Eczema

Eczema is one of the most common skin disorders in Australia. Up to 1 in 10 people are affected by the red, dry and itchy skin that is caused by eczema.

The effects of eczema are more far reaching than just the physical discomfort. For many people the effects of eczema can be devastating as the itchy and dry skin can lead to:

• lack of sleep
• unsightly skin appearance
• strained relationships
• time off work for treatment
• financial difficulties

Understanding what leads to the worsening of the condition and then applying the appropriate treatment can control eczema.

What is Eczema?

The word eczema comes from the ancient Greek meaning, "to boil over". It is used to describe an inflammation of the skin, which causes redness and intense itching. The most common type of eczema in children is atopic eczema, which may be associated with asthma or hay fever. It is IMPORTANT that you see your GP or dermatologist for an exact diagnosis of atopic eczema.

Atopic eczema is a disease that is usually more pronounced in the younger years of life, and may be associated with asthma or hayfever. The red, dry skin that is characteristic of eczema may be present on various areas of the body depending on age.

infants - face children (up to 18 months) - face and knees children (above 18 months) - flexures, knees, wrists, ankles and neck adults - flexures, knees, wrists, ankles and neck

What Causes Eczema?

Atopic eczema can be related to your genes. There may be someone else in the family with eczema, asthma or hayfever. It is not clear what the underlying cause of eczema is, although there are many factors that can lead to an aggravation of the eczema.

This skin of people affected with eczema becomes very sensitive. This is because in eczema affected skin the protective lipid (oily) layer present in normal may be absent. The absence of this protective layer means that people with eczema are often sensitive to many different environmental allergens. These allergens can include:

• grass
• pollen
• house dust mites
• cat and dog fur
• feathers

Young children may also react to certain foods such as:

• eggs
• cows’ milk
• peanuts
• fish

These allergens can all contribute to the worsening of the condition and should be avoided.

Your doctor will advise you if you should seek further allergy testing.

Symptoms of Eczema

The distinguishing symptoms of eczema are dry and itchy skin. This is the start of the vicious SCRATCH / ITCH cycle in which so many eczema sufferers are trapped:

As many eczema patients can attest to, it is this itching which is the source of major discomfort. Unfortunately scratching the affected regions only leads to worsening of the eczema and can cause further disruption of the skin. The affected area can then begin to weep leading to the possibility of a bacterial infection.  

Infection of the eczema by bacteria can lead to inflammation and an increase in the severity of the itch. This tempts the patient to scratch and start the SCRATCH / ITCH cycle again. The cycle can be very painful and frustrating for the eczema patient.

Prevention and Treatment

There is no known cure for eczema. However, for many people it is possible to relieve the symptoms.

Prevention

• Keep skin cool
• avoid woollens and synthetics
• avoid hot baths and showers
• Keep skin moist
• don’t bathe too frequently, it dries out the skin. Use bath or shower oils to rehydrate the skin
• avoid soap (use a soap substitute)
• Avoid irritants
• pet fur
• dust mites
• Avoid allergens
• peanuts
• eggs

If you have atopic eczema it is important to speak to your GP about allergy testing.

Treatment

The aim of all eczema treatments is to break the SCRATCH / ITCH cycle. There are a number of treatments available:

These are products that moisturise and soften the skin, for example OILATUM Emollient, Q.V. Bath Oil, HAMILTONS Bath Oil and DERMAVEEN. They restore the elasticity and suppleness of the skin and help to reduce the itching. This helps the sufferer break the SCRATCH / ITCH cycle.

Emollients are safe and should be used frequently as a first-line treatment.

You should be careful to avoid products that contain ingredients to which you may be sensitive. These may include perfumes and fragrances. 

Steroid creams can help to reduce the inflammation and itch associated with eczema. Mild steroid creams (such as those containing hydrocortisone) are useful in relieving the symptoms of mild to moderate forms of eczema. Your OZePHARMACIST can advise you about using these creams.

Combination products, such as OILATUM PLUS, contain both an anti-bacterial and an emollient. The emollient moisturises and softens the skin while the anti-bacterial compounds help to reduce the levels of bacterial infection on the skin.

These products break the SCRATCH / ITCH cycle in TWO places:

1. The emollient moisturises and relieves the red, dry skin by locking in water.
2. The anti-bacterial helps to fight the bacterial infection and it may also help to reduce inflammation and relieve itching.

For more information on OILATUM PLUS call Stiefel Laboratories (1800-251-075 or 02-9894-5088), visit www.stiefel.com or contact your OZePHARMACIST.

The need for steroid creams may be lessened due to the effectiveness of these combination products.