Are You Worried About Eczema?

I had an email this week from a mother worried about her 11 year old son’s eczema (don’t forget that you can email me). Many children do grow out of this painful and irritating skin condition by their mid teens but some do not (one in 12 adults are affected).

Eczema

Symptoms of eczema include painful swelling and oozing of the skin, bleeding cracks, severe scaling, itching and burning. Although it can look unsightly, it is not contagious. There are two main types: contact and atopic eczema.

Contact eczema (sometimes referred to as contact dermatitis) can occur when an irritating substance comes into contact with the skin. Common irritants are wool, detergents, nickel (often in jewellery), perfume and ingredients in cosmetics.

The other main type, atopic eczema is thought to be hereditary and is also usually triggered by allergins but this time the substance is inhaled or ingested (as in foods, dust, pollen, etc). Asthma and hayfever are closely linked to atopic eczema and sufferers often display symptoms of two or more conditions.

When people with atopic eczema are exposed to an irritant or allergen to which they are sensitive, inflammation producing cells come into the skin. There, the cells release chemicals that cause itching and redness. Further damage occurs when the person scratches and rubs the affected area. Constant scratching can cause the skin to split, leaving it prone to infection. In infected eczema the skin may crack and weep (‘wet’ eczema).

Whilst there is no cure for eczema, there are lifestyle changes that you can make to manage the condition and avoid flare ups – such as minimizing environmental allergens in the home. The first step is consulting your GP to diagnose what type of eczema you have.

Conventional treatments include emollient creams and ointments, liquid bath emollients, steroid creams and ointments, immuno-modulator treatments and antibiotic creams. Your GP may refer you to a dermatologist or a dietician who can also recommend any dietary changes or supplements that may help. Recent research suggests that prebiotics and essential fatty acids may help manage eczema. Essential fatty acids can be found abundantly in fish oils, flax seed oil and evening primrose oil.  I try and get as many of my clients as possible onto a good quality heavy metal free omega 3 oil that we sell in the clinic. Some also find that rubbing grape seed oil into the affected area can help.

An effective skin care routine is also key to minimising skin damage. Your GP or dermatologist will advise you and the National Eczema Society (NES) has a very informative website: www.eczema.org You can also find details of local support groups on their website. NES also offers general advice such as wear- ing cotton clothing to reduce itchiness and tips on reducing allergens in the home (eg dust mites).

Some sufferers have found that complementary therapies such as acupuncture osteomyology or chiropractic help reduce their symptoms. Indeed, over the years I have had several patients, whom I was treating for other problems, report that their skin lesions dramatically reduced over a period of weeks and months. Although much research is needed in this area and it varies with individuals, improvement may be due to the spinal adjustments working on improving the functioning of your nervous system. A better functioning nervous system allows your body to get on with its job of healing and maintaining health levels. Although not proven, it is also thought that stress can worsen flare ups so learning a deep breathing relaxation technique may help take your focus off the pain and itching.

With school age children suffering with eczema, it may help to discuss the condition with your child’s teacher so they can be on the look out for bullying. The NES has specific advice for schools and you may find it easier to print off their information and hand it you child’s teacher.

Further information:

The National Eczema Society 0870 241 3604 www.eczema.org

Eczema Voice www.eczemavoice.com

Eczema Letters www.eczemaletters.com

The National Eczema Association (USA) www.nationaleczema.org

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