Eczema is a chronic, superficial inflammation of the skin associated with redness, scaling, and, at times, severe itching. Eczema is a term used to describe many related disorders, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, hand dermatitis, foot dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.
What Causes It?
The cause is unknown; however, genetics appear to play a role. Approximately 5% of the US population is affected by eczema. Atopic Dermatitis is often associated with a personal or family history of hay fever or asthma.
What Can Be Done?
Treatment for eczema includes topical corticosteroid or other medications and antihistamines to reduce inflammation and itching. A mild skin care routine using Cetaphil or CereVe cleanser and moisturizing lotions is helpful in reducing dry skin conditions. Gold Skin Care Center dispenses both the Cetaphil and CereVe complete lines of cleansers and moisturizers and they will, when appropriate, recommend one’s use as part of the treatment plan. Avoid perfumed soaps, harsh laundry detergents and fabric softeners.
On occasion, more aggressive therapy is required which might include oral or injectable corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. A new class of monoclonal antibody treatments are becoming available for our patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis which are resistant to the other therapies. These “biologic” drugs are used when needed under the watchful eyes of Dr. Gold and his team of providers. Results for many have been game-changing, so make an appointment now to see which eczema therapy is best for you.
And congratulations to our own Nurse Practitioner, Ms. Collette Utley, who recently became a Ph.D. Nurse Practitioner, who wrote her Ph.D. thesis on how best to treat the skin in patients with atopic dermatitis, a project overseen with Dr. Gold. Congratulations to Collette.
Tennessee Clinical Research Center routinely conducts clinical research studies for atopic dermatitis as new medicines are coming to the forefront. For more information call TCRC at 615-383-9660 or visit www.tnclinicalresearch.com to view the current list of studies.
