Complete Guide to Mild Eczema

The term “eczema” is used to describe several conditions that make skin on different parts of your body feel swollen, irritated and itchy. (Your doctor may also call it atopic dermatitis.)

Eczema is usually a chronic condition, which means you’ll always have it, but your symptoms may come and go. Be honest with your doctor about how often you have flare-ups and how they affect your life. What you say today will help shape your treatment plan.

Ask Your Doctor . . .

Newly diagnosed:

What might be causing my eczema?

What are my treatment options?

Can you recommend over-the-counter products to help my skin?

Do I need to change my bathing and skincare routines?

How quickly will my symptoms get better?

Living with eczema:

If my first treatment doesn’t work, what else can I try?

Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to help prevent flare-ups?

I have trouble sleeping sometimes because of the itch. What can I do?

Is there anything I can do to protect my skin from scarring?

TIP: Always share with your doctor any updates since your last visit—from new medicines to major life changes. These can impact your health. 

The main goals of treatment are to:

• stop the itching
• keep you from getting infections
• make a plan to reduce flare-ups

Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on your specific symptoms and triggers.

The first stage of treatment will be to eliminate triggers and develop good skin-care habits to prevent dryness. Ask your doctor to recommend a cream or ointment, as well as soaps and other cleansing products that are meant for sensitive skin.

Other treatments your doctor might suggest include:

• Non-steroidal topical creams: They work by turning off parts of your immune system (calcineurin inhibitors) or by reducing inflammation in your body (PDE4 inhibitors).
• Topical steroid creams: They work by reducing inflammation to control itchiness and swelling.
• A short course of oral steroids or steroid shots: They reduce itchiness and swelling.
• Antibiotics: They help heal bacterial infections.

If these treatments don’t help your symptoms, there are other options your doctor can recommend.

For Treatment Success!

If you know how your medicine works, you’ll know why it’s important not to miss a dose or application. Ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions:

What is the name of my medicine?

What dose will I take? For how long?

How does it work to improve symptoms? When will it start working?

What do I do if I miss a dose?

What are possible side effects? And what do I do if they occur?

When should I put the medicine on my skin (if it’s a topical)?

The word “eczema” is used to describe more than one skin condition but symptoms common to most of them include:

• itchy skin
• redness (on skin of color, it may appear brown or grayish)
• peeling
• dry or scaly patches that might get thicker over time from scratching
• bumps or blisters that might bleed or ooze

TIP: Eczema is very common and affects over 30 million Americans. There’s no reason to be embarrassed by it. Your doctor can help you find an effective treatment to control the symptoms.

Flare-ups of eczema symptoms usually happen in cycles. You may have symptoms for a while and then they go away, until they flare up again.

Eczema flare-ups can be triggered by:

• Infections when viruses or bacteria gets into the skin from scratching too much
• Scars where your skin has been damaged
• Areas of darkening or lightening on skin of color
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping) because of itchiness
• Feeling self-conscious because of how your skin looks

Use a calendar or diary to keep track of your flare-ups and what might be causing them. Share this with your doctor at each visit to help manage your eczema.

Complications

If you don’t get treatment for your eczema, you could develop more serious issues including:

• Infections when viruses or bacteria gets into the skin from scratching too much
• Scars where the skin has been damaged
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping) because of itchiness
• Feeling self-conscious because of how your skin looks

Even though there is no cure for eczema, there are many treatments that can help you manage it.

The main goals of treatment are to:

• stop the itching
• keep you from getting infections
• make a plan to reduce flare-ups
• Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on your specific symptoms and triggers.

If you’ve been dealing with eczema for a long time, you’re probably already using cleansing and moisturizing products for sensitive skin. 

Treatments your doctor might suggest include:

• Non-steroidal topical creams: They work by turning off parts of your immune system (calcineurin inhibitors) or by reducing inflammation in your body (PDE4 inhibitors).
• Topical steroid creams: They work by reducing inflammation to control itchiness and swelling.
• A short course of oral steroids or steroid shots: They reduce itchiness and swelling.
• Antibiotics: They help heal bacterial infections.
• Phototherapy: This uses a special machine to expose your skin to UVB light. You usually need a month or two of treatments before you starting seeing results.

If these treatments don’t help your symptoms, or if they stop working, your doctor might offer you a different type of treatment for moderate-to-severe eczema that is not controlled with topical medicine. It is a biologic called dupilumab that is delivered by an injection you give yourself twice a month. Biologic medicines work by targeting specific parts of your immune system to reduce inflammation. Other biologics are used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

TIP: Topical medicines can be used at the same time as biologics, so tell your doctor if you’re still having symptoms once you start treatment.

For Treatment Success!

If you know how your medicine works, you’ll know why it’s important not to miss a dose or injection. 

Ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions:

What is the name of my medicine?

What dose will I take? For how long?

How does it work to improve symptoms? When will it start working?

What do I do if I miss a dose or injection?

What are possible side effects? And what do I do if they occur?

When should I put the medicine on my skin (if it’s a topical)?

Your eczema may never go away completely, but you can treat flare-ups and take small steps to prevent them. Find out what you need to do, why you need to do it, and a few simple ideas on how to get started.

Avoid triggers

WHY: The best way to manage eczema is to stop flare-ups before they start.

HOW TO START: Use a diary or calendar to track what causes your flare-ups and talk to your doctor about how to avoid these triggers in the future. Common triggers include stress, changes in the weather, chemical irritants and certain medicines.

Get enough sleep

WHY: Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night will help prevent stress and fatigue that can lead to a flare-up.

HOW TO START: Set a regular sleep schedule and stick to it (even on weekends). Create a relaxing nighttime routine to prepare your body for sleep, like sipping a cup of herbal tea or writing in a journal. And make sure your bedroom is dark by using room-darkening curtains or blinds on the windows.

Moisturize your skin

WHY: Using a heavy moisturizer can relieve dry skin and help prevent cracking.

HOW TO START: Ask your doctor to recommend a moisturizer that’s right for you. Apply it twice a day (or as directed by your doctor). Putting on moisturizer right after you bathe or shower will help trap moisture in your skin.

Bathe with care

WHY: Hot water and harsh cleansers can irritate your skin.

HOW TO START: Take short, lukewarm showers for no more than 10 minutes. Choose a cleanser for sensitive skin and apply it with your hands, rather than a rough washcloth or body sponge. Limit soap to places you sweat unless your skin dirty (for example, after a camping trip or working in yard). Pat skin dry gently instead of rubbing.

Add humidity at home

WHY: Low humidity (the amount of moisture in the air) can trigger eczema flare-ups.

HOW TO START: When the air is dry, especially in winter, using a cool-mist humidifier can help relieve eczema symptoms. Just be sure to keep the humidifier clean to avoid growing bacteria and fungus in the water.

Stop smoking and vaping

WHY: Tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor may trigger eczema flare-ups.

HOW TO START: Talk to your doctor about stop-smoking products like gum, a patch or medicine. And visit Smokefree.gov to learn about apps, texting programs and other digital tools to help you quit.

Avoid scratching

WHY: Scratching can make eczema worse and lead to skin infections.

HOW TO START: If you find yourself scratching during the night, wear a pair of cotton gloves to bed to protect your skin.