Infected Eczema
Creams and tablets to treat eczema-related infections.
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People with eczema are more prone to getting infections, the primary reason being altered skin barrier function. Infected eczema is treatable, but the method depends on your type of infection.
If you think you have infected eczema or are prone to infections, you can get the appropriate treatment with us. Answer a few questions about your health, and we’ll recommend what’s right for you.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterised by dry, itchy skin that can become red and inflamed. When eczematous skin is scratched or damaged, it can break the skin barrier, making it open to various infections. If eczema is infected it's referred to as ‘infected eczema’, which requires additional medication to ‘fight off’ the infections.
Infections are more common in people with eczema. This is because it makes your skin dry and less protected from harmful substances like microorganisms. As a result, you’re more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.
To treat infected eczema, you’ll typically be prescribed oral antibiotics, topical steroids or both.
All forms of infected eczema are categorised as ‘secondary infections’, as the underlying cause of infection is another condition (eczema).
And secondary infections for eczema can be categorised into three main groups: bacterial, viral and fungal.
Bacterial infections - Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is the most common bacteria to cause infection in patients with eczema. The reduced barrier function and immune response allow SA to easily enter the skin and attach to it. SA then releases a number of toxins into your bloodstream, further impairing your immune response and causing inflammation. Typical symptoms of bacterial infections on eczematous skin include redness, severe itching, and inflammation. As the infection worsens, crusty, yellow skin can form. Bacterial infections tend to be easy to treat with either oral or topical antibiotics.
However MRSA, a resistant strain of SA, is more complicated to treat. MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a strain of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. This means you need to find an antibiotic they aren’t resistant to to kill them, making the infection harder to treat. As MRSA can survive on objects like door handles and towels, it's important to wash your hands thoroughly, and frequently use hand gels or antiseptics to prevent the infection’s spread.
Viral infections - People with eczema are more likely to be infected with certain viruses. These include:
Fungal infections - Various species of fungus live naturally in your body and play an essential role in your gut’s microbiome. One species is Candida, which lives mainly in your mouth and gut. However, when it enters the bloodstream and spreads to other areas of the body, it can cause infections. Fungal infections are relatively easy to treat with topical or oral antifungals if they get worse.
It’s estimated that eczema affects up to 20% of children and 3% of adults and, as mentioned, there are three types of infections that can affect it: bacterial, viral and fungal. Bacterial infections caused by staphylococcus aureus are thought to affect about 90% of eczema patients. Most can be treated with prescription antibiotics, but in around 20% of cases, patients are hospitalised due to complications.
Viral infections, however, are less common. Eczema herpeticum affects less than 3% of patients with atopic dermatitis, most being children. Although it’s not as common, it's more serious and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
The prevalence of fungal infections is unknown as there have been no studies investigating fungal infection in eczema patients.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
To understand the cause of infected eczema, it's important to understand how eczema develops. Eczema is a complicated disease. To date, scientists are still unsure of the exact cause of it. However, some mutations and alterations have been linked to its onset.
Eczema occurs on the outermost layer of your skin. In this layer, the protein filaggrin plays a necessary role. It helps to maintain moisture and creates a tough outer layer, forming a physical protective barrier. A mutation in the FLG gene reduces the amount of filaggrin produced. As a result, your skin can become dry, and its protective layer damaged. This allows bacteria, viruses and fungi to easily enter the compromised skin barrier and cause infections.
Depending on your type of infection and the microorganism that’s causing it, your symptoms may vary.
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterial infection in eczema patients. Symptoms of this infection include:
And symptoms of viral infections can depend on the type of viral infection.
Typical symptoms of eczema herpeticum include:
Whereas typical symptoms of eczema coxsackium include:
Bacterial infections don’t typically result in further complications once treated. While MRSA infections may be more difficult to treat and may require hospitalisation, they can often be treated successfully at home as well.
Secondary viral infections, with eczema as the underlying cause, are harder to treat. Eczema herpeticum is a potentially life-threatening condition. If not treated quickly, it can cause serious health complications.
