Call Your Doctor If:

– You develop an otherwise unexplained rash and have a family history of eczema or asthma. You should have a medical diagnosis of the condition.

– The inflammation does not respond within a week to treatment with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. A physician may suggest more aggressive forms of treatment.

– You develop yellowish to light brown crust or pus-filled blisters over existing patches of eczema. This may indicate a bacterial infection that should be treated with an antibiotic.

– During a flare-up of eczema, you are exposed to anyone with a viral skin disease such as cold sores or genital herpes. Having eczema puts you at increased risk of contracting the viral disorder.

– You develop numerous small, fluid-filled blisters. You may have eczema herpeticum, a rare but potentially serious complication caused by the herpes simplex virus.