There are many causes of itchy skin, some resulting from unfortunate forays into poison ivy patches, assaults from pesky mosquitoes, or a chronic skin disease such as eczema (atopic dermatitis). Despite various causes, all can produce a similar sensation – an itch. Itch is hard to define, yet most would agree it is “that which produces the desire to scratch.”

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, often called “the itch that rashes.” The itch can be overwhelmingly intense, especially in children, who are its primary sufferers. The disease usually begins in childhood – 90% of initial cases of the condition develop before age of 5 years, with 65% developing the condition during their first year.

As winter approaches, the skin irritations and rashes associated with eczema tend to start showing up with increased frequency. As a pediatric dermatologist I see this trend in my patients every year. Eczema in children first shows up in infancy and gets better as kids get older. But in the meantime, many sufferers of childhood eczema find this time of year uncomfortable. In this post I explain some of the common triggers of eczema-related rashes and offer some suggestions for parents to deal with these symptoms.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis (AD), is a common inflammatory skin disease with the hallmark of itchy, red, and "angry" skin. It's the most common skin disease we see in babies and newborns. Moisturizers have long played an important role in the treatment of AD. But what if moisturizers did more? What if moisturizers could actually prevent AD before it even started in high-risk newborns?

From who's susceptible to what to avoid, here are 5 things everyone should know about eczema, specifically atopic dermatitis.

Q: I’ve heard that baths with diluted bleach can successfully treat kids with eczema. Is this true? A: Common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is best known as the product that “makes whites whiter,” but diluted bleach has also been used as a dental antiseptic and, in certain forms, as a wound disinfectant. Given the common perception of bleach as an irritant, one would think that bathing in it would be harmful, but clinical trials have actually proven this treatment to be very effective.

If on the first day of Christmas you ended up with a rash from the wool sweater your grandmother sent you, here is some information on rashes just for you!

Atopic dermatitis (AD), or eczema, is a skin problem that is characterized by itchy, red, and inflamed skin. Up to 20% of kids will have AD. What if we could prevent the development of allergic contact dermatitis in children? There are some experts who believe we can. They are advocating for a strategy called Pre-emptive Avoidance Strategy.

Q: How long do skin rashes typically last? Rashes can last any amount of time, from minutes to hours, days to weeks, or even months to years, depending on the cause. The rash from hives, for example, may last only a number of minutes or hours. One individual hive lesion lasts for less than a day, but the general rash may last for weeks. Rashes such as psoriasis or eczema can last for months to years unless treated. Dr. Lowell Goldsmith and Dr. Jeff Bernhard contributed their expertise on behalf of VisualDx for the above information.

Finally, there is a new hope for adult patients suffering from moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), or eczema. Both dermatologists and AD patients can celebrate. Dupilumab has been approved by the FDA to treat adult AD although its long-term safety and effectiveness have not been established yet. More data is needed on how long benefits last and whether there are safety concerns that have not yet become apparent based on the clinical trials.

During winter, skin is subjected to an increased amount of moisture loss. As a result, I hear the term dry skin used a lot. There really are many terms in dermatology related to dry skin. In fact, the term dry skin is a layman’s phrase. I’m going to share some of the more colorful and interesting terms physicians use to describe this condition. Often, the medical term itself is a clue to the symptoms it is referring to. I selected and interpreted a few terms that I find particularly interesting and relevant to this time of year.

What bit me?  Bedbugs. Scabies. Fleas. Spiders. Ticks. Lice… All can cause rashes, itching, and a lot of worry. The recent surge in bedbugs in eastern cities has everyone talking about how to find and kill bed bugs. But if you have a new rash or itchy red bumps, how do you know if bed bugs are the cause?  Maybe your skin problem is not even related to insects or bugs and is caused by something different altogether. Many skin disorders like eczema (atopic dermatitis) and/or infections of your pores (known as folliculitis) can have  an itchy rash, and these conditions have nothing to do with biting bugs, although people often wrongly assume that these common skin conditions are “bug” related.

Imagine you have had skin disease for months or years, and all the topical creams, steroids, and pills you’ve tried haven’t worked. Maybe you’ve done some research into the next step: a “biologic” medication, and you’re left with questions: what is a biologic, how do they work, and perhaps most importantly–will they work for me? This blog hopes to touch upon those questions.

