People with eczema are constantly battling irritated skin -- and cold weather can make it worse.

David Haywood said the dry, itchy skin caused by his eczema was an annoyance.

"It was on my back, my chest, my legs and my arm, and it was starting to get on my face," said David (pictured, left).

"I realized this child's body was beginning to peel. His skin was coming off in sheets," said Ruth Haywood, David's grandmother.

Dermatologists said David's case was one of the worst they have ever seen.

"In years gone by, people would even have been admitted to the hospital with the severity that he had," said Dr. Katherine O'Rourke, a dermatologist.

Eczema is common, but most cases are not as severe, O'Rourke said.

"It's estimated 15 to 20 percent of people have it," she said.

Eczema often runs in families with a history of asthma, hay fever and eczema. The condition can be treated.

"You get to know which moisturizers work good, which products work good," O'Rourke explained.

Moisturizers help, but prescription creams are usually necessary, she said.

Dermatologists said traditional steroidial creams cannot be used for long periods of time and tend to thin skin.

"Some are restricted to the face," O'Rourke said.

New nonsteroidial medications provide better treatment for eczema, she said.

"They really have made a tremendous amount of improvement in the treatments we have to treat kids and adults with eczema," said O'Rourke.

Eczema cannot be cured, but with proper treatment, it can be managed, she said.

"That's the problem. It gets better and then it flares all over again," said O'Rourke.

She said allergic reactions, stress and strong detergents can cause breakouts.

David still has patches of inflamed skin, but said his eczema is much better.

"Hopefully, it won't ever be as bad as it was, because it was bad at the beginning," he said.

Previous Stories:

• October 9, 2002: Eczema Patients Lack Natural Germ-Killers
• March 18, 2002: Creams May Help Ease Effects Of Eczema