Eczema affects 12% of children and 7% of adults, with one-third developing symptoms severe enough to affect their quality of life. The experienced physicians at Premier Allergy and Asthma develop treatment plans that improve your symptoms and can help prevent or diminish flare-ups. If you suffer from a skin rash or inflammation, schedule an appointment online or call one of the offices in Dublin, Westerville, Canal Winchester, Lancaster, Marysville, Delaware, New Albany, Hilliard, Grove City, and Grandview, Ohio.
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that most often develops in young children. Up to 90% of all cases of eczema are diagnosed by age 5, and the condition may continue during the teen years and throughout adulthood. When eczema is diagnosed in adulthood, it’s a chronic or recurring problem.
Patients with eczema have a problem with their skin barrier, which normally keeps their skin hydrated and prevents harmful bacteria from gaining access. If you don’t have a healthy skin barrier, you’re vulnerable to inflammation, infections, and eczema.
While most patients develop an itchy patch of skin, eczema causes a variety of symptoms, including:
Symptoms can appear anywhere on your body, but their location tends to change with age. Children and infants usually develop symptoms on their knees, elbows, cheeks, and necks. Older children and adults are more likely to have symptoms inside their elbows, behind their knees, and on their feet and hands.
Eczema may occasionally flare-up, then go into remission until an irritant triggers another bout of symptoms. Each patient has their own triggers, but these are some of the most common:
If you have allergies, your allergens may trigger eczema flare-ups.
Your doctor at Premier Allergy and Asthma develops a comprehensive treatment plan that includes:
Frequently applying a moisturizer and using gentle skin care products can protect and strengthen your skin barrier and help prevent eczema symptoms and flare-ups.
Your doctor at Premier Allergy and Asthma helps you identify your triggers and develops a plan for avoiding them. If allergies are suspected, you undergo allergy testing and your doctor may recommend immunotherapy or allergy shots. As immunotherapy relieves your allergies, it also reduces eczema flare-ups.
Your doctor may prescribe oral and/or topical medications to relieve your symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe eczema may quality for advanced biologic medications that treat symptoms.
If you develop an itchy skin rash, call Premier Allergy and Asthma or schedule an appointment online.
