If you think you have eczema or have already been diagnosed, you may have questions about the cause or treatment options. Dr. Tamara Moss of Moss Dermatology helps those in the Forest Hills, NY area manage dermatological conditions such as eczema.

Symptoms of Eczema

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis, or eczema, include itchy red patches of inflamed skin. These can be mild to severe in intensity. Symptoms may also include thicker skin with blisters that ooze or have dry and scaling skin. Scratching makes the symptoms worse. Any of these symptoms should be seen by a qualified dermatologist so you can get started with a diagnosis and work toward treatment options.

Eczema Causes

Causes may include an overactive immune system or skin barrier dysfunction in the individual. There can be a genetic history of allergies, asthma, or eczema that can make your chances of developing this skin condition higher. You may be around environmental triggers, such as irritants, allergens, pollutants, and even weather changes, or there may be a bacterial connection to your predisposition. Causes can be lessened by distancing yourself from them and taking proactive measures.

After a thorough history and conversation with the dermatologist, you may be able to pinpoint the cause of your eczema, which may or may not help with treatment options.

Treatment Options for Eczema

Treatment can range from moisturizing, increasing hydration, and antihistamines to control itching, to topical medications like corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Antibiotics may be needed if there is a bacterial agent, or even phototherapy for symptom reduction.

Lifestyle changes, such as trigger avoidance, applying wet wraps over moisturized skin, fragrance-free cleansers, and body wash, switching to shorter lukewarm baths and showers, and better stress management, can help with home remedies for those with eczema.

Typically, your doctor will want to try a variety of options, but trigger avoidance and lifestyle changes will be pivotal in helping lower your symptom outbreak so that any medications can work better and easier in your system.

If you would like to get more information or schedule a consultation with Dr. Tamara Moss of Moss Dermatology, give their Forest Hills, NY, office a call at (718) 268-3161.