trigger is emotional, try different techniques to soothe your mind when in stressful situations. Treatments There are many treatments on the market right now to help in controlling your eczema. There are excellent over-the-counter products like moisturizers and cleansers. These can help by reducing symptoms like swelling, redness, and itchiness. Ask your dermatologist what the best product to buy before trying different treatments. Moisturizing is very important when fighting eczema. Because your skin becomes dry and itchy, moisturizing is key in stopping inflammation from starting. It is important to understand how and when to moisturize properly, and what products to use that is best fit for you. And very importantly to avoid scratching, rubbing and scrubbing the skin. Proper bathing techniques, which include spending no longer than 10 minutes in the shower/tub, avoiding hot water, and avoiding sponges, loofas and rags are also important and highly effective in treating dry skin. There are many other treatments on the market, and those that can be prescribed, depending on the severity of your eczema. Before experimenting with treatments on your own however, make sure to first ask your Houston dermatologist for a consultation. They will be able to further assist you and your skin, understanding what’s best for you.