ECZEMA
TREATMENTS

Treatment for your or your child’s atopic eczema can be broken down into 2 distinct phases.

YOUR QUESTIONS
OUR ANSWERS

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How can I get rid of eczema?

The mainstay of treatment for eczema is corticosteroid creams during acute flare-ups (as weak a steroid as possible, and never on the face) and maintenance treatment with soap substitutes for washing and regular application of emollient creams. To lastingly space out flare-ups, it is important to rebalance skin’s microbiome (the friendly bacteria that live on skin).

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Is eczema contagious?

No! Eczema is an atopic (allergic) condition that runs in families and primarily affects babies and children. It is not possible for anyone to “catch” eczema.

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What is the difference between eczema and psoriasis?

Psoriasis causes thick, red, scaly patches of skin, commonly over the elbows and knees. Itching is not a key symptom. Eczema also causes dry red patches, but they do not tend to be as thick, and they are usually found in the skin folds of the neck, elbows and knees (or on the face in babies). In eczema, itching is intense and there may be visible scratch marks and broken skin.

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What causes eczema to flare up?

Triggers for eczema flare-ups are variable. They include drying of the skin (in winter or due to harsh body washes), as well as environmental irritants and allergens. Sweat is a top eczema trigger after exercise or during the night, as is stress. Whatever your triggers, using a soap substitute and applying emollient twice daily will space out flare-ups.

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Does eczema spread?

Eczema is not contagious and does not spread from person to person. Eczema occurs on particular areas of the body. In babies, it usually occurs on the cheeks and chin, while in older children it often affects the skin folds of the neck, elbows and knees. It is important to teach children strategies to avoid scratching eczema lesions as they can get larger and affect more of the skin.

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TRUE
OR FALSE

ATOPIC DERMATITIS
CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.

FALSE

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a genetic disease and is in no way contagious. The treatment for atopic dermatitis symptoms is based on soap substitutes, emollients and topical corticosteroids.
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ATOPIC DERMATITIS
DISAPPEARS OVER TIME.

TRUE

Depending onthe child, atopic dermatitis can last between a few months or years. Half ofchildren with atopic eczema as babies are cured by the age of five. In some cases, atopic eczema persists into adulthood, but this is impossible to predict. Thereis no definitive cure for eczema, but it can be managed with the right treatment.
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ECZEMA FLARE-UPS CAN
BE TRIGGERED BY STRESS.

TRUE

We can’t explain why,but experts have acknowledged that emotions, shock and stress can play asignificant role in triggering eczema flare-ups. However, atopic dermatitis is also known to be a genetic disorder. If stress is a trigger for you, look into stress management techniques such as mindfulness.
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CAN DIET
AGGRAVATE ECZEMA?

TRUE

Certain foods can actas eczema triggers and cause flare-ups. If you think food may be an aggravatingfactor for eczema in you or your child, see a doctor as they can run bloodtests and skin prick tests to see if you are allergic to different foods (the usualsuspects are peanuts, milk, soy, wheat,fish and egg).
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LIFESTYLE TIPS TO KEEP
ATOPIC ECZEMA-PRONE SKIN UNDER CONTROL

Over and above these 2 phases, several lifestyle tricks are key to the success of atopic eczema treatments. These include opting for lukewarm and brief showers or baths, maintaining a cooler room temperature, waging war on house dust mite, opting for cotton clothing and avoiding allowing any sweat to remain on skin.

In the articles below, you will find in-depth information and lots of lifestyle hacks to care for atopic eczema-prone skin, as well as expert recommendations to build a healthy atopic eczema-prone skincare routine, and information on the prescription-only treatments your doctor might prescribe. You’ll also find suitable product recommendations if you’re looking for atopic eczema-prone skincare in a lighter texture.

PRESCRIPTION-
ATOPIC ECZEMA TREATMENTS

Phase 1: During flare-ups. Your doctor will prescribe prescription-only treatments such as topical corticosteroids or a cream called tacrolimus. These medicines calm down skin’s immune reaction (redness, dryness and lots and lots of itching) in order to relieve itching and help atopic eczema lesions to heal.

MAINTENANCE -
ATOPIC ECZEMA-PRONE SKINCARE

Phase 2: Maintenance and prevention. To keep atopic eczema-prone skin hydrated and happy, use a soap substitute or Syndet in the shower, and apply a rich emollient twice daily to replenish skin’s microbiome (the microorganisms that live on skin and help maintain its balance). You can also mist the skin with naturally soothing thermal spring water to help take the sting out of itching.

How to avoid
wound marks?

Do you worry that your child eczema might leave scars behind?

With Tamara's eczema and her very dry skin she ends up scratching the same places on her back and upper arms all the time so even when the skin recovers she'll go back and scratch them. I'm worried that the scratching might leave a wound there permanently. How can I make sure that her skin won't have permanent scars and will heal well? Scratching is inevitably going to leave behind some superficial box and most of these will fade and disappear virtually completely within months. But for deep injuries to the skin these can leave behind scars which by definition persist but even these can fade with time. Children with eczema covered in bacteria Staphylococcus and any wounds to the skin are a risk of secondary infection and if that's thought to be likely then this needs to be treated with an antibiotic either as a cream or as a medicine. These measures together with your routine application of moisturizing cream on a regular basis, will minimize any marks that are left behind.

 

HOW TO AVOID WOUND MARKS?

  • Superficial marks should fade with time
  • Deep marks can leave scars
  • Wound are risk of infection, they need to be treated with an antibiotic cream
  • daily moisturizing routine minimizes marks 

Did you
know?

1 in 5 children have eczema. In 80% of cases, the condition resolves by itself before adulthood.

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Source: CHU Nantes, unité de cancérologie dermatologie spécialisation dermatite atopique, avril 2015  

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WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA?

DEAR
READERS

The information displayed here is intended for general educational purposes only and should not in any case be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any medical question.