Dry, sore, itchy skin caused by eczema can be uncomfortable and distressing to live with. While the condition is more common in children, according to the National Eczema Society, eczema affects one in 10 adults in the UK.
Although there’s currently no cure, the good news is that taking various steps, such as tailoring your clothing and avoiding scented products, can help you manage symptoms. Some people also find that their symptoms become less severe over time.
With that said, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eczema, including symptoms, causes, and ways to cope.
What is eczema?
Eczema, also called dermatitis, is a common, non-contagious skin condition that causes dry, red, itchy, and irritated skin.
There are different types of eczema and the type you have can determine the kind of rash you develop and where on the body it occurs.
Eczema typically develops during infancy or early childhood and can persist into adulthood. However, people of any age can develop eczema.
Eczema is sometimes confused with psoriasis, but the two conditions differ. While eczema appears as areas of skin that may be dry, sore, or cracked, psoriasis usually causes distinct patches of dry, crusty skin that have a clearly defined border. Similarly, eczema is characterised by very itchy skin, but this isn’t the case for everyone with psoriasis.
What are the different types of eczema?
There are various different types of eczema, which we’ll cover below…
Atopic dermatitis
The most common form of eczema. It causes dry, itchy skin that’s often paired with a red rash.
Contact dermatitis
Caused by triggers that irritate the skin or an allergic reaction.
Nummular dermatitis
Appears as red, round, scaly, itchy patches on the skin. More commonly occurs on the lower legs and is often caused by a break in the skin and a tendency towards very dry skin.
Dyshidrotic dermatitis
Affects the fingers, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. It causes scaly, itchy patches of skin that become red, cracked, and painful. Dyshidrotic dermatitis is more common in women.
Stasis dermatitis
Typically appears on the lower legs and is caused by poor blood flow.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
The most common symptom of eczema is dry, rough, itchy, flaky, inflamed, and irritated skin. Depending on your skin tone, eczema may appear red, grey, or dark brown. It’s typical for symptoms to go through phases of flaring up and being less noticeable.
Eczema can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly affects the arms, inner elbows, cheeks, scalp, and backs of knees.
Other symptoms of eczema can include…
- Red or brownish-grey patches
- Small raised bumps that may produce fluid when scratched
- Thickened, scaly-feeling skin
- Sore, raw-feeling skin
Alongside uncomfortable physical symptoms, research has found that eczema can also increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. One reason for this is that many people report that their symptoms are worse at night, which can make it more difficult to sleep. And studies have long associated a lack of sleep with an increased risk of mental health conditions.
Scratching inflamed skin can also make eczema worse and increase the risk of infections that require antibiotic treatment.
However, the good news is that it’s fairly common for eczema to get better with age.
What can cause eczema?
The cause of eczema isn’t yet completely understood. However, factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing it include…
- An overactive immune system
- Having family members who currently or previously have had eczema – it’s possible to inherit genes that make your skin more susceptible to the conditions
- Other allergic conditions, such as asthma, hay fever, and food allergies – for example, around 20% of people with eczema also have asthma
- Studies suggest that some people with eczema produce less of a protein called filaggrin, which is responsible for helping the skin remain healthy and moisturised
While not a root cause, it’s also common for eczema to flare up when the skin is exposed to external triggers. According to the NHS, there are a range of triggers that can cause eczema flare-ups. These include…
- Irritants like soaps, detergents, shampoos, washing up liquid, and bubble bath
- Temperature changes – very hot and very cold weather, humidity, and sweating as a result of exercise can cause eczema flare-ups
- Hormonal changes – women may experience eczema flare-ups during times when their hormone levels are changing, for example, during pregnancy or at certain points of menopause
- Stress
- Allergens, including mould, dust, pollen, and dust mites
- Foods that increase inflammation in the body, for example, processed meat and commercial baked goods
- Hormonal changes – some women may find that their symptoms worsen in the days leading up to their period or during pregnancy
- Wearing certain materials, including wool and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester
How is eczema treated?
There’s currently no cure for eczema. However, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms, and many cases improve naturally over time too.
Treatment will depend on the type and severity of the eczema, but can include a combination of medications and lifestyle changes.
Sometimes, mild eczema can be managed at home by keeping skin moisturised and avoiding triggers.
However, in other cases, medications such as antihistamines, oral medications, topical corticosteroids, and ointments (anti-inflammatory medications applied directly to the skin) may be needed.
It’s important to speak to your GP about treatment options if…
- Over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping
- Symptoms are making it difficult to sleep and carry out everyday tasks
- Your skin is blistering, peeling, scaly, or weeping fluids
Even after an area of skin affected by eczema has healed, it’s important to continue looking after it, because it may easily become irritated again.
