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Eczema
Eczema Specialist
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes persistent, itchy rashes. Although it affects people of all ages, it is especially common in children. At Rapaport Dermatology, board-certified dermatologist Vicki Rapaport, MD, offers advanced skin care solutions and effective management strategies for patients of all ages with eczema. Call your nearest office in Beverly Hills or Culver City, California, today, or click online to schedule a visit to let us expertly treat your eczema.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a bothersome skin condition that causes extremely itchy, sometimes painful rashes. Symptoms often get worse at night, causing an overwhelming urge to itch that makes it hard to sleep; a severe eczema flareup can cause intense itching that breaks the skin and leaves it prone to infection.
Eczema is often thought of as a childhood skin disorder because more than 90% of people who have the condition developed it before their fifth birthday; even so, plenty of older kids, teens, and adults have eczema, too.
Do Eczema Symptoms Change With Age?
Eczema looks different in infants, children, and adults. Infants who develop eczema before their first birthday typically get dry, red, scaly patches on their cheeks, forehead, and scalp; toddlers who develop the condition after their second birthday are more likely to get rashes behind their knees, in the creases of their elbows, or along their neck, wrists, or ankles.
Even though only about half of the people who developed eczema as children continue to have symptoms as adults, those who do are more likely to experience dry, itchy rashes on their faces, necks, or around their eyes; they are also more likely to develop bigger rashes over larger areas of skin.
What Causes Eczema?
Eczema is associated with a genetic variation that affects the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Many children with eczema have a family history of the disorder and/or a personal or family history of hay fever, asthma, or allergies. In some children, food allergies appear to trigger the condition.
How Can I Manage My Eczema?
When eczema persists into adolescence, it is much more likely to continue into adulthood. But even though adult eczema is considered a long-term skin disease that cannot be cured, it can be controlled with the right approach.
Getting proper treatment and adhering to an anti-eczema skin care routine is often all it takes to reduce or eliminate symptoms, avoid infections, and prevent flare-ups.
An effective eczema treatment aims to:
- Ease inflammation, itching, and pain
- Clear infections and prevent new ones
- Gently loosen and remove scaly lesions
- Prevent new lesions from forming
Depending on the nature and severity of your condition, the Rapaport Dermatology of Beverly Hills team may recommend oral antibiotics, topical anti-itch medication, anti-inflammatory injectable medications, or light therapy.
If you are ready to get your eczema under control, call your nearest Rapaport Dermatology office or schedule an appointment online today.
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