A rash on your face, arms, or knees might be a sign of eczema. If you’ve been searching for options to clear up your skin, you can rely on the board-certified medical expertise of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies, P.C., with locations in Avon, Basalt, Aspen, Frisco, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The skilled providers specialize in topical treatments and injections to help free you of your uncomfortable symptoms. Call today or schedule a consultation online.
Eczema happens when your immune system goes into overdrive, making your skin inflamed, red, and itchy. The medical name for eczema is atopic dermatitis. While eczema is a chronic condition, the right treatment can prevent flare-ups and provide you lasting relief.
Doctors don’t know exactly why some people get eczema and others don’t. You have a greater chance of getting eczema if your parents have it, or if you have allergies or asthma.
Eczema is particularly common in infants. An estimated 10-20% of children have eczema, although most will outgrow it. For adults who don’t outgrow it, eczema is a serious condition.
With eczema, your symptoms will come and go. You may experience:
The location of eczema is different depending on your age. In infants and young children, eczema is normally on the cheeks, knees, and outside of the elbows. In older children and adults, it’s more commonly found on the arms, hands, feet, and on the back of your knees.
Your practitioner begins by taking your medical history, examining your skin, and asking if you’ve been exposed to irritants or allergens.
You may be asked to take a prick test to test for an allergic reaction. During this test, your provider applies a diluted allergen to your skin with a slight prick or a puncture, then watches the test area for about 15 minutes to see if redness or bumps develop.
To start, avoid your triggers. Your provider will work with you to help you determine what’s provoking your outbreaks. Common triggers of eczema include certain foods, detergents, pet dander, wool, cosmetics, dust mites, mold, pollen, and dry weather.
Depending on the severity of your eczema, your provider may recommend prescription medications, including steroids or antihistamine creams or gels to help to control redness, itching, and swelling. If topical treatments aren’t helping, your provider may suggest a twice-monthly injection of a medication called Dupixent® that you can do at home.
If you’d like clearer skin free of red, rash-like patches, call today or book a consultation online with the experts in allergy-related skin care at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies.
