Eczema Treatment Melbourne

In order to understand eczema, it is important to know the science behind your skin. Your skin is made from a balance of water and fats. As an external ‘shield,’ it protects the inside of your body from the outside world. Although this shield is robust for many people, the skin of people with eczema lacks the fats and oils required to retain moisture. This weakened skin barrier creates a greater risk of drying, cracking, and invasion by irritants or infection.

Eczema is also the result of a disbalance within your immune system, the organs and cells in your body that actively fight off infection. In the case of eczema, your immune system goes into overdrive. Due to the nature of the condition, it can be challenging to bring your eczema under control. This means many people need careful and considered eczema treatment by an eczema specialist. Although nobody knows the exact cause of eczema, we can usually link it to a family history of eczema or allergic conditions.

Eczema most commonly appears on the face, eyelids, hands, legs, scalp and lips. It is often called “the itch that rashes” because the itching frequently begins before the rash appears. If you have a rash that won’t go away, gets crusty or forms a pus-filled blister, you should seek professional advice.

Eczema is a non-contagious, long-term condition that currently has no cure. If you live with eczema, it may affect your confidence and comfort in your skin. However, there are ways to manage it with advice from an eczema specialist. Evidence-based treatment will help you feel in control of your triggers and confident in your skin. A dermatologist (skin, hair loss and nail specialist) is the best person to provide eczema treatment and help identify your triggers. Your eczema specialist will be able to examine your skin and then advise the best method of treatment. This may be different for every person. Proper eczema treatment requires strengthening and protecting your skin barrier, preventing infection, and managing triggers.

For mild to moderate eczema, the main goal of treatment is to provide relief from itchiness, calm inflammation, and strengthen your skin barrier. The first step usually involves a medical moisturiser or cream that is suitable for your skin. Eczema creams keep your skin hydrated to prevent drying and cracking as well as improve its protective function. Some eczema creams require a prescription, as they are made with specialised active ingredients.
 
For best results, patients can use topical steroids in short bursts to reduce redness and stop itchiness. It is important to seek the advice of an eczema specialist before using a topical steroid for eczema treatment. You will then be able to effectively manage flare-ups. Additionally, it should be prescribed at the correct strength to match your age, eczema severity and affected areas.

For some patients with moderate to severe eczema, light treatments are not enough to achieve results. Your eczema specialist may advise a more advanced treatment plan to give you relief from your symptoms. This can include:

• Medication – Medications such as biologics work to calm your immune system. They only target specific parts of your immune system to create the desired effects. In particular, it targets the parts that play a major role in the onset of eczema. At our clinic, we are specialists in this area of medicine.
• Phototherapy (light therapy)– This uses ultraviolet (UV) light to reduce inflammation in your skin. UV light therapy targets the white blood cells to calm inflamed areas and treat skin rashes. It also targets skin lesions and reduces thickening, making your skin look and feel smoother. Results appear slowly, which means patients see improvements after several weeks of this eczema treatment, usually performed two to three times per week. It results in less itchiness and irritation, and the eczema will slowly clear as treatment continues. Your eczema specialist will advise if this is the right treatment for you.

It is important to understand your triggers. What causes a flare-up in one person may have no effect on another. Eczema symptoms may appear for weeks to months before fading again, which can make it difficult for you to track and manage it on your own. Common triggers can include:

• Allergens (such as dust mites, animal hair, pets, mould or pollen)
• Stress
• Bacterial infection
• Certain fabrics
• Harsh chemicals and smoking
• Scented products
• Certain foods such as fruits, eggs, nuts, and preservatives
• Hot or cold weather conditions

Triggers can depend on your skin type and the severity of your eczema. You may find that hot showers or baths can aggravate the skin, as well as certain clothing and soap products. Your eczema specialist can help you identify your triggers in order to outline the best path to eczema treatment.

Some people have dry, red, and itchy skin that does not respond well to eczema treatment. In such cases, it may be that the problem is not eczema. It may be a different condition called psoriasis. Psoriasis, as well as rashes and fungal infections, can present similar symptoms to eczema. As a result, the first step to treating your skin is an accurate diagnosis by an eczema specialist.

Like eczema, psoriasis causes patches of red and itchy skin. Neither condition is contagious, but both can cause a large amount of day to day discomfort. An eczema specialist may know the difference, but to the ordinary person, it can be hard to tell. The biggest difference is that they are caused by different issues in the body. Psoriasis is an autoimmune issue that causes the cells to grow too quickly. On the other hand, the causes of eczema are harder to pinpoint. Eczema is caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, allergies, diet, and even the weather.

Another difference is the degree of itchiness. Although both conditions can cause severe itching, the itching caused by psoriasis tends to be milder. Also, while eczema tends to affect children and young people, psoriasis tends to arise in adults.

Eczema can cause a number of issues, depending on the person and the extent of their condition. Your eczema specialist will tailor your eczema treatment to your personal skin needs. The risks of having eczema can include the following:

• The skin can become cracked and broken
• Skin bumps and blisters can leak fluid
• This can lead to skin infections
• People with eczema are at a higher risk of developing cold sores
• Infections can cause warts, which can take a long time to resolve
• Ongoing skin issues can lead to scars
• Children with eczema can be vulnerable to bullying

If you are concerned about your symptoms, it is important to seek advice from your eczema specialist. Following your eczema treatment advice will reduce your symptoms and help restore confidence in your skin.

Eczema is different for every patient. While some only need a topical eczema treatment, others need a more in-depth treatment plan. It is vital to seek the advice of an eczema specialist who will assess your skin and offer quality advice.

At ODE Dermatology, we take a patient-focused approach to treatment, ensuring you get the best results possible. We take a number of factors into account when outlining a treatment plan, such as your personal health and family history. We also consider the severity of your eczema and how much it affects your daily life. After examining your skin, we will have a better idea of the causes and triggers, as well as the best approach to treating your eczema.

If you are looking for an eczema specialist in Melbourne, our clinic uses the most modern and advanced methods to produce fantastic results for every patient. Book a consultation to learn how you can benefit from specialised eczema treatment.