How to tell it’s eczema
Eczema is a skin condition where the skin barrier is not functioning as well as it should be. The immune system in the skin is also not working optimally, so people with eczema are more likely to develop skin infections. To tell if you have eczema, you need to know your symptoms. “Your skin becomes dry, itchy, and easily irritated, and there can be a rash with skin that is scaly and thickened,” explains Jeffrey Benabio, MD, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. People tend to get the rash on certain parts of the body depending on their age. Common sites for babies include the scalp and face (especially the cheeks), the front of the knees, and the back of the elbows. In children, common areas include the neck, wrists, legs, ankles, the creases of elbows or knees, and between the buttocks. In adults, the rash often appears on the inside of elbows and knees and on the nape of the neck, sometimes accompanied by a yellowish to light brown crust or pus-filled blisters. Localization on the hands or feet, known as dyshidrotic eczema, is also common.
Scratching makes eczema worse
Anyone who’s ever had poison ivy or a mosquito bite knows how powerful the urge to scratch can be, but especially with eczema, it can lead to a vicious itch-scratch cycle. “The initial itch prompts the patient to scratch, which provides transient relief,” explains Steven Q. Wang, MD, director of dermatology and dermatologic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. “However, the scratching motion creates micro-tears in the skin barrier and triggers inflammation, which leads to more itch.” Here are home remedies for eczema worth trying.