Eczema near mouth

[Tania86]

I am a 21-year old female. I have chronic asthma which is under control. Am on steroid inhalers. I have various allergies- dust, food, sometimes even environmental (caves) i also have eczema around my mouth and it is causing me to have an obvious ring of darker pigmentation. I realise that my eczema gets worse when i get my allergies, it starts with the skin around my mouth getting gradually itchy, sometimes with vesicle fomation on my lips, and the next day my eczema gets worse and my mouth would look darker than usual.
Am on mild daily anti-histamines as prescribed by a dermatologist and am using a hydrocortisone cream for the eczema around my lips.
I would like to know about the connection between my skin allergies and the eczema.
And the darker ring is unsightly to me. Could you please advise on how i could reduce it if possible?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

'The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes which are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration may appear and are sometimes due to healed lesions, although scarring is rare.'

In eczema, the blood may show a raised IgE or an eosinophilia.

Anti-itch drugs, often antihistamine, may reduce the itch during a flare up of eczema, and the reduced scratching in turn reduces damage and irritation to the skin.

They do not cure eczema, but are highly effective in controlling or suppressing symptoms in most cases.

For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Eczema can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Moisturizing is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of eczema. Keeping the affected area moistened can promote skin healing and relief of symptoms.

Light therapy using ultraviolet light can help control eczema. UVA is mostly used, but UVB and Narrow Band UVB are also used. Ultraviolet light exposure carries its own risks, particularly eventual skin cancer from exposure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema

Let us know if you need any further information.

Do consult your doctor about this too.

Keep us posted on how you are doing and if you have any other doubts.

Regards.