Weeping eczema means you have eczema with pus-filled blisters. These sores literally weep, resulting in oozing or wetness. The pus is usually yellow or clear in color and eventually dries up as a crusty layer on your skin.
Types of weeping eczema: primary and secondary.
Primary types refer to the blistering types of eczema, such as dystrophic eczema, nummular eczema or discoid eczema. These can vary from just one or two blisters or small crops of more than three.
These look like blisters and contain a clear fluid. This fluid can leak through the skin’s epidermis if scratched, bumped, or picked at (very common to happen), which is where the primary term “weeping eczema” comes from.
Secondary types refer to the weeping caused by a secondary problem and is often confused with primary types.
The biggest difference between the two is that secondary weeping eczema happens after your initial breakout, in response to outside bacteria or foreign items.
Secondary types can occur over large areas of the body, or over areas of previously dry eczema. Secondary types contain milky or yellow fluid.
Causes of weeping eczema
Weeping eczema is often caused by an infection. Your skin can become infected if you scratch it too much or if it becomes cracked. This allows bacteria, viruses, or fungi to enter the exposed area. An infection can worsen eczema symptoms and make your condition more difficult to treat.
Signs of infection may include:
- blisters or pus on the skin
- skin that weeps a yellow, golden, or clear fluid
- dry crusts on the skin
- itching, soreness, or reddening of the skin
- worsening symptoms of eczema
- fever or flu-like symptoms
- small, red spots around body hair
- swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin area
A common bacterium, known as staphylococcus or staph, is the cause of most infections in people with eczema.
Staph can easily find its way onto broken skin. More than 90 percent of people with moderate-to-severe eczema have staph on their skin.
A virus, called herpes simplex or the cold sore virus, can also enter the skin. It can lead to a serious infection known as eczema hereticum.
In addition to weeping eczema, eczema hereticum can cause itchy blisters and fever.
Fungal infections, such as tinea, commonly known as ringworm, are another problem that can sometimes cause skin infections in people with eczema.
In addition to weeping blisters, ringworm causes red, itchy, scaly, or raised patches of skin with a red ring on the outer edge.
Treatment & Home Remedies For Weeping Eczema
If you are experiencing a mild case of eczema, where only a small area of the skin is affected, home-based remedies can be adopted. However, a severe case requires immediate medical treatments.
Weeping eczema has been diagnosed after the usage of steroid creams in a few individuals.
However, the known theory supporting such cases is that the steroid creams prohibit the growth of the bacteria as soon as you stop using the cream, the bacteria invade the area and results.
1. Proper moisturizing of dry skin
Discoid eczema causes cracks and open areas in the skin. A cracked skin will attract more bacteria and activate an immune response in the body. Don’t make things worse by withdrawing yourself from using moisturizers and creams. Ensure that the affected skin is properly moisturized to balance the hydration levels of the skin.
2. Bleach Baths to alleviate infection
A known cause for discoid eczema is Staph infection. Bleach baths for Staph infection have proven to be beneficial in treating the infection and thus reducing the symptoms of eczema. A diluted bleach bath is highly recommended for people with mild to severe Atopic Dermatitis. The bleach bath helps prevent the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria. However, make sure to moisturize yourself well immediately after the bath.
3. Wrap the skin
Wet wrapping, an effective technique for weeping skin, is when you soak the skin in water, seal with a moisturizer and damp clothing for an extended period of time.
4. Eat anti-inflammatory foods
Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet helps the body reduce inflammation by supplying the body with naturally occurring phytonutrients found in fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods and by avoiding foods that cause inflammation like processed meats and refined carbohydrates. Incorporating foods like leafy greens, seasonal vegetables, fish and berries will help provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins to keep the body’s immune system in check. In fact, you may find supplementing with a high-quality fish oil and probiotic can be beneficial as well.
5. Try an elimination diet
In addition to trying an anti-inflammatory diet, undergoing an elimination diet can be very helpful too. Determining and then eliminating certain trigger foods has been shown to be extremely effective in reducing weeping eczema naturally. For more information on how to get started or to learn what exactly an elimination diet is, see How to Start an Elimination Diet for Eczema.
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