Q: I just developed impetigo. How does one get it as an adult?Impetigo is a superficial skin infection that is common in young children; however, individuals of any age can be affected. Impetigo is usually caused by bacteria from the staphylococcal (commonly known as staph) or streptococcal (commonly known as strep) species. Generally, those who are affected are carriers of these bacteria, meaning that their nostrils are colonized by the bacteria.

What is this dry patch on my arm? Does this mole look normal? Why do I keep breaking out around my mouth? 

Mild forms of dark spots (hyperpigmentation) on the skin are not usually medically significant. Sunspots on the hands of a middle-aged, fair-skinned woman, for example, may be a cosmetic concern to her, but they are typically benign and in no way endanger her health. However, if these spots were to grow or get darker in a dramatic fashion, it would be best to consult a dermatologist to discern if they are in fact harmless or not.

I recently treated a patient for perlèche, a sometimes painful and persistent rash that occurs at the corners of the mouth. This often fungal condition is typically caused by an overgrowth of Candida, and my patient asked if it could be aggravated by stress. It was the right question to ask. If you are stressed, not sleeping well, and getting rashes and breakouts, it may well be the case that these symptoms are all related.

Impetigo (em-pah-TY-go) is a common superficial bacterial infection of the skin that usually resolves itself within a matter of weeks. Often unsightly and itchy, it can be a miserable experience. Impetigo is more commonly associated with children (children 6 years old and younger are more likely to be infected), but it can occur in all ages. What You See There are two types of impetigo: blistering and non-blistering. Non-blistering impetigo is often characterized by:

Between the alcohol-based hand sanitizer and the frequent and prolonged hand washing, certain individuals are at risk for hand dermatitis. Skimping on hand hygiene is NOT recommended at this time. So, how can you protect your skin?

Breast cancer is a disease that affects women of all ages, incomes, and ethnicities. Men can also get breast cancer, but it is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers. In 2008, it is estimated that 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 67,770 new cases of noninvasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States. In addition, an estimated 40,480 women with this disease will die. An estimated 1,990 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 450 men will die of the disease.

I’m a pediatric dermatologist who specializes in the care of severe inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. These conditions can impair the overall health, development, and quality of life of affected children.

Patient compliance refers to how well a patient follows their doctor’s prescribed treatment plan. It’s often understated but very important when it comes to obtaining satisfactory results.

Greetings! Long summer days call us outdoors, and that means skin is more vulnerable than ever. From mosquito bites and bee stings to sunburn and scraped knees, our skin is subject to much more potential harm during the summer.  We all know that we must wear sunscreen to help protect us from the sun’s radiation. Is sunlight itself a bad thing? Of course not. The issue, many believe, is the shrinking of the ozone layer, earth’s natural sunscreen, which filters the most harmful radiation. When the ozone layer is healthy, we’re better protected from and in balance with the sun. We need its healing rays to not only nourish plants and animals but to activate vitamin D in our bodies. When we protect ourselves from the sun, we’re also potentially robbing ourselves of vital vitamin D. So what are we to do?

Dermatologists have many strategies and tools available to treat skin conditions. One treatment that is very common in dermatology clinics is prescribing topical steroids. Steroids are used to treat common skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis.

As summer tans fade, we may see remnants on our skin of those happy hours spent in the sun. That is because the cells (melanocytes) that produce skin tone or pigment (melanin) are stimulated by sun exposure to produce more melanin. Excess melanin can cause visibly uneven areas of darker skin, a condition called hyperpigmentation. Conversely, other areas may lose melanin, resulting in pale or white spots, a condition called hypopigmentation. 

Despite its name, the season for winter itch begins, like clockwork, in September and October. That’s when the air starts to get cooler and drier, and the skin begins  to dry out.

In this two-part series we continue to cover various prescribed methods for evening out skin tones. Part 1 looked at hydroquinone and mequinol. Part 2 covers azelaic acid, corticosteroids, and more. In my practice, one of the most common concerns among people of color is uneven skin tone due to hyperpigmentation, or irregular darkening of the skin. Over the past few months, I’ve written a number of posts about hyperpigmentation concerns – including irregular patches, spots and scars – and which conditions warrant a consultation with a dermatologist.