Eczema affects more than 31 million people in the United States, resulting in dry, itchy, and scaly skin. Causing severe discomfort, eczema can affect you in any stage of life and result in blisters, rashes, and skin infections. Patricia Matheis, MD, at Wake Forest Dermatology in Wake Forest, North Carolina, specializes in health conditions affecting your skin and providing treatment options for different types of eczema. Call Wake Forest Dermatology or use the online booking tool today to schedule an appointment for your eczema.
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes dry and itchy skin. This typically progresses to rashes, scaly patches, blisters, and sometimes skin infections. Eczema can begin during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and range from mild to severe.
In addition to dry and itchy skin, common symptoms of eczema include:
You may experience periodic flare-ups of these symptoms, or your symptoms could clear up for several years. If your symptoms worsen, affecting your sleep and daily activities, or you notice signs of skin infection, such as red streaks, pus, or yellow scabs, visit Dr. Matheis at Wake Forest Dermatology as soon as possible.
At Wake Forest Dermatology, Dr. Matheis helps identify the causes of your symptoms and determines what type of eczema you’re experiencing. There are seven different types of eczema you can have, such as:
The most common form of eczema, this type typically occurs due to triggers in the environment, immune system issues, or atopic dermatitis running in your family.
This type of eczema comes in two forms: allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis is an immune system reaction to an irritant like metal or latex. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when a chemical or other substance irritates your skin.
Typically caused by allergies and frequently damp hands and feet, dyshidrotic eczema results in small blisters forming on your hands and feet. This affects women more often than men.
Nummular eczema causes round, coin-shaped spots to form on your skin and can be triggered by a reaction to an insect bite or by an allergic reaction to metals or chemicals.
This type of eczema only affects your hands and is triggered by exposure to chemicals. If you use chemicals for hairdressing, cleaning, health care, or laundry, you're at risk of developing hand eczema.
Considered a chronic form of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis typically affects your scalp and occurs due to an inflammatory reaction to a yeast that lives on your skin, called malassezia yeast.
In stasis dermatitis, you may experience swelling, aching, thick, and damaged veins, or open sores on your lower legs. You’re more likely to develop this type of eczema if you have blood flow problems in your lower legs.
In addition, all types of eczema are caused by dry skin. Therefore, you must keep your skin moisturized as much as possible.
When you come into Wake Forest Dermatology to receive treatment for eczema, Dr. Matheis takes the time to assess your skin condition and determine the best possible treatment method for you.
Depending on your age and the severity of your eczema, Dr. Matheis may prescribe medical-grade moisturizing creams, prescription topical medications, or antibiotics to treat skin infection. She may also suggest phototherapy, also known as light therapy, and cool compresses or cold therapy to relieve your symptoms.
To learn more about eczema diagnosis and treatment, call Wake Forest Dermatology or schedule an appointment online today.