While allergy sufferers don’t usually get eczema right after an allergy attack, there is a significant correlation between eczema and allergies. The exact cause of eczema is not yet defined, but allergies to food, certain chemicals and pollen definitely seem to predispose a person to having both eczema and an allergy.

Symptoms

Eczema is certainly a frustrating skin condition which is accompanied by severe itchiness, so much that you can easily scratch yourself open in trying to get relief. The itchy patches are red or brick pink with flakey, peeling skin (sometimes even a little wet from all the scratching). The thickness of the flakes varies from transparent scales to scabby chunks of bright white. Just like an allergy, eczema tends to come and go.

Eczema related to allergies is recurrent, but it usually starts in childhood. Adults, especially women around the age of 30-60 can get eczema, but it is believed that allergies are not the cause of eczema, but hormones or contact with irritating chemicals of some kind (as opposed to pollen or certain foods).

Seeing the Doctor

Although eczema is not a critical condition, it can surely make you miserable. With all the repeated scratching and opening of wounds, you are more likely to contract an infection. Eczema is bad, but there’s nothing worse than having an infection. In order to help treat the eczema, you must get your allergies treated, which requires a trip to the doctor.

Aside from that, if you are not getting any relief from the use of over-the-counter anti-itch creams, lotions or ointments, you need to see your doctor to get prescription itch relief. It is also known that eczema might be a sign of a problem with the immune system, so you may also be required to take prescription drugs to help boost your natural immunity.

Other Things You Can Do

If the creams and calamine lotion don’t do you any good, there are other alternative ways in getting itch relief. One is to apply cold compress on the itchy area, however this may not work on all people. At least it’s cheap to try and doesn’t give you any nasty side effects.

Some people prefer to keep themselves busy with dancing, housework or freelance writing when they itch, because keeping their hands and minds busy distracts them from scratching. If you scratch while asleep, it is better to keep your fingernails short and wear cotton gloves to try and keep from ripping your skin open.