itchy red peeling skin on face

[ajdearman]

My doctor diagnosed me a few years ago with dermatitis and prescribed me a cortizone cream. I get random red bumps that itch and that seems to help. Yesterday I woke up with a large patch of peeling dry skin on my cheek and a little patch on my other cheek by my mouth. Today my whole face is itchy and when I scratch it it flakes off like dandruff. I havent changed anything like detergent or washes. Now it is red and burns along with the flaking and peeling. Any ideas?

[dandan2721]

help,Ive had exzema for years but this is different.Every month for a good few months now the skin on my face gets very itchy all over,and the whole top layer of skin cracks and flakes.In some ways the best i can describe it is like a babies cradle cap.No moistufizer including hydracortisone helps,and I end up sitting for hours rubbing and scraping at the peeling flaking skin to get to the new layer beneath.Once i have got rid of the dead layer of skin i get a week or so of semi normal facial skin,for it all to start once again without there being a rhyme or reason to it. Can anyone help identify this mystery condition please,i am sick of hiding away.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
This itchy red dry and peeling skin can be due to eczema. Try decreasing water and soap contact, and start applying emollients. Topical steroids are almost always needed to control the symptoms. You can use mild steroid cream and if the symptoms persist then high potency steroids and oral steroids may be needed. For the itching antihistaminic like Benadryl can be taken.

My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist to get the diagnosis confirmed. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.