Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that affects a huge number of people across the globe. Nearly 10% of people worldwide deal with eczema, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying for those who do struggle with it.

While eczema is typically a chronic condition for many, there are ways to limit the amount of flare-ups experienced. Our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team provides further helpful information below.

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is often referred to atopic dermatitis, which is a condition that makes the skin red and itchy. It’s common in children, but it can occur at any age.

Unfortunately, atopic dermatitis is long lasting and tends to flare periodically. We’ve listed the common symptoms of eczema below.

Common Symptoms of Eczema

• Dry skin
• Itching, which may be severe, especially at night
• Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp
• Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
• Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
• Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Will Eczema Go Away?

Eczema typically affects children the most, but most cases of atopic dermatitis, like we said earlier, are long-lasting. Additionally, there’s no known cure for eczema, and the rashes won’t simply go away if left untreated.

There are certain things that can cause eczema flare-ups, like cigarette smoke, certain soaps, household cleaners and fragrances. Limiting these irritants can reduce the severity of eczema flare-ups and can make chronic eczema more bearable. While chronic eczema is the most common type, there are other stages of this condition as well. We’ve listed them below.

Stages of Eczema

• Chronic. This is the most common stage of eczema, and it often develops in children before they’re 12 months old. Chronic eczema generally lasts over a lifetime with occasional flare-ups, although childhood eczema may improve with age.
• Acute. Short-term eczema may be the result of skin sensitivities after coming into contact with an irritating substance. Acute cases last just a few weeks as your skin heals.
• Subacute. This is part of the healing phase of eczema, which can still flare back up into a full rash if left untreated.

Tired of dealing with eczema? Our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team can help, so don’t hesitate to visit us!