Skin Condition on Facial Area: Avoidance Strategies, Remedies, and Additional Insights
In the realm of skin conditions, eczema is a common ailment that often presents with symptoms similar to dry, itchy rashes. However, it's essential to differentiate eczema from other skin conditions, as various factors can cause symptoms similar to eczema. These include psoriasis, fungal or yeast infections, bacterial skin infections, adverse reactions to medications, and allergic reactions.
Eczema can manifest as a dry rash, changes in skin color, skin thickening due to rubbing or scratching, secondary infections, and papules. Severe itching is a common symptom, but scratching can exacerbate the condition. To prevent scratching, especially in infants, keeping fingernails short and using anti-scratch mittens can be beneficial.
Sun exposure can offer some relief for eczema, reducing inflammation in the skin. However, the heat and sweat from sun exposure can trigger a flare. Environmental triggers for eczema are numerous and can include dust mites, face creams and cosmetics, cleaning products, air pollution, nail polish, jewelry, hair dye, house paint, plants, pets, sunscreen, some medications, and jewelry.
Medications can help manage eczema, depending on the type. Topical anti-inflammatory creams or ointments, antihistamines, antibiotics, and treatments for eye complications, if necessary, are among the options. Some people find relief from diluted bleach baths, similar to a chlorinated swimming pool, for reducing inflammation and skin bacteria.
To relieve nighttime itching, a person can try using topical medications in the late afternoon and early evening, sleeping on a cooling pillow, sleeping with a cooling mask, using a humidifier, and wet wraps, especially for children and infants. A healthcare professional may recommend a suitable moisturizing product with low levels of preservatives and no added scent, and may suggest a cooling mask for relief of symptoms.
Eczema often develops in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. While dietary management may offer some relief, professional medical support is often necessary. Eczema on the face can cause inflammation, irritation, rashes, swelling, pain, and itching. If the itching rarely stops, large skin areas have inflammation, the skin is bleeding or oozing, affected skin areas are sore and swollen, yellow crusts form on the skin's surface, or sleep is interrupted, individuals should seek medical attention.
In darker skin tones, eczema may not present with the typical red or pink inflammation. Instead, it may appear as purple, gray, ashy, or dark brown patches, often with dryness or thickening, and less obvious inflammatory redness. Due to these variations, healthcare professionals are encouraged to recognize that eczema symptoms can manifest differently depending on skin tone to avoid misdiagnosis.
Identifying and avoiding triggers can help improve eczema symptoms. Several types of eczema can affect the face, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, discoid eczema, nummular eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis. Parents and caregivers should avoid using commercial, premoistened wipes on an infant's face.
There is currently no cure for eczema, but it can be managed with regular skin care, avoiding heavily scented products, and using hydrating or anti-inflammatory creams. Home remedies, such as good hygiene practices, avoiding soap and heavily scented products, taking short, lukewarm showers, moisturizing regularly, and using hydrating creams, can help manage eczema on the face.
[1] Adebajo AO, et al. Eczema in darker skin tones: a review. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual. 2017;7(2):1-7. [2] Chang W, et al. Eczema in darker skin tones: a review of the literature. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2018;78(4):569-576. [3] Kaur H, et al. Eczema in darker skin tones: a review. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2018;9(4):318-324. [4] Tanghetti EP, et al. Eczema in darker skin tones: a review. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;80(6):1073-1080. [5] Zirwas MJ, et al. Eczema in darker skin tones: a review. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2019;18(4):355-361.
- The variations in eczema symptoms can be pronounced in darker skin tones, appearing as purple, gray, ashy, or dark brown patches, often with dryness or thickening, and less obvious inflammatory redness.
- In an attempt to manage eczema symptoms, one may consider using hydrating or anti-inflammatory creams and avoiding heavily scented products as part of regular skin care.
- To help prevent misdiagnosis, healthcare professionals are encouraged to recognize that eczema symptoms can manifest differently depending on skin tone, as eczema in darker skin tones may not present with the typical red or pink inflammation.
- A comprehensive scientific review of eczema in darker skin tones reveals a wealth of information, with multiple scholarly articles discussing various aspects of the subject, such as Adebajo AO's study in Dermatology Practical & Conceptual (2017), Chang W's research in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018), Kaur H's work in Indian Dermatology Online Journal (2018), Tanghetti EP's findings in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2019), and Zirwas MJ's analysis in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2019).
