4. How should I take care of my skin in general?
5. How should I use the ointments/creams that I was prescribed?
6. The ointments/creams that I was given are causing burning, is that normal?
7. How should I use the pills that I was given?
8. The pills I'm taking make me drowsy, is that normal?
9. My eczema is coming back, is that to be expected?
10. Some of the areas have a yellow scab, what is that?

1. What is eczema?
Simply put, eczema is a general term for dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin. This can range from a poison ivy-like reaction to irritation and many other forms of skin involvement.


2. Is all eczema the same?
No. All eczema is not the same. Many forms of eczema (poison ivy reactions, irritation reactions, etc.) are more temporary and usully do not come back after treatment unless you are re-exposed to the cause. Other types of eczema (atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis) tend to recur over time and while they may respond to treatment, you may be prone to flare again at another time.


3. What are the treatments for eczema?
The treatments for eczema include good skin care, topical medications, and at times pills to help with itching.


4. How should I take care of my skin in general?
Good routine skin care is critical in the successful management of eczema. You should bath every day but for LESS than 10 minutes using lukewarm water. You should use a mild soap while showering (Oil of Olay Complete Body wash, Dove, Basis, Lever 2000) and pat dry (not rub dry). Ideally, you should apply your prescription ointments/creams and/or moisturizer within 3 minutes of drying off to help lock in the moisture before it evaporates away leaving you more dry.


5. How should I use the ointments/creams that I was prescribed?
The topical medications you were given should be applied to the affected areas twice daily unless instructed differently. One of these times should be after bathing and should be applied within 3 minutes of drying off. You may have been given different medication for the body and areas like the face, groin, and armpits and you should pay close attention to use the proper medication for the proper body part.


6. The ointments/creams that I was given are causing burning, is that normal?
Some of the topical medications (mostly Protopic and Elidel) can cause slight burning the first few times you apply them. This is normal and you will get used to them after continued use.


7. How should I use the pills that I was given?
Most of the pills given for eczema are to help with itch. They are a class of medications called anti-histamines which help to block a chemical that causes itch in the skin. Most of these (Allegra, Zyrtec, Clarinex) are taken once a day unless instructed otherwise. Some of the medications should be taken at night (or during the day if instructed) as needed (Atarax). The pills only help with symptoms and are not a substitute for good skin care and the use of your topical ointments and creams.


8. The pills I'm taking make me drowsy, is that normal?
Some of the pills may cause drowsiness (mostly Atarax, Benadryl, and maybe Zyrtec). If this is a problem, please let your doctor know.


9. My eczema is coming back, is that to be expected?
Many forms of eczema (atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, hand eczema) tend to flare at times. This is normal and part of the process. Flares may be triggered by stress, a cold/illness, weather changes, etc. In the event of a flare, resume your medications and if this does not help, call your doctor for an appointment.


10. Some of the areas have a yellow scab, what is that?
Some times, the involved skin can become infected. This usually results in a yellowish crust or scab. If this is a possibility, call your doctor for a visit and antibiotics may be required to clear the skin.