Infected Eczema: What to do?

An infected eczema is not to be taken lightly and can lead to numerous complications, even hospitalization in the most severe cases. To avoid reaching this stage, it is imperative to consult a dermatologist as soon as you notice that your eczema is itching more than usual, that the red patches are multiplying (generalized eczema), that they are changing color, or that they are starting to ooze. Depending on the type of infection (bacterial, viral, fungal...), the doctor will be able to prescribe an appropriate treatment. After the end of the infection, we recommend you to follow certain actions and precautions to avoid future complications.

• Adherence to medical recommendations : It is crucial to follow the dermatologist's prescriptions, whether they involve the topical application of creams or the oral intake of medications (antibiotics, antivirals...). Indeed, corticosteroids sometimes inspire mistrust and are often applied in too small quantities or too late. For these to be fully effective and provide relief, it is necessary to use them from the onset of an eczema flare-up, when the itching begins to be felt and redness appears.

• Daily skin hydration: individuals suffering from eczema need to hydrate their skin very frequently. Indeed, their skin tends to be constantly dry (xerosis), due to a fragile skin barrier that easily allows the evaporation of water from the skin. Therefore, it is recommended to apply at least once a day a emollient care. This can form a protective veil on the epidermis and compensate for the dysfunction of the skin's natural barrier, by limiting water loss.

• Avoid scratching as much as possible : it's challenging, but scratching often leads to infections because it opens up eczema lesions and exposes them to bacteria carried by the hands. To alleviate itching, you can use thermal water or certain essential oils (such as tea tree, true lavender...). These ingredients have soothing properties and reduce sensations of itchiness.