Eczema

Eczema is a skin reaction due to your overreactive immune system. It causes red, inflamed and itchy skin. Eczema affects up to 20 percent of children, but most outgrow it since only 1-3 percent of adults are affected.

Symptoms of Eczema:

• Skin itching which may disrupt sleep
• Skin bumps and blisters
• Red or brown rash
• Skin flaking, cracking, or bleeding
• Scaly skin
• Sensitive, raw, swollen skin from excessive scratching
• Location:
  • Infants and children – cheeks, knees and elbows
  • Adolescents and adults – hands, arms, feet and back of knees

Causes of Eczema:

Eczema often runs in families and is more likely to occur in patients with hay fever, food allergies, asthma and other allergies. It occurs when your skin is ineffective as a barrier against allergens, irritants and germs. Normal skin keeps these out, but because your skin is not working properly, these irritants get in and cause inflammation. Up to two-thirds of kids with moderate to severe eczema will have food allergies.

Treatment Options for Eczema:

• Avoidance measures – following up on your allergy testing results, we can help you avoid exposure to specific food and other allergens that trigger your eczema
• Lotions – we can recommend high-quality, hypoallergenic lotions and creams for aggressive moisturization.
• Advanced medications – we often prescribe topical anti-inflammatory and steroid creams to reduce your symptoms
• Allergen immunotherapy – allergy injections help desensitize your immune system to your unique triggering allergens, to reduce skin inflammation and symptoms
• Biologic therapies – newer treatment options such as dupilumab (Dupixent) can be used to treat patients that do not respond to other measures

If you would like to learn more about how Relief Allergy & Sinus Institute can help you get your eczema under control, request an appointment today online or call (630) 513-1691.

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