Dealing With Adult Eczema and Keloidal Skin

I'd like to talk about two skin conditions which are the frequent cause of discomfort for sufferers, and offer some helpful advice on how to treat them. This blog entry is about Eczema and Keloids.

What tips do you have for those dealing with adult eczema? 

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic allergic condition in which the skin develops areas of itchy, scaly rashes (usually on the face, elbows, hands and feet). The doctor will usually prescribe drugs called calcineurin inhibitors — such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel) that affect the immune system and help maintain normal skin, control itching and reduce flares of atopic dermatitis. Corticosteroid crèmes, and soothing crèmes containing calendula or aloe are also recommended to reduce the itching, and soothe the discomfort.

How can someone minimize the appearance of keloids or scar tissue? 

A keloid sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a tough heaped-up scar that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. It usually has a smooth top and a pink or purple color. Keloids are irregularly shaped and tend to enlarge progressively. Unlike scars, keloids do not regress over time. Steroid injections are usually given once every 2-6 weeks into the keloids and usually help flatten them, however, steroid injections can also make the flattened keloid more red by stimulating the formation of more superficial blood vessels. Most keloids respond to injection of a steroid called triamcinolone into the scar. I also don’t recommend piercings and tattoo to keloid sufferers – since scarring an area of the skin can cause keloid formation around the wounds.