Skinrepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have been diagnosed to have eczema on my hands and face.  Can this be caused by dust?  I've noticed that my face gets more itchy when I do cleaning around the house.

                                                            Alma

Dear Alma,

     Dust, among other things, may trigger eczema.  Eczema runs in families and is a chronic (long-term) problem.  Living with eczema, you are more sensitive to the regular irritants in the environment such as cigarette smoke, pesticides or chlorine.  Other triggers include hair dye, makeup, perfume and even your own sweat.  Extreme temperatures will also aggravate eczema.  Commonly taken for granted are dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents which are sometimes too harsh for eczematous skin.  This can lead to a long-term development of on and off hand itchiness. 

     Pouring hot water or isopropy alcohol or using sulfur soap over these eczematous areas will only worsen the problem.  To stay one step ahead of your eczema, you can take a quick bath with lukewarm water to get rid of the dust.  You may then apply a cortisone-based cream over the itchy areas.  If you aren't sure about your condition, have yourself checked by a board-certified dermatologist to rule out other conditions such as viral exanthems (measles, etc..).

Dear Dr. Jen,

I think I have bed bug bites all over my stomach.  I've tried spraying my bed with baygon but I still get new bites when I check in the morning.  How do I get rid of the bites?

                                                            Rosy

Dear Rosy,

Bed bugs can be a nuisance to have.  Some new strains of bugs are actually capable of processing the pesticide so they don't get affected by it.  An old reliable way to get rid of the bed bugs is to expose your mattress and couches to direct sunlight for a whole day.  Soaking bed linens in boiling water and ironing them well will also help.  If all else fail, it might be time to get rid of the infected mattress.

Dear Dr. Jen,

 I am traveling to a cold climate soon.  What precaution can I take so my skin will not be flaky or itchy during my vacation? This happened the last time I traveled.

                                                            Janice

Dear Janice,

It is great that you plan to be prepared for your trip!  It takes a while for our bodies to acclimate to a new environment. Though pimples seem to disappear when you transfer to a colder place, it also dries up our skin.

A non-comedogenic creamy moisturizer (equivalent to a body butter) for the face should be used 1-3 times a day. This will prevent any dryness, ergo, preventing any itching.  If the redness and itching have already started, cortisone lotions should be applied on the area.  

Most often neglected area is the hands and shins.  Pretty soon you will notice that there will be painful breaks on your fingers from all the dryness.  So please do not neglect moisturizing the hands for these parts are also very sensitive to the cold.

      If you are prone to getting seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, it may also flare up in the cold climate. Bring along your usual anti-dandruff shampoos as well or make sure they are available to wherever you are heading to.

If you have any questions or concerns please text, email or call (the Freeman or PSH): 0932 857 7070 or <[email protected]> or (032) 233 8620 or 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.

Dr Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH).  For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/.