JANUARY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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Eczema — Itching for Answers
With winter upon us , decreased humidity , cold temperatures , and heaters may lead to dry , cracked skin and the “ winter itch .” Many will see flares in their eczema . Eczema is also known as the itch that rashes . It is a genetic skin condition , however a person ’ s environment significantly contributes to their disease severity . To simplify the condition , persons with eczema have an impaired skin barrier and cannot trap water in the skin like most do . In the United States , roughly 1 in 10 children may be affected by eczema . They are also more sensitive to certain triggers causing inflammation in the skin . While eczema is treatable , there is no cure .
Dry skin , itch , and eczema can be treated or partially avoided by implementing a good skin care regimen . It ’ s important to know that each time to wash your hands or bathe to use gentle cleansers and apply a good moisturizer within 3 minutes . After bathing , I often recommend to my patients to gently pat dry ( no rubbing ) and then apply the moisturizer to help “ lock in ” that water . While hot water may feel good at the time , it can often exacerbate itching in the long run , therefore warm water is recommended . A humidifier can be helpful , but remember to clean it regularly to prevent mold build up within the unit .
Ointments often do a better job at trapping moisture in the skin than creams or lotions . As most people do not like greasy ointments on the skin , I often recommend moisturizers such as CeraVe , Cetaphil , and Aveeno ( among others ) during the day and ointments such as Vaseline , Aquaphor , or CeraVe at night . Look for fragrance-free , unscented , and dye free cleansers to wash with . Anti-bacterial soaps may contain alcohol or ingredients that may irritate the skin and make eczema worse .
Persons with eczema may be susceptible to bacterial and viral infections . A bleach bath one day per week may be helpful to help decrease the bacteria on the skin that may cause these infections . Use a half-cup of household bleach for a full tub of water , soak for 10 minutes from the neck down , and then rinse off .
Scratching often makes eczema worse , so keeping our fingernails short can prevent them from breaking the skin . Avoiding clothing such as wool or other rough fabrics is important as it can irritate the skin ; cotton or soft fabrics are a better choice . I encourage exercise , but rapid changes of temperature and activities that make you sweat can exac-
erbate eczema . Choose laundry detergents that are hypoallergenic and free of fragrance and dyes . As new clothing and bedding may have irritating chemicals on them it ’ s important to wash them prior to use . Pet dander can contribute to eczema and allergies . It ’ s important to learn what triggers your eczema and avoid them .
If your itch or eczema cannot be controlled with a good daily regimen , dermatologists often prescribe topical steroids to assist in treating these conditions . Antihistamines can help control itching and allergies and may be beneficial .