Eczema

The award-winning dermatology team at UT Southwestern Medical Center uses the latest therapies and techniques to treat eczema, an umbrella term for a group of chronic conditions that affect the skin.

Our physicians and their teams have advanced training and expertise to help our patients manage eczema.

What Is Eczema?

Most common in children, eczema may continue into adulthood. People may develop it at any age.

Long periods of remission may be followed by unexpected flare-ups. Although it is not contagious, eczema may make people self-conscious and uncomfortable. In serious cases, it may interfere with sleep and day-to-day activities.

The expert dermatology team at UT Southwestern uses the latest techniques and therapies to treat and manage eczema from infancy into adulthood. No matter what triggers eczema, our board-certified physicians can help manage and minimize its symptoms.

What Are Eczema Causes and Risk Factors?

We don’t know what causes eczema, but scientists believe it results from a combination of genetic and environmental components. Factors that increase the likelihood of having eczema include:

• Genetic predisposition: Eczema runs in families. Scientists theorize that a deficiency of a protein called filaggrin, which helps keep the skin moist, may be the genetic link.
• A sensitive immune system: People with asthma, hay fever, and allergies are more likely to develop eczema.
• Environmental factors: Many household products contain irritants that can trigger eczema. These include certain soaps and detergents, scratchy fabrics, and metals such as nickel. Exposure to dry air, smoke, dust mites, and airborne pollutants may also cause eczema flare-ups.
• Stress: Emotional disturbances such as stress cause some people to experience flare-ups.

What Are Symptoms of Eczema?

Eczema symptoms may appear on many different parts of the body, especially the hands, feet, cheeks, ears, lips, neck, elbows, ankles, or knees. Common symptoms include:

• Rash on swollen skin (may appear red, pink, brown, gray, or purple)
• Dry, cracked, or oozing skin
• Itchy skin, also called pruritus
• Small bumps on the skin
• Darkened skin around the eyes
• Disturbed sleep

How Is Eczema Diagnosed?

To diagnose eczema, we will ask questions about the patient’s medical and genetic history and examine the affected skin. We may inquire about the patient’s home environment and habits to determine whether the skin may be reacting to environmental triggers.

Because eczema symptoms often resemble those of other skin conditions, such as psoriasis, we may also recommend one or more diagnostic evaluations, including:

• Allergy tests
• Blood tests
• Skin biopsy to pinpoint the type of eczema

How Is Eczema Treated?

Treatments that can help manage or minimize eczema symptoms include:

• Regular moisturizer application: Using physician-approved moisturizer several times a day, especially after bathing, keeps skin from becoming dry and prone to flare-ups.
• Medicated creams: Prescription treatments such as topical steroids may be recommended to alleviate more severe symptoms.
• Phototherapy: Also known as light therapy, this treatment uses exposure to ultraviolet light to minimize eczema symptoms.
• Immunosuppressant drugs: Medications such as methotrexate, which can be injected or taken orally, suppress the body’s immune response to alleviate itching.
• Biologics: Injectable biologics, also called biosimilars or biologic response modifiers, minimize inflammation by targeting different parts of the immune system.
• Wet dressings: Often used in severe cases, this treatment uses layers of gauze to adhere corticosteroid cream to the skin to relieve symptoms.
• Avoidance of triggers: Avoiding environmental stimuli that have caused previous bouts with eczema minimizes the risk of flare-ups.