October is Eczema Awareness Month—How to Avoid Flare-Ups

By Dr. Jerry Bagel

I am often asked by clients who suffer from seasonal outbreaks of eczema why their skin “flares-up” the minute the weather turns from warm to cool—and what they can do to proactively prevent this from happening. Fortunately, thanks to our growing knowledge base about this sometimes severe skin condition, we have many tools at our disposal to lessen, or in some cases, stop eczema breakouts in its tracks.

 

First, to treat eczema we have to understand what it is and what environmental factors contribute to its severity. Eczema is typically referred to as a family of skin conditions that leave the skin inflamed, irritated and itchy.

While eczema itself isn’t contagious, it does cause severe itching. Scratching could result in an open wound that may become infected. Some infections, like staph infections, are contagious and can develop if an eczema wound is left untreated.

So, what causes eczema to flare-up?

A primary cause for eczema flare-ups is what we call thermoregulation.  This means the body has been subjected to sudden climate changes indoors as well as outside. The cool weather reduces the humidity from the air, drying out the skin, causing eczema to flare. Household heaters in the winter drop humidity levels, which also create a perfect environment for eczema flare-ups.

So what can eczema sufferers do to prevent environmental changes from wreaking havoc on their skin? One way to control thermoregulation is by layering your clothing so that your skin isn’t subjected to significant temperature changes when going indoors or outside.

Stress is also linked to eczema flare-ups. When stressed, your body is reacting to a physical “threat” and it’s trying to protect the skin via the immune system, causing a flare-up. The immune system sends a concentration of white blood cells to the affected area causing the skin to become swollen, irritated and itchy. Obviously, stress is a part of mostly everyone’s life, but most patients find that there are many ways (meditation and yoga) that can keep their stress levels from going into the red zone.  Small changes in your routine, such as getting more exercise, building better sleep habits and finding ways to incorporate relaxation into your day, can have a very impactful effect on the severity of future outbreaks.

If you experience an eczema flare-up, we often suggest taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl to relieve the itch. It’s important to use moisturizing creams and mild soaps, like Dove, to help prevent the skin from drying out.  Also, when you dry off after a shower or bath, gently pat dry instead of forcefully rubbing the towel over the affected areas.

For more severe or persistent cases, we typically treat eczema with a prescription for a medicine such as a mild topical Cortisone ointment.

If you suspect you may be developing eczema, or think you are having a flare-up, it’s important to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. If left untreated, eczema can cause permanent changes in skin pigmentation. Also, the longer you’ve had eczema, the more challenging it is to treat.

Eczema is a disruptive and serious skin condition that can strike almost anyone at any time, but luckily, proactive behavior takes advantage of all we have learned about this condition, and enables the patient to control and manage it.

For more information about eczema or to make an appointment with a dermatologist, visit www.WindsorDermatology.com or call 609-443-4500.