Eczema information page:

WHAT IS ECZEMA | WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA | WHICH TYPE OF ECZEMA DO I HAVE | WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ECZEMA | HOW COMMON IS ECZEMA | CAN ECZEMA BE CURED OR TREATED

Here are answers to our most frequently asked questions:

WHAT IS ECZEMA?

In eczema, the skin becomes itchy, dry and flaky, and is often red and painful. Sometimes it weeps or bleeds. Eczema, is sometimes called Dermatitis and represents a group of skin conditions affecting all age groups. The UK populous has almost up to one fifth of all children of school age having eczema. Coupled with roughly one in twelve adults suffering there is a real need for some effective treatments. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry and may be prone to feeling hot and itchy. In more severe forms the skin can become broken, damaged and infected.

Despite the somewhat unpleasant looks of eczema it is not contagious. The inflammation of eczema can be reduced with treatment but it is likely the skin will remain sensitive and need increased care in the future.

WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA?

The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has. Atopic eczema is the most common thought to be a genetically linked hereditary condition. It is sometimes related to hay-fever and asthma. Atopic eczema means eczema caused by an extra sensitivity to substances which can most commonly include house dust mites, feathers, pollen, cat or dog fur and sometimes foodstuffs e.g. cows milk, eggs or nuts. In this form there is an overly strong reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin.

It is known that other irritants have an effect, as do other conditions such as poor blood flow in later years. Not all forms of eczema are fully understood, but in many forms the symptoms can at least in part, be relieved.

WHICH TYPE OF ECZEMA DO I HAVE?

There are several different types of eczema, many of which look similar but have very different causes and treatments.

A correct diagnosis is essential, but the main categories are:
Atopic eczema
Allergic contact eczema or dermatitis
Irritant contact eczema
Infantile seborrhoeic eczema
Adult seborrhoeic eczema
Varicose eczema
Discoid eczema
Other forms of eczema are also found but uncommon

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ECZEMA?

Atopic eczema
Atopic eczema is the commonest form of eczema with the most common symptom of atopic eczema being is its itchiness. Other symptoms generaly include dryness of the skin, redness and inflammation. The itching can cause constant scratching which may break the skin allowing it to become infected. In infected eczema the skin may crack and weep (‘wet’ eczema). Traditional treatments include emollients to maintain skin hydration and steroids to reduce inflammation, altough the preference is to use treatments that are more natural to stimulate healthy skin growth, and to protect it against infection.

Allergic contact eczema or dermatitis
This form of eczema develops when the body’s immune system reacts against a substance in contact with the skin. Often it take a period of time for a reaction to develop and generaly it requires repeated contact with the substance. This could occur due to contact with nickel, which is often found in earrings, belt buckles and jeans buttons. Sometimes contact with other substances such as perfumes and rubber can have the same effect. The key thing here is that allergic contact eczema is caused by substances that would NOT normally cause a person any problems that are not sensitive to it.

Irritant contact dermatitis
This is a type of eczema caused by contact with substances, such as detergents solvents and other chemicals, which are irritating to the skin. It usually noticed on the hands of adults and can be prevented by avoiding the irritants, sometimes with mechanical means such as barrier creams and gloves plus keeping the skin moisturised.

Infantile seborrhoeic eczema
It is not known why this occurs, but it is found in the nappy area and the scalp. Infantile seborrhoeic eczema is referred to as cradle cap, and starting on the scalp or the nappy area and quickly spreads. This type of eczema looks unpleasant but it is not sore or itchy and does not cause the baby to feel uncomfortable or unwell. This type of eczema generaly clears in just a few months. Happily the use of moisturising creams and bath oils can help to speed this along.

Adult seborrhoeic eczema
In adults, also appears on the scalp and in the skin creases between the nose and sides of the mouth. this typically affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40. It is usually seen on the scalp as mild dandruff, but if untreated can spread to the face, ears and chest. The skin becomes red, inflamed and starts to flake. This condition can be caused by a yeast infection and if the condition becomes infected, treatment with an anti-fungal cream may be necessary.

Varicose eczema
People in their middle to late years are more likely to suffer from Varicose eczema, being caused by poor circulation. It is usually the skin around the ankles is affected, becoming spotty, itchy and inflamed.

Discoid eczema
Often found in adults discoid eczema suddenly shows as a few circular areas of red skin, normally on the body or lower legs. In some cases the itchy areas can weep fluid.

HOW COMMON IS ECZEMA?
Eczema is sadly on the increase, atopic eczema which affects about 10-20 per cent of schoolchildren and 3-5 per cent of adults in the UK, is getting more common.

There has been an increase in eczema cases of between two and five fold has been seen over the past 30 years and the reasons for that increase are unclear. It is most likely that the irritants that might trigger eczema are behind the increase, but as yet this remains unproved.

CAN ECZEMA BE CURED OR TREATED?
Treatment of eczema can produce amazing results in the most severe of cases in remarkably short time frames, click here to see our eczema case studies. A cure, sadly is less than likely as the sensitivity that can be the trigger for the eczema does not simply go away once the dreaded itch that eczema sufferers know has been relieved.