Eczema can also make some conditions harder to treat, such as chicken pox. Chickenpox is a common infection that affects most children across the world at some point, but in children with eczema the symptoms can worsen and cause complications. So when children with eczema get chicken pox, it's important to closely monitor them with frequent temperature checks and check whether their eczema has developed any lesions or blisters.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections will likely be treated with oral or topical antibiotics, sometimes even both. Fucidin H is a popular antibiotic cream that works in two ways to fight off bacterial infections. It contains two active ingredients: fusidic acid, an antibiotic that prevents and stops the growth of bacteria, and hydrocortisone acetate, a steroid that lowers inflammation. Usually, you’ll start to see improvement in your skin and infection within a few days of using it.
Flucloxacillin is a common oral antibiotic prescribed if topical antibiotics don’t work. It's in a group of drugs called penicillin, which kill bacteria by inhibiting their cell wall formation. This weakens the bacteria and eventually kills them. Clarithromycin is another oral antibiotic which also kills bacteria.
However, if you have recurrent bacterial infections, your doctor may prescribe steroids instead of antibiotics. This is because overprescribing antibiotics can increase the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria appearing. This means antibiotics become less able to fight bacterial infections because the bacteria no longer respond to them. Steroids like Dermovate can help lower inflammation, redness and itchy skin without increasing this risk.
If you’re prone to recurrent infections, you may also be recommended to use something called HibiScrub. It's an antibacterial disinfectant that’s safe to use on your eczema. Washing your hands and body with it can help kill microorganisms on the skin. This will help lower the frequency of your infections.
Viral infections
The treatment for viral infections will depend on the type of virus. If you have eczema coxsackium, you may be prescribed topical steroids. However, if you have eczema herpeticum, you’ll likely be hospitalised and be given oral antivirals or, in more severe cases, intravenous antivirals.
Fungal infections
The typical treatment for fungal infections is an antifungal medication. This can either be a topical cream like Miconazole, or an oral antifungal like Fluconazole for more serious cases.
There is no best treatment for infected eczema. This is because the treatment you receive will depend on several factors, including:
Our clinicians will help find the best treatment for you after a quick chat about your health. After evaluating your case and taking into account your medical history, they will determine what treatment is most suitable for you.
Yes. Without treatment, infected eczema won’t go away or improve. And for viral infections, it's important that you get treatment as early as possible, as delaying it can worsen it.
Although infected eczema always requires treatment, there are some ways you can prevent infections. Cleansing your skin with HibiScrub or another antiseptic will help kill the germs, preventing them from entering your bloodstream and causing infections. And applying a thick cream like E45 cream or fifty:50 after bathing or washing your hands can help to lock in the moisture. This will help maintain your skin barrier function.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Eczema. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Types of Eczema | National Eczema Association. [online] National Eczema Association.
Staphylococcus Infection: Relapsing Atopic Dermatitis and Microbial Restoration. Antibiotics, 12(2).
Eczema Herpeticum. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.
“Eczema Coxsackium” and Unusual Cutaneous Findings in an Enterovirus Outbreak. Pediatrics, 132(1), e149.
Atopic Dermatitis and Fungi. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 15(4), 545-563.
The infectious complications of atopic dermatitis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 126(1), 3-12.
Pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis: Clinical implications. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 40(2), 84-92.
Dyshidrotic Eczema: A Common Cause of Palmar Dermatitis. Cureus, 12(10).
Skin infections and eczema. [online] National Eczema Society.
Efficacy of bleach baths in reducing severity of atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 119(5), 435.
Atopic Dermatitis: Global Epidemiology and Risk Factors. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, [online] 66(1), pp.8–16.
An oral antibiotic that can treat skin infections within a couple of days.
Flucloxacillin capsules treat bacterial skin and soft tissue infections.
Contains a steroid, antibiotic and antifungal to treat infected eczema.
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