What Should I Know About Eczema?

November 2, 2021

While eczema typically isn’t very painful, it can be extremely annoying to deal with. This form of dry, cracked skin seems to always flare up at the most inconvenient of times and is something that many people deal with throughout life.

While eczema can’t really be cured, it can be managed. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Farragut provide some further helpful information on this skin condition below, so keep reading.

What Exactly Is Eczema?

Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become itchy, inflamed or have a rash-like appearance. While eczema is most often referred to as atopic dermatitis, there are technically seven types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis.

Eczema is very common, as over 31 million Americans have some form of eczema, according to the CDC. Eczema can begin during childhood, adolescence or adulthood, and it can range from mild to severe. It’s not contagious, and the core cause is still unknown by experts.

Common Eczema Symptoms

Itch
Dry, sensitive skin
Inflamed, discolored skin
Rough, leathery or scaly patches of skin
Oozing or crusting
Areas of swelling

Can Eczema Be Cured?

Unfortunately, no, there is no known cure for eczema, but there are treatments. Depending on age and eczema severity, these treatments include over-the-counter medications, prescription topical medications and other natural/alternative treatments.

While eczema can’t really be cured, eczema flare-ups can be managed and prevented in most cases. Limiting irritants like cigarette smoke, certain soaps and household cleaners and fragrances can reduce the severity of eczema flare-ups and can make chronic eczema more bearable. We’ve listed some additional ways to limit flare-ups below.