Skin Diseases - Dry eczema is a disorder of the skin characterized by dry skin, itching, and the appearance of a red rash. There are a variety of things that can trigger symptoms of dry eczema. To relieve the symptoms, a simple treatment can be done at home as well as treatment from a doctor.
The term dry eczema actually refers to atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis). The condition is often experienced by children and relapses into adulthood. However, some dry eczema can also occur in adults and seniors who have never experienced similar complaints before.
Symptoms of Dry Eczema That You Need to Know
When relapsed, dry eczema or atheist eczema is characterized by skin that feels itchy continuously, especially at night.
Not only that, dry eczema also triggers the appearance of rashes in some parts of the body, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, chest, eyelids, elbow and knee curves, face, and scalp.
People with dry eczema may also experience the following symptoms:
- The skin becomes thicker and cracked.
- Dry and scaly skin.
- Skin is swollen or small lumps appear filled with fluid and can rupture at any time, especially if scratched.
- In infants and children, a recurrence of symptoms of dry eczema can make them fussy and restless due to heavy itching.
Symptoms of dry eczema can sometimes resemble other skin diseases, such as fungal infections, seboroic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Causes and Trigger Factors for Dry Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis
Until now, the exact cause of dry eczema has not been known for certain. However, some studies have shown that a person is more at risk of dry eczema if he or she has a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, or a member of the biological family who suffers from dry eczema.
In addition, dry eczema can also be triggered or exacerbated by certain factors. The following are the factors that can trigger and worsen dry eczema:
- Allergies, for example to dust, food, pollen, pollution, or animal fur.
- Bathing habits are too long.
- Sweat frequently.
- Dry and cold weather.
- Scratching habits.
- Clothing or fabrics made of synthetic materials or wool.
- Use of soaps and cleaners made from detergents and harsh chemicals.
- Stress.
- Read More: Itchy Skin Like Burning May Be Affected by Eczema, Know The Cause
Keep in mind, factors that can trigger recurrence and worsen dry eczema vary in each person. To determine what are the trigger factors for the recurrence of dry eczema, it is necessary to have an examination by a dermatologist.
Dry Eczema Treatment You Can Do at Home
To help reduce itching and other symptoms of other dry eczema, you can try the following steps:
Avoid scratching - When eczema is dry, the perceived itching will certainly make the body want to scratch it. But this should not be used, yes. The more scratched, the more damaged and irritated the skin will be. Even germs from the fingers can cause skin infections that can aggravate dry eczema.
As an alternative to overcoming itching, try giving a cold compress to the itchy skin. Cold compresses can be done for 10-15 minutes and repeated as many as 2-3 times a day.
Use a moisturiser - Dry eczema can cause skin to crack and dry. To prevent a recurrence of symptoms and keep the skin healthy, it is important to use a skin moisturizer regularly. Apply moisturiser after bathing, when the skin starts to feel dry, and before bed.
Choose a moisturiser formulated for dry and sensitive skin, and choose one with few chemicals. Usually the moisturiser is labeled 'hypoallergenic', on the packaging.
If needed, you can also use a humidifier or humidifier indoors, especially an air-conditioned room, to keep the skin moist.
Recognize and avoid the triggering factor of a recurrence of atheist eczema - Each atheist eczema sufferer has different symptom recurrence factors. Therefore, it is important to know the originating factor, in order to be avoided. If it is difficult to determine what the triggering factor is, consult a doctor.
Avoid bathing for too long - Lingering bath habits can make skin dry and per easily damaged. This can be one of the trigger factors for recurrence or worsening dry eczema. So, try to shower for 5-10 minutes only.
When bathing, use soap that is soft, contains no dyes, fragrances, or antibacterial substances, because it can irritate the skin. To relieve the symptoms of eczema, you can also use oatmeal powder for bathing (colloidal oatmeal).
Treatment from Doctors to Overcome Dry Eczema
If the treatment is not effective at alleviating the symptoms of dry eczema that you are experiencing, consult a doctor immediately. It is also recommended that you check with your doctor immediately if eczema has caused you difficulty sleeping or triggered a skin infection accompanied by symptoms of pain, fever, and pus.
After carrying out an examination and ascertaining what causes dry eczema, the doctor can provide appropriate treatment. Usually the doctor will treat dry eczema with the following medications:
- Corticosteroids.
- Antihistamines, to relieve itching.
- Immunosupresan drugs, such as corticosteroids and tacrolimus.
- Antibiotics, if there is a skin infection.
- Read More: Identify Symptoms And Various Diseases of The Skin
The drugs are given in the form of ointments or creams, but the doctor may also give you a drink. The choice of doker prescribed drugs will be adjusted to the severity of the symptoms of dry eczema that appear.
In addition to drugs, dry eczema is also treated with another method, namely phototherapy. This therapy utilizes artificial ultraviolet light emitted to the skin. Usually, treatment with phototherapy is performed when the prescribed drug is ineffective or eczema relapses after treatment.
Dry eczema is a lost-arising disease. Symptoms can rarely recur, it can also be frequent, with varying severity. To determine how severe dry eczema is and what treatment is needed, you should consult a dermatologist.
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