Eczema Specialist

What is eczema?

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, itchy patches of skin. The condition can be painful and irritating without proper treatment. 

Eczema is also chronic (long-lasting) and tends to cause flare-ups periodically. Taking preventive measures and identifying your triggers can help reduce your eczema occurrences.

What are the signs of eczema?

Eczema symptoms can vary from person to person, but common signs of the condition include:

• Red, itchy skin
• Dry skin
• Thickened skin
• Skin that feels raw and tender
• Scaly skin that easily cracks

While eczema can develop nearly anywhere on the body, patches commonly occur on the chest, neck, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, eyelids, inside of the elbows, and on the back of the knees.

What causes eczema?

Skin naturally retains moisture that helps protect against environmental irritants and allergens. When you have eczema, your skin doesn’t have that natural barrier due to a gene abnormality, allowing bacteria to accumulate. Common risk factors for eczema include:

• A family history of eczema
• Food allergies (primarily in children)
• Asthma
• Hay fever (allergies)

Without treatment, eczema can progress and damage your skin. Not only is the condition uncomfortable, but it can also lead to skin infections.

What are the treatments for eczema?

After a comprehensive skin evaluation, in which Dr. Durchhalter assesses the severity of your eczema, she can determine the best combination of treatments for you. She offers the most effective medications for eczema, including:

• Calcineurin inhibitors that target the immune system
• Oral antibiotics and antibiotic creams
• Oral corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Injectable medications

Another popular treatment that Dr. Durchhalter offers is phototherapy, a form of light therapy that uses ultraviolet (UV) light waves to reduce the inflammation and itching that eczema causes. 

Phototherapy is noninvasive, painless, and can treat multiple areas at once. The treatment takes just a few minutes and offers long-lasting results. 

Most patients require several treatments to experience long-term relief from eczema. Dr. Durchhalter spaces these sessions out by a few weeks and adjusts your treatment plan as your condition improves.

To learn more about eczema, call Allure Dermatology, or schedule an appointment online today.