Eczema on the Face – Causes, Symptoms, and How to Help Prevent Flare-Ups

Eczema often flares up on the face: this is commonly known as facial eczema and is considered a type of facial dermatitis. Eczema can be uncomfortable anywhere on the body, but eczema on the face can be particularly bothersome due to sensitivity of facial skin.

This article explains how to recognize the symptoms of facial eczema and looks at the possible causes and triggers. It offers suggestions on how to care for eczema-prone skin on a daily basis, as well as advice on how to soothe and calm your skin during flare-ups.

Facial eczema is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition on the face marked by dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. Face eczema is distressful precisely because it is so visible. In addition to being physically uncomfortable, eczema on the face can also contribute to feelings of low self-esteem, impacting the quality of life of those who suffer from it and their families.

Adult facial eczema can appear on the scalp, forehead and cheeks, behind the ears and in the delicate area around the eyes.

Symptoms of facial eczema can vary from mild dryness, irritation and itchiness to flaking and intensely itchy skin. You may experience eczema on the neck, forehead, ears, and other parts of the face. Eczema has stages where the condition is aggravated known as eczema flare-ups, and periods of time in between flare-ups where the skin is calmer.

The symptoms of facial eczema are similar to those of eczema in other areas:

• Skin becomes dry, itchy and irritable
• Redness/blotchiness
• Small, rough bumps
• Flaky skin

If you notice dry patches on the face, you could be suffering from dry facial skin but not eczema. Unlike the tightness or mild flaking associated with dry skin, facial eczema usually involves more pronounced flaky skin and severe itchiness. Scratching the itch only makes symptoms worse, and the damaged skin can become inflamed and start to thicken.

If you are experiencing any of the following more severe eczema symptoms on your face, be sure to contact a healthcare professional for guidance.

• Swelling
• Red or brown plaques
• Skin feeling hot or a burning sensation
• Crusts or pus
• Itchy blisters or cracks resulting in weeping or bleeding

Some conditions like seborrheic dermatitis can look similar to facial eczema, so if you are in any doubt about your symptoms, consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

 

Facial eczema is a genetic disease that is linked to compromised skin barrier function and an immune disorder. Triggers vary from person to person but can include climate and pollution, stress, or sensitivity to allergens like dust. There are also different types of eczema, such as atopic dermatitis, which can determine different causes and treatments.

Other external aggressors that may trigger eczema flare ups include harsh facial cleansers, household products like soap, synthetic fibers, and certain makeup products. One person's eczema could be triggered by a fragranced product, but the same product may not cause a reaction for somebody else. This is why it’s important to speak to a doctor about your facial eczema.

The symptoms of eczema can also serve as triggers. When your face feels itchy, it is very tempting to scratch it, and once skin is dry and irritated, scratching makes symptoms worse. Worse eczema symptoms lead to increased itchiness, leading to more scratching, etc. This vicious cycle is known as the ‘Atopic Skin Cycle’. Helping to calm and soothe itchy eczema-prone skin with an appropriate eczema cream key to helping reduce the urge to scratch and stop the cycle

There is no known cure for facial eczema, but there are steps that you can take to reduce flare-ups, both in terms of their number and severity. There are also ways in which you can prolong the periods between flare-ups and calm and soothe your skin during a flare-up.

Effective treatment requires an accurate diagnosis of your symptoms to check that you or your child do actually have eczema rather than one of the other kinds of facial dermatitis. By being aware of the type of eczema you have, you can apply the proper treatment for it.

Consult your doctor for advice and recommendations on the most appropriate treatments for your skin.

When caring for eczema-prone facial skin on a daily basis, the primary aim is to prolong the non-acute phase, and regular moisturization is crucial.

For daily maintenance of eczema-prone skin between flare-ups, use Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream. This hypoallergenic and non-irritating cream for dry, itchy, eczema-prone skin is clinically proven to help reduce the incidence of eczema flare-ups. Suitable for face and body, Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream provides long-lasting hydration to help protect against dry, cracked skin, and is appropriate for use on infants as young as 3 months. In a clinical study, with daily use of Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream, 4 out of 5 children remained flare-free for 6 months.

During eczema flare-ups, you can use an eczema flare-up cream to help bring relief of face eczema symptoms like itching, irritation, and dryness.

Eucerin Eczema Relief Flare-Up Treatment instantly soothes irritated skin on the face and body with a mild, cooling sensation. Fragrance- and steroid-free and enriched with nourishing Colloidal Oatmeal, Cermaide-3, and Licochalcone A, this eczema cream is appropriate for use on infants as young as 3 months and is shown to reduce eczema symptoms with regular use.*

*twice daily for 2 weeks

Facial eczema is particularly common in babies and children and normally appears when they are between two and six months old. Eczema on the forehead and cheeks often appears first, but eczema on the face can spread to other parts of the body as they get older.

Many children grow out of the condition. However, it can persist into adulthood and some adults suffer from eczema on the face without having had it in their youth. Some individuals only suffer from facial eczema for a week or two, but it can become a long-term condition for others.

Symptoms differ from person to person, from season to season, and even from day to day. The disease has two distinct phases: the flare-up, or acute phase, when the skin is at its most itchy and irritable, and the calmer period between flare-ups.

The neck is one of the most common areas affected by eczema in childhood. During adulthood, 'head and neck dermatitis' is a specific form of eczema located on the neck and the face.

Though a small region, the neck is exposed to a number of triggers that can cause irritation, such as tight-necked clothes, jewelry, moisture trapped in skin folds, and woolly scarves. Wearing cotton or fleece scarves and looser clothing can reduce tenderness. The neck is an easily accessible area, so eczema sufferers can sometimes scratch their neck without realizing.

Using products appropriate for eczema-prone skin can help manage eczema symptoms and prolong the time between flare-ups, but ultimately does not cure it. Identifying triggers early on can prevent long-term issues. The best way to help prevent facial eczema symptoms from flaring up is to try and avoid whatever is triggering them. Here are some ways to help prevent eczema flare-ups on the face:

Environmental irritants like smoke, harsh chemicals, allergens like pollen or exposure to cold, dry air can exacerbate eczema symptoms. Minimize contact with chemical and environmental irritants whenever possible and use fragrance- and dye-free laundry detergents. If necklaces or other jewelry cause irritation, limit the amount of jewelry you wear, remove it at night and clean it regularly.

Harsh cleansers and soap can exacerbate eczema on the face, so choose a mild, soap-free facial cleanser for eczema-prone skin and be sure to regularly moisturize your skin. If you like to rinse your cleanser off with water, use lukewarm instead of hot water. Hot showers can cause further dryness and trigger facial eczema in some people. Pat gently with a soft towel to dry the skin instead of rubbing.

Some people find that a little bit of sun helps with their symptoms, whilst others find that it exacerbates them. Either way, make sure you give your skin the protection that it needs, with products that are proven to be suitable for sensitive facial skin. Eucerin’s sun protection products are recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association and have been developed with dermatologists to provide broad- spectrum protection suitable for all skin types and tones. Read more about Eucerin® Sun.

Choose products that are fragrance-free and, ideally, that have been proven to be suitable for sensitive skin. Applying make-up over a facial eczema rash can sometimes cause further irritation. Liquid foundations should be used instead of oil-absorbing powders, which can increase existing dryness. Be sure to remove your makeup fully before you go to bed.

Navigating life with face eczema can be a challenge, particularly during a flare-up, but with Eucerin’s eczema relief cream and flare-up cream, you can find relief for eczema-related itch and mild irritation so you can focus on living your life and enjoying your daily activities.

View our full collection of Eczema Relief products.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
2. Improve the appearance of the skin
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin