How to Manage Chronic Eczema with a Dermatologist?

Chronic eczema is curable, but it can lead to severe consequences if left untreated. You need to visit a dermatologist to get the disease treated.

Chronic eczema (Atopic dermatitis) is estimated to impact 10 to 15% of Canadians. This indicates that the condition is somewhat prevalent in this country. Not just a mere skin rash, chronic eczema is a long-term condition because it is rooted in the immune system and skin barrier dysfunction.

Chronic eczema requires a personalized and multi-pronged approach. Hence, visiting a private dermatologist in South Shore (dermatologue privé rive sud) is a suitable option. If you want to know about the management of chronic eczema with a dermatologist, you are in the right place.

What is Chronic Eczema?

Chronic eczema refers to a condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. This disease is common in children but can occur at any age. It is not contagious, but it can be irritating.

Chronic eczema mainly affects the inside of the elbows, the front of the neck, and behind the knees. The other areas are wrinkles, ankles, face, and feet. Do you know what the differences are between chronic eczema and acute eczema? Let’s see.

Feature	Acute Eczema	Chronic Eczema
Definition	Short-term flare-up of eczema with sudden onset	Long-standing or recurring eczema that persists over time
Onset	Rapid; appears suddenly after a trigger	Develops gradually or after repeated flare-ups
Duration	Days to weeks	Months to years (may be lifelong)
Appearance	Red, swollen, inflamed skin	Thickened, leathery, or scaly skin
Texture	Moist, oozing, or blistered patches	Dry, cracked, and lichenified (thickened) skin
Itching Level	Intense itching	Persistent itching (often severe at night)
Skin Changes	Vesicles (small fluid-filled bumps), redness	Hyperpigmentation, skin thickening, deep lines
Common Causes/Triggers	Allergens, irritants, infections, stress, weather changes	Repeated irritation, untreated eczema, genetics, chronic inflammation
Risk of Infection	Higher due to broken, oozing skin	Moderate; cracking can still allow infection
Typical Locations	Face, hands, inner elbows, behind knees	Hands, feet, neck, ankles, and areas frequently scratched
Response to Treatment	Often responds quickly to topical treatments	Requires long-term management and maintenance therapy
Treatment Approach	Anti-inflammatory creams, antihistamines, trigger removal	Moisturization, medicated creams, lifestyle changes, ongoing dermatology care
Skin Thickness	Normal or slightly swollen	Noticeably thickened and rough
Color Changes	Bright red or inflamed	Darkened or discolored patches over time
Recurrence	May resolve fully after treatment	Frequently recurring flare-ups
Impact on Hair/Scalp	Temporary irritation if on scalp	Can lead to persistent scalp inflammation and hair thinning in severe cases

Table: Chronic eczema vs Acute eczema

What are the Symptoms and Causes of Chronic Eczema?

Let’s talk about the symptoms and causes of chronic eczema.

Symptoms

The symptoms of chronic eczema are given below.

• Dry and cracked skin
• Itchiness
• Rash on swollen skin
• Small and raised bumps
• Darkening of the skin around the eyes

Causes

Chronic eczema occurs due to multiple causes. These include:

• Defective skin barrier
• Making skin vulnerable to allergens and irritants
• Infections
• Environmental changes (dryness, temperature shifts, etc.)

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Why You Need to Consult a Dermatologist for Chronic Eczema?

You need to visit a dermatologist for chronic eczema for a range of reasons, like:

• Limited OTC treatments: An acute eczema can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. But treating a chronic eczema is difficult because of limited medications. Hence, you need to visit a dermatologist.
• Accurate diagnosis: A private dermatology clinic (clinique dermatologie privée) is capable of differentiating a chronic eczema with fungal infections, psoriasis, or allergies. This ensures that you obtain the right treatment.
• Personalized treatment: What makes a chronic eczema difficult to treat is that the symptoms and appearance are not the same for every person. Hence, relying on a dermatologist is the right option because the professional can prepare a custom-made treatment plan.

How do Dermatologists Diagnose Chronic Eczema?

Let’s talk about the diagnosis procedure of chronic eczema.

• Medical history and symptoms assessment: To diagnose chronic eczema, dermatologists ask whether you have any existing disease. The symptoms are also evaluated. Like, the age of onset and frequency of flares are checked.
• Clinical examination: A clinical examination is needed to determine whether you have chronic eczema. What do dermatologists examine? Well, they check the location and appearance of the rash. This contributes to wiping out psoriasis or any infection.
• Patch testing and skin biopsy: Dermatologists prefer patch testing to identify probable contact allergens. In certain cases, a skin biopsy is also done. Here, a small sample is removed and examined to distinguish eczema from other skin conditions.

What are the Common Treatment Procedures for Chronic Eczema?

Here are the common treatment options for chronic eczema.

Medications

Topical medications are the first line of defense in chronic eczema management. Not effective in every case but doctors rely on this to treat the stated disease. The common medications are corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors, etc. They are offered as medicines, ointments, etc. 

Advanced Therapies

When medications do not work, a private dermatologist in South Shore (dermatologue privé rive sud) can opt for any advanced therapy. Some of the effective ones are light therapy, biologics, etc.

Specialized Treatments

What if dermatologists do not rely on any advanced therapy for chronic eczema? Well, the available options are wet-wrap therapy, bleach baths, path testing, etc. The selection of the treatment process varies from one patient to another.

What Lifestyle and Skincare Guidance are Effective in Treating a Chronic Eczema?

Along with treatment processes, you need to take good care of your skin to manage chronic eczema. Here are the needed lifestyle and skincare guidance.

• Apply moisturizers daily
• Use mild soap and soap-free cleansers
• Don’t scratch
• Wear soft and breathable clothes
• Manage stress

Conclusion

Chronic eczema comes with a range of symptoms, like cracked skin, rashes, itching, etc. The key diagnosis procedures are medical history and symptoms review, clinical examination, patch testing, etc. The key advanced therapies are light therapy, biologics, etc. You need to apply moisturizer daily to manage this condition.

Thinking of Managing Chronic Eczema?

Choose a renowned private dermatology clinic (clinique dermatologie privée) in Canada. Get a consultation to identify the right treatment for you. Get the condition treated before it gets worse.