A Guide to Eczema: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

A Guide to Eczema: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition affecting many people worldwide. Has your skin become dry, itchy, red, or bumpy? That may be eczema. You may even experience blisters. Though eczema is a common skin condition, it is not contagious. If you are currently having trouble with eczema, not to worry! We’re here to give you insight into its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is a condition that weakens your skin’s barrier function, which plays a significant role in helping your skin retain moisture and prevents outside elements from affecting your skin. That’s why with eczema, you will experience red, itchy, and inflamed skin. This skin condition can occur in people of all ages, but it is most common in children.

Causes of Eczema

Though the cause of eczema is still unknown, some experts believe that eczema could be due to both genetics and environmental factors. Other studies have suggested that people with eczema may carry a gene variation that affects their skin’s ability to provide protection. When they have a weak barrier function, their skin cannot retain moisture and protect itself from bacteria, irritants, allergens, and other environmental factors that can trigger the symptoms of eczema. Therefore, if you have a family history of eczema, you may be at risk of developing the skin condition yourself. You may also develop eczema if you have a history of allergies, hay fever, or asthma.

Symptoms of Eczema

The symptoms of eczema you may experience will depend on the severity of your condition. Common symptoms include:

  • Red, itchy, and inflamed skin
  • Dry, scaly patches of skin
  • Blisters that may ooze and crust over
  • Thickened, cracked, or leathery skin
  • Discolouration of the skin
  • Pain and discomfort

Often, symptoms of eczema may be mistaken as psoriasis. Learn the difference between eczema and psoriasis so you can pursue the right treatment options.

What are the Different Eczema Treatment Options?

While there is no cure for eczema, several treatment options are available to help manage the symptoms and prevent flare-ups. Here are some effective ways to treat eczema:

1. Avoid Triggers

Identifying and avoiding your triggers is essential in managing your eczema. Triggers can include irritants, such as soaps, detergents, and certain fabrics, as well as allergens, such as pollen and dust mites.

When you avoid these triggers, you can reduce the likelihood of inflammation, itching, and flare-ups. Triggers can differ from person-to-person, so you must pay attention to your body and what triggers your eczema.

2. Take Warm Baths

One of the most effective ways to treat eczema is to give it the moisture it needs through bathing. Soaking in a warm bath can help soothe the skin and even reduce itching caused by the condition. However, avoid using hot water as it can dry out your skin and make your eczema worse. Once you’ve finished taking a bath, gently pat your skin dry and apply a moisturiser to lock in moisture. 

3. Seek Professional Help

If your eczema is severe or not responding to treatment, it may be best to seek professional help. A dermatologist can help identify triggers and prescribe medication to manage symptoms. Every patient’s eczema case is different. That’s why getting help from a dermatologist allows you to get the treatment that will best suit your skin’s condition. 

4. Practise Good Skin Care

Having a good skincare routine keeps your skin clean and well-moisturised, which is essential in managing eczema. The products you use also play a key role in your skincare. It’s recommended that you use fragrance-free soaps and moisturisers to clean and moisturise your skin as scented soaps may cause skin irritation and worsen your eczema.

If you’re looking for a good serum available in Singapore, you can opt for Otherism’s Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Anti-Ageing Serum. Our EGF serum comes with borage oil, which helps in reducing inflammation and soothing skin irritations caused by eczema. It also comes with ceramide, which is an ingredient that can help lock in moisture and protect the outer layer of your skin from bacteria and other eczema triggers. Moreover, you can get other skincare benefits from our serum, such as enhanced cell regeneration and better absorption of other skincare products for improved results. See the effects of our EGF serum for yourself when you order online from our shop.

Get Our EGF Serum in Singapore to Help Restore Your Skin

Manage your eczema better and nourish your skin with Otherism’s range of skincare products. Our EGF Anti-Ageing Serum is made fresh weekly and can be used in professional settings, including stage make-up, skin care after minimally invasive procedures with aesthetician and more. This product is suitable for all skin types and is a more reasonably priced option compared to your usual EGF Serum but with the same excellent benefits.

Otherism also has other skincare products in our catalogue, like our No-Pain Retinol and Potent Lightening Lotion. For more skincare tips, check out our other blogs, like our guide for the top 3 causes of skin ageing. Should you want to know more about our products, you can contact us today.

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