Papular Eczema: Symptoms and Treatment Options

There are many different types of eczema. Mild or severe, eczema can be dry, itchy, and plain uncomfortable. Ask anyone that suffers from eczema, and they’ll tell you it isn’t any fun—and papular eczema is no exception.

Here, we’ll dive into what papular eczema looks like, what the symptoms are, and what you can do to treat this skin condition.

What is Papular Eczema?

Papular eczema is a skin condition that causes small, itchy bumps, or eczema papules, to appear on the skin. People with papular eczema may also experience symptoms of standard eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), such as dry, itchy patches or flaky skin.

In people with darker skin tones, these eczema papules may be flesh-colored. Papular eczema on dark skin may also be reddish-brown or purple-gray in appearance. They may appear in a diffuse pattern that corresponds to where hair follicles are, and some people experience papular eczema on elbows as well.

These itchy bumps can become infected if they’re repeatedly scratched. While there’s no cure for papular eczema, you can manage symptoms of papular eczema with proper care.

Distinguishing Papular Eczema from Atopic Dermatitis

It’s fairly easy to tell papular eczema from atopic dermatitis.. Atopic dermatitis, or standard eczema, appears as a red or brown flaky rash, whereas papular eczema is dry skin with bumps. These small papules look similar to pimples, but without the white head. They replace the raised, thickened, flaky rash common with atopic dermatitis.

If you suspect you have papular eczema, talk with a doctor or dermatologist to confirm and discuss your treatment options. Mild cases of eczema are generally treated with moisturizers and other over-the-counter preparations. For more mild to severe cases, your doctor may suggest prescription treatments ranging from topical ointments or creams or oral or injectable medications.

Who’s at Risk for Papular Eczema?

While anyone can develop papular eczema, a strong genetic component predisposes you to the condition.

For reasons not entirely understood, people of color are more susceptible, particularly people of Asian or African descent. You’re also more at risk if you or a family member has a history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever.

External factors can also trigger the condition, particularly in individuals prone to allergies. Irritants like pollen, smoke, dry air, and chemical fragrances can provoke an allergic response in the body giving rise to inflammation and the characteristic raised bumps.

How to Treat Papular Eczema

To treat papular eczema, simple home remedies are often sufficient for mild cases. Your number one priority is guarding and strengthening your skin’s natural protective barrier.

This skin barrier helps with moisture retention in normal skin while blocking external irritants. Improper gene expressions in people with eczema cause a weakened version of this barrier. Moisture is lost quickly, leading to dry, uncomfortable skin. Simultaneously, irritants penetrate the skin more readily, triggering an inflammatory response.

Start by keeping your skin clean—but don’t overwash it, as this can also damage the skin barrier. Limit your showers and baths to ten minutes, and use lukewarm water, as long, hot soaks can damage your skin.

Protect your skin with a complete solution, like Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy skincare routine for dry skin. Use our daily shampoo and body wash to clean your skin while protecting its critical barrier gently.

Our shampoo is free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and other irritants that can cause an outbreak. Using a non-soap (sulfate-free) cleanser that’s hypoallergenic and has a low PH is super important when it comes to addressing skin with eczema.

What-Does-Eczema-Look-Like-on-a-Baby After your shower, dry off and immediately apply our Happy Cappy moisturizing cream. Its light, hypoallergenic formula soothes dry, irritated skin while locking in critical moisture. You can also apply this cream at other times during the day whenever your skin is feeling dry or irritated. Glycerin, a key ingredient in our shampoo, has been shown to help reduce eczema flares. Learn more here about a study showing how the pairing of ingredients licorice root extract and glycerin can lead to reductions in eczema flares.

For papular eczema that’s not itchy, over-the-counter moisturizers often do the trick. If you find that your eczema is too itchy to bear, try not to scratch, as scratching can worsen your symptoms and lead to long lasting pigmentary changes. As we mentioned before, check with your doctor about prescription or steroid cream options; there are oral over-the-counter anti-itch preparations like diphenhydramine that can bring some relief at night (note: it typically causes drowsiness). These stronger medications can help provide relief and prevent damage to your skin barrier. Ask your doctor which might be right for you.