1. Scaly, Flaky Skin Lesions
Asteatotic eczema is a severe form of eczema. It typically appears on the shins but also affects areas like the thighs, arms and trunk area of the body. With asteatotic eczema, the skin dries out and begins to flake. Angry red lines often separate areas between tiny skin lesions, which makes the skin look like cracked porcelain. Excessive dryness may lead to fissures or cracks in the skin, which are painful and may be itchy. People with lesions may experience oozing and develop a crust on top of the lesion.
2. Avoid Skin Irritations
Your family history helps doctors determine if you have asteatotic eczema or another similar condition like stasis dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis. Children whose parents have a history of eczema are twice as likely to develop the skin condition as children with no family history of it. Respiratory allergies to dust mites, pet dander or pollen and food allergies like peanuts, milk and soy may trigger eczema. Some outbreaks begin with skin irritations caused by smoke or reactions to laundry detergents. In some studies, stress increased the occurrence of eczema.
3. Bathe Better to Prevent Eczema
Do you enjoy a long, hot bath? Exposure to hot water for longer than 15 minutes dries out the skin. Some shampoos, conditioners and lotions use alcohol, which also dries out skin, as a primary ingredient. Harsh soaps clean away your skin's natural oil along with dirt. All these factors combine to irritate skin or escalate eczema symptoms. Switch to a mild non-alkali soap to help keep your skin's natural moisture during bathing. If you want to take a bath, avoid using hot water and add oil to hydrate your skin. After you bathe, pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer.
4. Restore Your Skin's Protective Layer
Petroleum-based emollients like petroleum jelly or lactic acid lotion like Lac-Hydrin work better than lotions containing alcohol to hydrate your skin. Apply a generous layer of an emollient, lotion or moisturizer to the area with eczema immediately after you bathe and before you go to bed. For skin with fissures, wrap the area in plastic like Saran Wrap to keep the moisturizer next to your skin and to prevent the moisturizer from rubbing off on your clothes.
5. Head South for the Winter
A dry climate and age contribute to the appearance of asteatotic eczema. If you experience long, harsh winters, you may benefit by heading to a tropical climate like Florida for the winter. Clothes made from cotton tend to be the least irritating but provide little warmth, which is another reason to consider a warmer climate. Otherwise, use humidifiers to add moisture to the air. Before going outside, apply a moisturizer to your skin, and try to keep your skin covered.
