Dr. Saima Anwar, dermatologist at the Harley International Medical Clinic, advises those who have never experienced symptoms of eczema to seek medical advice when they witness any of these symptoms:

– Check your itchy rash, especially if it’s not settling down within 24-48 hours.

– Breathe and check if you experience any problems with breathing along with the rash.

– Look at your rash. Acute eczema is red in color, and may have blisters. Fluids within these blisters can ooze and crust over.

– Feel your skin with the itch. Over time, it may thicken and feel scaly or leathery.

“It is important to identify and eliminate triggers that may contribute to exacerbating your eczema condition. Keep your skin hydrated and prevent flare ups by applying the right product on affected areas,” advised Dr. Anwar, who sees around an average of 50-60 Filipinos every month with Eczema.

She also advised to be wary of the following causes and triggers:

– Climate. While eczema aggravates during winter, people also get itchy during warmer temperatures when they sweat, which triggers Eczema.

– Stress

– Low humidity and dusty environments

– Too much use of soap (bath, dishwashing, etc) and other skin irritants such as harsh clothing detergents, coarse fibers such as wool and synthetic fabrics, cosmetics, and perfumes

– Frequent washing with very hot water

– Chlorine in swimming pools

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