6 tips for coping with eczema
Eczema can be difficult to live with. However, there are things you can do at home to help alleviate discomfort and keep symptoms under control.
These include…
1. Taking steps to avoid the itch-scratch cycle
This study found that among adults with moderate-to-severe eczema, 73% reported itching as their worst symptom.
At least some of the itching associated with eczema is the result of scratching. Research shows that scratching areas affected by eczema damages the skin even further and causes the release of histamines – chemicals that, among other things, can cause further itching and swelling.
For this reason, one of the most useful things you can do when it comes to managing eczema symptoms is to avoid itching. The good news is that there are plenty of things that can help with this.
This includes keeping your nails short and skin moisturised, and using cold therapy (cold therapy helps to override the itch signal). In this study, people with eczema who used a cold therapy device experienced less itching than those who didn’t. Some people also find it useful to have a cold shower before bed or wear eczema gloves at night, when itchiness tends to be more intense.
For further guidance, the National Eczema Society has a free booklet on how to control eczema-related itching.
2. Consider whether your diet is playing a role
Diet plays a significant role in the health of our skin, so identifying any foods that may contribute to eczema flare-ups can be beneficial.
Food allergies are considered an official related health condition of eczema. But some people also experience food sensitivities or intolerances that can cause their eczema to flare up. Some of the most common diet-related eczema triggers include added sugar, dairy, wheat, and eggs.
However, whether a person has food allergies and intolerances or not, making healthy diet swaps and basing what you eat around whole foods is still a good idea.
Dr. Peter Lio, assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University in Chicao says, “Many patients find that when they eat a ‘cleaner’ diet, everything gets better. With this as a background, maybe a month or two after, adults can then experiment with excluding foods that they think may be contributing to flares.”
If you’re unsure where to start, research has found that an increased intake of anti-inflammatory foods and avoidance of those that increase inflammation – such as processed foods with added sugar – can be particularly helpful.
Note: It’s important to speak to your GP before eliminating any foods from your diet to make sure you aren’t at risk of any nutritional deficiencies.
3. Keep your skin moisturised
When you have eczema, keeping your skin moisturised is key. There are three types of moisturisers: creams, lotions, and ointments, and they’re classified by the amount of water in them. Generally speaking, the higher the oil content, the better the moisturiser for eczema.
Ointments contain the most oil and are effective at locking in moisture – though creams, with the second highest oil content, can be a good choice if you dislike the greasy feel of ointments. Lotions tend to contain mostly water and have the lowest amount of water, and because they evaporate quickly, aren’t usually very effective for eczema.
For further guidance, check out this guide to moisturisers and lotions for eczema from the National Eczema Association.
4. Consider using natural remedies
Some people find that applying natural remedies – including aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil to the skin – helps with the severity of their symptoms.
For example, we know from research that aloe vera is rich in antioxidants, supports wound healing, and helps the skin retain moisture. This study found that aloe vera and olive oil combination cream was more effective than steroid cream for treating eczema.
Note: It’s important to perform a patch test before using any new products by applying a small amount to the skin to check for irritation.
5. Avoid wearing fabrics that irritate the skin
Many people with eczema find that certain fabrics – particularly wool and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester – can irritate their skin. So, your choice of clothing can make a significant difference to how comfortable you feel.
Cotton, silk, and bamboo are among the most eczema-friendly clothing materials – partly because they’re lightweight and breathable.
Head over to Everyday Health for more tips on what to wear when you have eczema. Eczema Clothing also sells a range of specially designed clothing for people with itchy skin.
6. Take hold of stress
According to the National Eczema Association, people with eczema have overactive areas of the brain which cause them to produce more of the stress hormone, cortisol. And evidence shows that stress is a common trigger for eczema flare-ups.
So, it’s unsurprising that taking steps to reduce stress can help to alleviate symptoms.
For example, studies have found that mindfulness meditation – which encourages you to become hyper-aware of your senses and surroundings – can be effective at reducing the urge to itch by deactivating the areas of the brain that trigger the sensation.
You’ll find plenty of ideas for how to de-stress in our articles; 9 simple stress-relieving activities and 7 tips for coping with stress and anxiety.
Final thoughts…
Eczema can be uncomfortable and distressing to live with. And, while there’s currently no cure, there are plenty of remedies and treatments that may help to relieve symptoms. It’s also not unusual for the condition to improve by itself over time either.
For further reading, head over to the general health section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from healthy heart tips to important health checks for over 50s.
Do you have any more useful tips for living with eczema? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
