Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin disorder that is more common than you think. As much as 30% of kids and 10% of adults worldwide have this condition. Here in the Philippines, this skin condition is prevalent, but there are multiple ways to manage it, including the use of eczema creams.

Understanding Eczema

Skin inflammation has various manifestations. When you have itchy, dry, scaly, blistered, or even infected skin, you may be suffering from eczema. Eczema is a term used to describe this kind of skin inflammation and this condition has the following types:

  • Atopic dermatitis

  • Contact dermatitisDyshidrotic eczema

  • Seborrheic dermatitis

  • Nummular eczema

  • Statis dermatitis

Different skin tones manifest eczema differently. For instance, eczema on lighter skin will make it appear red and inflamed. On the other hand, darker skin with eczema will have brown or gray patches of inflammation.

Regardless of skin tone, eczema is notorious for making the individual feel itchy. And this constant feeling of itchiness can cause significant discomfort! Other than severe itch, here are other symptoms of eczema:

  • Dry skin

  • Rashes

  • Small bumps

  • Crusting

  • Sensitive skin

  • Red rashes

Both children and adults can be diagnosed with eczema. For kids up to 2 years old, it is common to see rashes around the face, scalp, and joints. The same areas can be affected in teens and adults, however for arms and legs, it is more common to see on the flexor surfaces. The  older age group may notice extra darkening of the undereye folds, called the Dennie-Morgan folds.

What Causes Eczema

Having to deal with constant itchiness can be annoying and uncomfortable. What causes this skin inflammation in the first place?

There may be multiple causes of eczema, depending on each individual’s environment and health. Here are some possible causes of eczema which may explain why you may be having this skin inflammation:

Exposure to chemicals

Various triggers can exacerbate the symptoms of eczema. Soaps, detergents, or shampoo with irritating ingredients can cause an itchy flare-up. Furthermore, dust, fur, and molds can also trigger the inflammation. It is prudent to keep yourself and your surroundings clean from dust mites that may trigger eczema.

Other chemicals to take note of are isothiazolinone found in baby wipes, Cocamidopropyl betaine as thickeners of lotions and shampoos, and formaldehyde included in household disinfectants.

Your choice of fabric may also trigger eczema. Materials like wool and synthetic fabrics constantly rubbing on your skin would not be the best choice as these can lead to further skin irritation.

The immune system

Atopic dermatitis is a common type of eczema. Its usual cause is a person’s overactive immune system. When the immune system is too hyperactive, it makes the skin dry and itchy.

For example, your immune system can overreact to external allergens like pollen and dust. External allergens initiate the body’s inflammatory response, and with the hyperactive immune system, the symptoms are manifested to a much higher degree.

Hence, a simple itch can escalate to dry, rough skin, blistering, and even infections.

Genetics

The protein “filaggrin” maintains the skin’s moisture. Unfortunately, some people are genetically lacking in this protein. Hence, the deficiency makes them susceptible to dry and itchy skin.

Genetics may play a role in one’s eczema. So, if you have a close relative with any form of eczema, your chances of having it yourself may be higher.

The environment

The skin is the first line of defense from the external environment. Depending on the type of eczema that you may be having, it may be triggered by long exposures to dry air. Plus, be aware of extreme heat or cold as they may also cause eczema to flare up.

Stress

A common reason for eczema to flare up is due to stress. Emotional stress is a trigger, but experts have not found a scientific explanation as to why this happens.

Still, many people with eczema claim that their symptoms flare up when they feel an immense amount of stress!

It is essential to understand that there is no way to pinpoint the primary cause of eczema. As we noted previously, eczema has various types, and different things cause each of these.

Do not worry because eczema is not an infectious disease. Therefore, a healthy person cannot obtain skin inflammation through close contact or touching another person. Plus, symptoms of this skin problem can be alleviated with different products, including eczema creams!

Available Eczema Creams in the Philippines

Indeed, eczema can be tough to deal with, especially with constant itchiness. When the severity of the symptoms is becoming difficult to manage, it may be time to seek medical help to find out what can be done.

Fortunately, there are many eczema creams available in the market. All of these are readily accessible from various drugstores! You can check out this list of available creams that may help you with the symptoms that you have:

Tacrolimus (Rocimus)

Rocimus is a 10-gram ointment that can be used for atopic dermatitis., this product can be beneficial to other skin diseases like contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis, eyelid dermatitis, steroid-induced rosacea, and erosive lichen planus. However, avoid this product if you are sensitive to macrolide drugs. Please note as well that this product requires a doctor's prescription to purchase from drugstores.

Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream

Aveeno Dermexa can provide relief to dry and itchy skin. This emollient cream is clinically tested to be used for eczema-prone skin. Once applied to the skin, you can notice a significant improvement in your skin’s redness, roughness, tightness, scaling, and itching.

The product can do so much because of its ceramide content and Prebiotic Triple Oat complex. The combination of the two deeply moisturizes the skin and improves eczema’s symptoms.

Bepanthen Itch Relief Cream

If you want a steroid-free relief cream, Bepanthen can be your choice. This product is also clinically tested and contains glycerin and dexpanthenol.

Like other creams for eczema, Bepanthen can hydrate the skin and restore the integrity of the skin’s barrier.

And you do not need to worry about sensitive skin because this itch relief cream is hypoallergenic. It may also be used for any age group, including children.

CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream

CeraVe is a fast-acting skin moisturizer that quickly relieves itchy skin with its 1% pramoxine hydrochloride content. Furthermore, this product can calm the skin, lock moisture, and keep the skin barrier intact with its formulation of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.

Because of CeraVe’s gentle formulation, it can be used on all skin types. The product also earned the approval of the National Eczema Association due to its effectiveness in relieving itchiness.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Aquaphor’s healing ointment contains various hydrating ingredients that are formulated for different skin care needs. Aside from eczema, this product can also be used for dry skin, spot allergies, dry lips, and sunburns.

However, note that this product has a thicker texture than other items on this list. So, it is best to use it at night to avoid that uncomfortable stickiness during the day.

If you are overwhelmed with all these eczema cream options, here is a simple guide that you can consider:

  • Check the ingredients to see if they suit the problem that you want to work on. Eczema usually needs hydrating ingredients to manage the itchiness and dryness. Look for ingredients like petrolatum, ceramides, or glycerin in the product.

  • Begin with the use of steroid-free moisturizers. You may try these moisturizers first especially if your condition is not severe eczema. Topical corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone or mometasone furoate may be too potent for milder eczema. Hence, dermatologists usually prescribe topical steroids!

  • Avoid products with irritating ingredients. Eczema may be aggravated by paraben, fragrance, lanolin, preservatives, and the like. Try to look for hypoallergenic products and fragrance-free products to avoid this problem.

  • Consult a dermatologist! You cannot go wrong with having a medical opinion by your side. This will make your skin condition significantly improve especially with the correct use of the prescribed products.

Conclusion

People may have varying severity of eczema symptoms. Different triggers, including allergens around you, your overactive immune system, or genetic predisposition may cause eczema. Regardless of which one may trigger yours, it can be difficult to deal with constant severe itchiness.

It is a good thing to have eczema creams at hand! Use effective products like Rocimus ready to manage dryness and itchiness from eczema.

References

Article Reviewed by: Dr. Mary Amy Fatima Cagayan Chua