5 Top Tips for Managing Eczema Flare-Ups

Eczema is a skin condition affecting millions, causing unpleasant symptoms that come and go. There’s no cure, but you can take steps to manage eczema flare-ups.

New York City residents struggling with eczema can turn to Dr. Javier Zelaya and the experienced Skinworks Dermatology team for help with this or other skin conditions.

Eczema facts

Eczema is a form of skin inflammation, or dermatitis, that affects the skin’s ability to protect the body and causes it to lose moisture. 

Types of eczema include:

• Atopic dermatitis: the most common form, often starts in childhood
• Contact dermatitis: results from allergic contact or chemical irritant
• Dyshidrotic eczema: blisters form on your hands and feet
• Neurodermatitis: thick, scaly, itchy patches that worsen when you scratch
• Nummular eczema: characterized by coin-shaped rashes and dry skin
• Seborrheic dermatitis: affects the scalp, causing dandruff-like flakes

Over 31 million people have eczema, and you can experience it at any age, including as many as 20% of infants.

Common symptoms during flare-ups

The timeframe for an eczema outbreak varies depending on the type. Still, during a flare-up, you can expect dry, flaky, itchy, and irritated skin affecting your arms, inner elbows, the back of your knees, cheeks, and/or scalp.

People amid more severe flare-ups can also experience:

• Intense itching
• Brownish-gray or red patches
• Small, raised, oozing bumps
• Crusted patches of ooze when infected
• Thickened, scaly skin
• Raw skin that feels sore

Symptoms can worsen at night, and scratching often exacerbates the condition. Avoid scratching if possible to lower the risk of infection.

5 tips to manage eczema flare-ups

To reduce the impact of symptoms during a flare-up, try the following:

Moisturizers

Keeping your skin moist is vital in alleviating symptoms. Use skin-sensitive lotions and creams to avoid the dryness and flakiness that are hallmarks of eczema.

Over-the-counter solutions

Drugstore products that can help alleviate eczema symptoms include petroleum jelly, hydrocortisone, melatonin, diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), and calamine lotion.

Ice packs

Cold compresses or ice packs can help soothe hot, red, swollen skin.

Baths

Sprinkling materials like baking soda and oatmeal in your bath can help ease skin irritation and retain moisture. Adding a small amount of bleach can reduce bacteria that cause infections.

Loose-fitting clothing

Cotton, loose-fitting clothes help reduce symptoms when you sleep. Also, consider using cotton sheets and hypoallergenic bedding if allergens contribute to your outbreaks.

If you need help dealing with the discomfort of eczema flare-ups, Dr. Zelaya and the Skinworks Dermatology team can help. Call the office in Maspeth, Chelsea, or Park Slope, or request your appointment online today.