Here are some other questions you may be asked:

• When did the condition first appear?
• What symptoms have you been experiencing?
• Any potential factors in your life that could make things worse—such as stress, dry air, exposure to chemicals?

A skin biopsy may be done to help diagnose a skin infection or another skin condition. To do this, your doctor removes a bit of skin and examines it under a microscope.

A patch test may also be done to determine if you have an allergic reaction to certain substances.

Ask your doctor about Dermarest^®—over-the-counter medicated treatments that moisturize and relieve the itch of eczema.