What Should Every Person With Eczema Know? We Asked the Experts: You!

We asked our community to give their best advice on what they think every person with eczema should know. Here’s what they had to say:

• Not all treatments work for everyone.
• Know the side effects of all treatments, and what factors can trigger eczema flare-ups.
• Steroid creams aren’t always the solution.
• You are not alone
• It’s hard, but there is always hope — and keep trying.
• That open skin breaks the barrier between you and the rest of the world. Other skin infections and viruses can be more frustrating and damaging than eczema if they get into your body.
• That it is hereditary. Your children are likely to have it as well.
• This is not your fault.
• Get stubborn eczema cultured for infection. Get tested for allergies annually (for kids).
• Eczema education is the key.
• Different treatments work for different people and that no matter what treatment you choose, someone will always have something judgmental to say about it. We each have to use what works the best for us and we should have compassion and respect each other’s choices.
• There is no cure but you can keep it at bay.
• Moisturize often, know your triggers, and if you need to, use steroid cream. It’s easy for some to say “avoid steroids,” but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to help your child (or self) over the hump.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
• Soak and seal!!!!
• Patience. It takes time to figure out the best way to manage your individual condition. It took me and my doctor 6 months to just get on the right road. Even dermatologists don’t have all of the answers so it requires patience, awareness and open communication.
• Eczema does not define who you are. You have eczema, eczema does not have you.
• For children with eczema, it’s important that they know it’s not their fault. They are loved just as much as anyone else and they are just as normal as anyone else. It’s not a burden on their parents, it’s not “nasty,” and nothing to be ashamed of. Just remember, “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
• If you go a doc who just throws prednisone at you because they don’t know what to do, there ARE DOCS THAT KNOW HOW TO HELP! You just have to seek them out. For me it took 4 years, hundreds and hundreds of dollars, 50 pounds of weight gain, countless other side effects from the steroids and misery! It took ONE appointment to get some relief from a doctor who knew what she was talking about when it came to eczema.
• Moisture is most important.
• Distraction is a big help when all your child wants to do is scratch.
• For parents of children with eczema, it is important to find a balance and not let it consume you. It’s hard to not let anxiety take hold. There is no cure, just maintenance and hope for the future.
• What works for one person, may not work for another. It’s up to trial and error to determine the best treatment and what the actual triggers are.
• It is not hopeless. It just takes effort and lots and lots of moisturizers.