Medical Dermatology
Eczema in Islamabad
Flares, dryness and long-term control
In plain terms
Understanding eczema
What it is
Eczema is a skin barrier that leaks. The outer layer no longer holds water in or keeps irritants out, so the skin dries, cracks and becomes inflamed. That is why it itches, and why scratching makes the barrier worse and the itch stronger.
Why it happens
It runs in families, often alongside asthma and hay fever. Flares are set off by soap, hot water, wool, dust, sweat, stress and sudden weather changes. Food is a trigger far less often than people expect, and cutting foods out without proper testing usually does more harm than good.
What you might notice
Dry itchy patches, most often in the folds of the elbows and knees, on the hands and around the eyes. Skin that weeps or crusts during a flare. Thickened leathery patches where you have scratched for a long time. In brown skin the inflammation reads as grey, purple or darkened rather than red.
How it is treated
Moisturiser is the treatment rather than the afterthought, and it has to be the right one used generously and often. Steroid creams are used properly in short decisive bursts to settle a flare, which is safer than the long timid use most people default to. Severe eczema now has options that did not exist a few years ago.
When to get it seen
If it is keeping you awake, if it is weeping or crusting, which suggests infection, or if you have been using the same cream for months without control. Eczema is managed rather than cured, and the aim is longer calm gaps rather than a one time fix.
Questions about eczema
How long before eczema shows a result?
Ongoing, reviewed regularly. Skin is slow, and anyone quoting you a faster number is selling something.
Who will actually be treating me?
Associate Professor Dr. Lubna Rani Faysal. MBBS (Gold Medalist), FCPS (Dermatology), MHPE, 13 years in dermatology, and Associate Professor of Dermatology, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Do I need to be seen in clinic, or is video enough?
Send a description and a clear photograph on WhatsApp and she will tell you which. Anything needing close examination or a procedure has to be in clinic, tuesday – saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at F8 Markaz, Islamabad.
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Book your eczema consultation
Tuesday – Saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at F8 Markaz, Islamabad. Or ask first on WhatsApp at +92 370 549 7242.
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