ECZEMA
What Is It?
A red, scaly, itchy rash often involving face, arms, legs, and hands.
What Causes It?
Eczema is usually associated with a history of allergies, hay fever, or asthma, and can be further aggravated by stress.
How Do I Treat It?
OTC corticosteroid (cortisone) creams help reduce redness and itch, while OTC oral antihistamines (Zyrtec, Allegra, Benadryl) are also helpful at alleviating severe itching. And using fragrance free moisturizers (CereVe, Cetaphil) keeps skin from drying out, which further aggravates eczema.
What Happens If I Don’t?
The itchy nature of eczema leads to scratching, which only worsens the condition and may lead to infected open sores. Some cases can even get so severe that the itching may interrupt sleep and interfere with daily activity. Just like video games.
