Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is more prevalent than many people realise, and it is estimated that one in three Australians will suffer from it to some degree during their lives. It is an inflammatory, highly itchy eruption of the skin.
The condition is most common in people with a family history of an atopic disorder, including asthma, warts, fungal infection or hay fever.
This condition can affect people of all ages but usually appears in early childhood (in babies between two-to-six months of age) and disappears when the child is about six years old. More than 50% of eczema sufferers show signs of the condition within their first 12 months of life and 20% of people develop eczema before they are five.
According to the Australian journal of dermatology, today we have 16.4% cases of Atopic dermatitis. The number of female patients outruns the male population suffering the same. And one out of every five individuals are suffering from a chronic and severe form of atopic dermatitis.
The good news is that most children outgrow the condition, but a small percentage may experience severe eczema in adulthood. The condition can affect the individual sufferer, as well as their family and friends. Adult-onset eczema is often very hard to treat and may be caused by factors such as medicines.
The reason why some people develop eczema and some do not is very poorly understood but, it has been reported that eczema sufferers also suffer from other allergies. This has led to a theory that genetic factors increase the likelihood of a person developing eczema.
The skin of people suffering from eczema is different from those people who do not have eczema. In people with eczema, the skin barrier does not work properly meaning it has less water-retaining properties, causing it to dry out easily.
There are many things you can do to help avoid an eczema outbreak and your community pharmacist can provide advice about this.
Some of the steps you can take include:
Skin should be kept moist by using a daily moisturizer
Avoid rough, scratchy fibres and tight clothing
Use rubber gloves with cotton liners
Have lukewarm baths and showers
Use a non-soap cleanser or hypoallergenic bath oil
Gently pat skin dry with a soft towel
Use a non-soap cleanser or hypoallergenic bath oil
Apply a moisturiser within three minutes of a bath or shower to “trap” the moisture in the skin
Avoid rapid changes of temperature
Avoid activities that raise a sweat
If possible, remove carpets and rugs from houses
Keep pets outside
Air the house as often as possible
Avoid stuffed toys
Change bed linen regularly
Reduce daily stress
Medicated lotions and other topical formulations are available which help relieve eczema.
Our pharmacists and staff can provide you with more information about eczema and help in choosing the right medicine for your treatment.
