The symptoms of eczema-prone skin on the face are inflammation of the skin, recognisable by red, very dry patches with blisters on the sides of the nose, ears, cheeks, eyelids and neck. These skin lesions cause severe itching, known as pruritus.
This skin condition happens on very dry and damaged skin, with flare-ups of eczema-prone skin. In other words: periods of worsening symptoms and increased itchiness, interspersed with periods of remission. In general, this type of skin, known as atopic skin, is extremely reactive to cosmetics.
Facial eczema-prone skin is a chronic skin condition, a dermatosis, affecting the immune system and the skin cells that act as a barrier to allergens.
Contact eczema is caused by a hypersensitive reaction of the skin to an allergen, even if there is no genetic predisposition. This reaction takes place in two phases:
The list of potential allergens is extensive:
Eczema-prone skin is the most common form. It affects children and infants from the first few months of life and lasts somewhat through adolescence and adulthood.
Most of the time, the origin of atopic eczema-prone skin is genetic. Stress and certain environmental factors can also be important factors contributing to an eczema outbreak with a predisposed skin condition.
Immunological and skin abnormalities are passed on from generation to generation or appear as a result of environmental stresses. It’s then easy for the allergenic molecules to penetrate the epidermis and trigger intense reactions from the skin's immune defences, such as the inflammation typical of eczema.
Because facial eczema-prone skin is not an infectious skin condition it is not contagious.
People with facial eczema-prone skin should seeka health professional, preferably a dermatologist. The doctor will first try to identify the cause and the possible allergen responsible in the case of contact eczema-prone skin. They will then call in an allergist to carry out skin tests.
The doctor can then prescribe an appropriate treatment. This usually takes the form of topical corticosteroids applied locally to the eczema patches. Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, the doctor may also recommend:
Which cream should you use for eczema on the face?
Anti-inflammatory medical treatments containing corticosteroids are effective at treating acute eczema attacks, as they calm the inflammation and itching, but they do not prevent recurrences.
As a preventive measure and in addition to the treatment, a skincare routine suitable for eczema-prone skin helps to space out flare-ups.
NEWSLETTER
Which skin care routine should you adopt?
Identify what it really needs with the help of our experts and discover the most suitable skin care routine for you.