How to Manage Dry Skin and Eczema

Let’s talk about dry skin and eczema. As we enter the fall season, many become more susceptible to dry skin and eczema flares.

We do not know exactly why certain people develop eczema, but we do know that many things contribute to the development of symptoms. There can be underlying genetic factors where one’s skin can have less protective proteins for their skin barrier and are more likely to have an inflammatory response. But things like stress, seasonal changes, environmental exposures, and hormones can also be linked to eczema flares.

While eczema cannot be cured, there are treatments available that may help manage this condition.

How to take care of your skin:

• Regular baths or showers with lukewarm water, use gentle cleansers (like Dove Sensitive Skin Bar) only near the genitals and armpits, and avoid physical exfoliants like loofahs.
• Moisturize! After you get out of the bath/shower, pat the skin dry and apply fragrance-free moisturizer to the entire body while still slightly wet. Use products with ceramides and lipids; these help restore the skin barrier. A few of our favorite brands include Aquaphor, CeraVe, and LaRoche Posay.
• All skincare products should be fragrance-free and hypoallergenic; wear loose-fitting cotton clothing at night. Keep an eczema flare diary to help connect possible triggers.

Want to learn more about Eczema and at-home treatments? Read Dr. Tareen’s WikiHow article on her top tips on ways to relieve discomfort from Eczema!

If your eczema symptoms are not well controlled with the above recommendations, we offer many treatment options at Tareen Dermatology. We often will prescribe topical steroids to manage symptoms or recommend additional skin care hacks. A few of our favorites include wet wraps, which help medications penetrate thick, itchy skin, or diluted bleach baths, which help treat and prevent secondary infections. We also are one of the few Twin Cities offices offering light therapy, a natural anti-inflammatory treatment to help push eczema symptoms into remission.