Ask the Doctor

"Ask the Doctor" was launched in April 2002. We suggest you bookmark this page, as new questions will be posted regularly.

The expert is a certified dermatologist practicing in Southwestern Ontario.

New:

There is a big push for the regular use of hand sanitizers to help prevent the spread of H1N1 and other flu strains; however, they aggravate my eczema. Are there any alternatives I can try during flu season?

My daughter is 4 years old and has mild to moderate eczema. I read an article that suggested adding a quarter cup of bleach to the bath water to help improve symptoms. Does this work?

I have had eczema for many years, including on my face and eyelids. I am generally fine during the summer, but once the colder weather arrives my condition worsens dramatically. Can the cold aggravate eczema?

I am a long-time eczema sufferer. Can you please tell me why I get blisters during a flare-up, and how I can treat these blisters?

My five-year-old daughter has moderate to severe eczema. I have noticed that when she has flare-ups she runs a low-grade fever, is this typical?

My three-year-old has eczema in the bend of her arms, back of her legs and thighs. She scratches during her sleep and we need to apply bandages to try and stop the scratching. Sometimes she takes them off and scratches until she bleeds. What can I do?

I read that certain eczema treatments can cause cancer. Is this true?

Is eczema an autoimmune disease? What exactly does this mean?

How possible is it that stress could cause a major breakout of eczema?

Questions:

  1. I have been noticing red rash-like patches on my arms and legs. My internet searches on the possible cause of these rashes have left me a little confused. So far I have read about psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. Can you tell me what the differences are?
  2. My 4-year-old daughter has moderate eczema, mild asthma & hay fever symptoms (hereditary). She has been on cortisone cream for several years which is applied to her wrists, top of hands, inside knees, elbows and small patches on her neck and chest. I am worried about the long term side effects of such regular and long term application. Could you tell me what the side effects might be?
    Also, is there a particular moisturizer that you would recommend for sensitive skin? I have heard that creamy Vaseline is good but my daughter doesn't like the feel of it. I am wondering if the regular creams like Lubriderm are too "light weight" to be effective moisturizers for preventing eczema. Thanks for your reply.
  3. I have had very mild eczema for years. I would like to get a list of recommended mild soap products (i.e. laundry detergent, bar soap, dish soap, etc.) by brand name. Do you have such a list available, or can you tell me where I might find this information? Thank you.
  4. My stepdaughter who is five years old has terrible eczema! She is constantly itching and scratching. We tell her not to and to put socks on her hands so she cannot scratch at night. She has terrible sores and scars all over her body except for her face. She is about to start public school and we are nervous as to how other children might react to her condition. Can you PLEASE tell me what I can do to help her scars and open sores, as well as suggest particular treatments (like lotions etc.) that I can use while she is in my care? Thank you.
  5. My 2 1/2-year-old has red itchy patches on her legs, back, and stomach. I’m assuming it is eczema because my husband has it too. I don’t want to use steroid creams anymore because of the thinning of the skin when she gets older. What treatment do you recommend for such a young child? It doesn’t seem to be that itchy yet, so I don’t want to use anything too severe. Is there still no cure for this skin condition? Is she doomed to be scratching for the rest of her life?
  6. I have to wait 7 months to see a dermatologist and I have what I think is a very bad case of eczema. I’ve tried creams such as hydrocortisone and Elocom® (both by prescription). Are there any over-the-counter products that might help during the next 7 months?
  7. My daughter (10-years-old) has either eczema or psoriasis on her eyelids (but nowhere else). It is red and scaly (flakey). It does not itch. It has been diagnosed as eczema but the symptoms appear to be more like psoriasis. What sort of treatment do you recommend?
  8. I have used turpentine in the past to take away the itch of eczema and also to allow my open sores (from scratching) to heal. Have you heard of others using turpentine and are there any dangers to using turpentine that I should be aware of?
  9. Can caffeine aggravate eczema? Are there any foods that can help alleviate the irritation?
  10. I have had eczema since childhood. It is primarily on my hands, stomach, legs and scalp. My main problem is my scalp, which is severely dry and itchy and difficult to moisturize. What would you recommend?
  11. I’m worried about sunscreen/sun block on my child who has eczema. The sun seems to help her eczema, but I’ve also heard that it can make eczema worse. What can I do?
  12. Is there a link between diet and eczema? More specifically, can dairy products make eczema worse? On this site there is information about what foods can “trigger” eczema but I’ve also heard there isn’t a direct link. Can you clarify?
  13. I’m trying to have a child with my husband and I have eczema. I’m afraid about prescriptions for eczema and their effects on fertility… isn’t it possible to treat my eczema and have a baby too?
  14. I have eczema and seemed to have developed a scar from a large spot that was over scratched. It has healed now but the skin is darker and has a “thicker” feeling to it. How do I treat this? And can I prevent it on other eczema patches?
  15. Both myself and my young child suffer from eczema (he has really dry skin). This site recommends bathing daily, but briefly. All the doctors I’ve met with suggest bathing only twice weekly and briefly. Can you explain the reasoning for bathing daily and/or shed some light on the bathing debate?
  16. My daughter is 10 years old, and lately her eczema has been getting worse. Our dermatologist has prescribed steroids, but I’m worried about the negative side effects that she may get from using them. What other options are there?
  17. My family doctor provided me a sample of a steroid-free prescription cream to help relieve my eczema. My eczema did not improve much. I have just been referred to a dermatologist, who prescribed a different steroid-free medication that is an ointment. What is the difference between the two besides their format?
  18. My dermatologist recently prescribed a new ointment for my eczema, a different drug from my usual steroids. I went to fill my prescription, only to be shocked by how much it cost. I understand that it will help my condition, but how can I justify paying so much for it?
  19. I am a mother in despair. I’m writing to you this morning because I don’t know what to do. My four-year-old son has had eczema since birth. I was accustomed to living with this disease but since Christmas, I have lost control of it. I consulted two dermatologists and they prescribed all sorts of creams. I really want to find the source of my son’s condition. Where should I turn? Is it a food allergy? Help me…
  20. I have been free of any skin complaint all my life. However, recently, at age 68, I was told that I have eczema on my legs. Why is it only appearing now?
  21. I have just given birth and I have been breastfeeding my baby for a month. I have eczema on my breast. Is this common?
  22. Is it possible to have eczema on the genitals? I am an adult male, and have suffered from eczema for years. I have it all over my body. Sometimes I experience flaking, redness, itching and raw/sore skin in my genital area.
  23. Can use of a "tanning" salon be beneficial to reducing the severity of eczema flare ups? I’ve also heard of “light” therapies. My daughter has eczema, which always clears up in the summer, particularly after some sun exposure.

This information can help you take control of eczema right now!

 

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