Eczema

(atopic dermatitis)

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Skin affected by eczema is dry, red and itchy — it can also become cracked and sore or even weepy and scab over. Not scratching itchy eczema can be difficult, but scratching it can make the condition worse and lead to it becoming infected.

There is currently no cure for eczema but there are ways to help keep it under control, which can include using topical corticosteroid creams or ointments such as Sigmacort.

Eczema is a common skin problem, particularly in young children, but can affect people at any age:

Infantile eczema — is a common problem in babies that usually starts around 6 months of age and begins to improve when the child is about 2 to 5 years old. The red, dry rash usually appears on their face, but can also be found on their body, limbs and behind their ears — it can become very itchy and they may have difficulty sleeping.
Childhood eczema — mainly affects skin creases (knees, elbows and ankles) but can also be seen on the face, ears and neck.
Adult eczema — tends to occur as very dry, red areas around wrists, knees, elbows, ankles and on the neck. The condition tends to improve as you get older and is not common in older adults.

What causes Eczema?

It’s not known exactly what causes some people to have eczema, but it does tend to run in families (has a genetic factor) and people who have eczema also tend to have other allergies such as asthma or hay fever.

Eczema can come and go over time and be triggered by a range of things including:

Having dry skin and scratching
Coming into contact with irritants (such as perfumes, soap, woollen fabrics and chemicals) or allergens in the environment (such as dust mites, pollens or animal hair/fur)
Being stressed
Having a viral or bacterial infection.

You can help keep eczema under control by:

Avoiding triggers or things you know irritate your skin
Keeping your skin well moisturised
Controlling the itch — as scratching can make things worse
Applying creams or ointments recommended by your doctor as soon as eczema starts to appear.