All you need to know about facial eczema: symptoms, causes, treatments
Do you suffer from facial eczema? Discover all our expert advice on how to understand, effectively soothe and prevent your redness.
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, itchy patches. Discover BIODERMA's advice on how eczema manifests itself, particularly on the face.
How does facial eczema manifest itself?
Facial eczema is characterized by redness, dry, itchy, scaly skin and an irritated appearance. It may be accompanied by vesicles filled with clear liquid, which often rupture and ooze under the effect of scratching. These symptoms can appear on the scalp, forehead, eyelids, skin around the eyes, back of the ears, cheeks, lips and neck.
Regardless of the type of eczema, symptoms are similar and progress with the appearance of edema if left untreated.
Facial eczema can appear over a short period or be chronic.
The causes of facial eczema vary according to the type of eczema contracted. The two main types of eczema are: atopic eczema and contact eczema.
Contact or allergic eczema of the face is caused by contact with a certain allergenic or irritating substance. The allergic substances most likely to cause your facial eczema symptoms are :
Cosmetics
Cleaning products
Jewellery
Dust mites
Pollen
Following contact with one of these substances, the skin becomes highly reactive and inflammatory. The reaction depends on the chemical properties of the substance, the quantity of product in contact and the frequency of exposure. Symptoms can take from 3 to 10 days to appear, making it difficult to identify the triggering agent.
In the case of allergic contact eczema, the reaction is triggered by repeated contact with allergenic substances.
As the skin on the face and neck is particularly thin, it is more likely to react to an allergenic product.
Atopic eczema of the face can be linked to both genetic and environmental factors. Atopy involves dry, fragile skin that reacts more intensely to allergenic substances.
The condition generally develops in childhood, particularly in infants, who often present with eczema patches on their cheeks. It's a chronic inflammatory skin disease with alternating phases of flare-ups and remissions.
In other cases, facial eczema can be triggered by repeated exposure to temperature variations, or by stress or fatigue. This is known as nervous eczema. In addition to emotional factors, wearing a mask or rubbing certain fabrics on the face (scarf, hat) can also aggravate eczema flare-ups in already atopic skin.
Risk factors for atopic eczema
Most often, atopic eczema is due to genetic predisposition.
Babies and young children are more likely to be affected by facial eczema. As their immune systems are still developing, they may react more intensely to allergens or irritants.
Finally, adults with sensitive skin that reacts easily to environmental factors are also the most likely to develop facial eczema.
Risk factors for contact dermatitis
Once the cause of the eczema has been identified, all contact with the substance responsible for the inflammation must be avoided.
For people who have had repeated contact with allergic substances, it is imperative to note that symptoms will not slow down or disappear. Only by interrupting contact between the allergenic substance and the skin can contact dermatitis be stopped permanently.
Treating contact eczema
When your facial eczema is linked to contact with an allergenic element, you need to consult your doctor so that he or she can confirm the origin of the allergy. Once the substance has been identified, you must avoid all contact with it.
Treating atopic eczema
In the case of atopic dermatitis, it can be more difficult to permanently eliminate the onset of symptoms.
Seek the help of a dermatologist, who can prescribe the most appropriate treatments to reduce itching and burning sensations and reinforce the skin's moisture barrier.
You can also adapt your habits to avoid aggravating your symptoms:
Avoid showers with water that's too hot Use a gentle soap-free cleanser Apply a moisturizing and emollient cream specially designed for skin with atopic tendencies
BIODERMA recommends products from its Atoderm range to soothe your skin and reinforce its moisture barrier:
ATODERM Intensive gel-cream: this fresh, ultra-soothing treatment is ideal for very dry skin or skin prone to atopic eczema. It provides long-lasting relief from itching and optimizes skin hydration ATODERM Intensive baume: this repairing treatment increases the feeling of comfort and makes the skin more resistant to external aggressions. It's an adapted treatment that soothes your skin.