You have probably heard of eczema before, because it is really common! About 10% of people have it in some form or fashion.
There are several different types of eczema and the severity of eczema is different for everyone. Atopic dermatitis (the technical term for eczema) is caused by a response in the immune system (the system in your body that fights of bacteria and viruses). Either way it is extremely itchy, red, dry skin. Sometimes people call it the itch that rashes, because it can start out as itchy skin and then turns into a red raw patch.
Doctors are still researching exactly why the immune system responds this way in some people but many believe that it has to do with how much exposure to germs and allergens a person gets when they are young.
There is also a genetic component to eczema. So if your parents have it, you might be more likely to have it too.
Treating eczema with appropriate ointments and medicines as prescribed by your dermatologist is very important. This is because skin health impacts the health of your entire body. Eczema can often crack and bleed and these areas are like a breech in the bodies security system. This means that it creates a space for germs to get in, which can cause infections. Sometimes these infections can even be very serious and require hospitalization. That’s why taking care of eczema prone skin is so important.
Our skin is our body's largest organ and it does most of the work from protecting the body from outside elements. In addition to treatments like ointments and creams, sometimes people might require pills or injections to help with their eczema. These medicines can communicate to the immune system that it is overreacting to the environment and needs to stop working against the skin and making it so dry.
One way you can be a good friend to someone dealing with eczema is to be willing to be flexible in your activity plans so that they can either avoid or take care of a flare. For example if you had plans to go to watch a ballgame but it was really hot outside, you could maybe switch to watching the game inside on tv or taking frequent breaks so that your friend can spritz with water and keep their skin cool.