Eczema

Eczema damages your skin’s natural protective barrier, making you more prone to rashes and irritation. The board-certified team at Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center in Huntington Beach, California, helps you manage and reduce eczema flare-ups with evidence-based topicals, oral medications, and procedures. Schedule a skin evaluation online or over the phone for professional eczema care today.

What is eczema?

Eczema is a common skin condition that results from a weakened skin barrier. Your skin and underlying tissues are protected from irritants and allergens while keeping moisture in your skin. 

A dysfunctional barrier makes your skin more sensitive to outside factors that cause irritation. Eczema also causes your skin to dry out because it has trouble retaining moisture. 

Your eczema might flare up in response to specific triggers, including stress, weather changes, allergens, or detergents. Recognizing your triggers helps you prevent and manage future skin flare-ups. 

Eczema causes skin flare-ups that look like rashes. However, not every rash is eczema. During your visit to Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center, the team examines your skin and might suggest allergy testing and other strategies to diagnose you. 

What are the symptoms of eczema?

Your eczema symptoms can present nearly anywhere on your body. However, the most common areas for adult eczema are the hands, elbows, knees, and neck. When your eczema flares up, you might experience the following: 

• Dry skin
• Itching
• Redness
• Bumps
• Flakiness
• Scaling
• Crusting
• Swelling

It’s hard not to scratch your skin with eczema because of the itching, but refrain from doing so. Scratching your skin can cause cracks and breakage, which allow bacteria in and can lead to infections. The Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center team can prescribe antibiotics if you get a skin infection because of eczema. 

How can I manage my eczema?

The team at Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center evaluates your skin to diagnose eczema so they can recommend suitable treatments. They can help you identify triggers so you can avoid them. While eczema is incurable, treatments can manage or reduce your symptoms. Your personalized treatment for eczema might include:

• Oral corticosteroids
• Topical corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressants
• Light therapy

You might also benefit from gentle home care, such as taking a lukewarm bath during an eczema flare-up or applying gentle moisturizer several times daily. The Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center team helps you select moisturizers, detergents, and other products that won’t irritate your skin. 

Eczema can go into remission with an effective prevention plan. Call Z-Dermatology & Skin Wellness Center or schedule an appointment online for personalized preventive care.