Although there is no specific treatment for controlling eczema, here are some general rules and measures to follow:

* Never use soap! Soap removes the natural oils from your already overdry skin. Use a soap less cleanser, such as Cetaphil Lotion, or a soap substitute, such as Lowila Cake.

* Take baths and showers in lukewarm-not hot-water. Add soothing bath oils to the water for excessively dry, scaly skin. And when you dry, dry by patting-not by rubbing.

* Keep fingernails short and clean.

* Avoid sudden extremes of temperature and any violent exercise that causes sweating. Going from a hot to a cold or from a cold to a hot environment will trigger the itching mechanism.

* Keep the relative humidity above 40 percent-winter and summer-to protect the already dry skin from becoming completely dehydrated.

* Eliminate fuzzy, rough, and woolen clothing as these aggravate eczema. Soft, loose, cotton clothing is best. . Get rid of furry and fuzzy toys and feather pillows. . Do not allow children to play on floor rugs or rough upholstery.

* And while it may seem cruel to you, removing household pets, particularly longhaired dogs and cats, is a must.

* Don’t work around or expose yourself to dust, industrial chemicals, fumes, sprays, cutting oils, paints, varnishes, and solvents. All these will tend to worsen your eczema. ;

* Avoid all cosmetics, cleansers, body oils, and lotions that contain lanolin. Lanolin is good for sheep but bad for humans. It causes allergies, plugs up oil glands (causing acne), and aggravates eczema. (Besides, why use a product on your skin that is advertised as great for polishing shoes and cleaning pots?)

* Avoid colds and other respiratory infections. These lower the resistance of your skin and make your atopic dermatitis worse.

* Don’t wear rubber gloves for household chores. Even the cotton-lined varieties “sweat” when immersed in hot water, thereby leaching out the chemicals and stabilizers in the rubber which only exacerbate eczema skin of the fingers and hands. If you find that you must do the housework and dishes with rubber gloves, get cotton liners (Dermal Gloves) and wear them at all times under the cotton-lined rubber gloves.

* Avoid exposing yourself to people who have cold sores (fever blisters). The virus that causes cold sores can cause serious eruptions in people who have eczema.

* Avoid over-the-counter salves and lotions containing ben-zocaine and antihistamines.

* Don’t use Vaseline and other greasy ointments. These tend to intensify the itching by preventing the evaporation of sweat.

* During the winter holidays, steer clear of live Christmas trees. The artificial varieties are less irritating and less allergenic to eczema sufferers.

* Whenever possible, avoid emotional stress and tension. You may find that a flare-up of your condition was actually triggered by some conflict, anxiety, or stressful situation. There is no other skin condition where “nerves” playa greater role.

* Diet is not a factor in most cases of eczema, but if you think that your rash worsens after eating a certain food, eliminate it for a few weeks to see if your condition improves. Frequently implicated foods are: milk, cheese, spices, citrus fruits, seafood, fish, and eggs.

*Try not to scratch. Not only will scratching aggravate your condition, but it can break and damage your skin, thus contributing to secondary bacterial infection.

Above all, try to be patient and keep a positive attitude. Despite the agony it can cause, eczema is not a serious disorder. If you can learn to live with it and keep the rash under control, chances are it will burn itself out of its own record.

If, however, your rash persists and the itching is uncontrollable, see your dermatologist. He or she will be able to prescribe some time-tested remedies in ‘the form of creams, lotions, cortisone-like drugs, and, perhaps, antibiotics if your rash becomes infected.