What is Eczema

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition, which is characterised by the following symptoms: redness, swelling of the skin, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.  The outer layer of the skin (epidermis) becomes inflamed, which can also lead to skin discoloration and scarring from scratching.

There are many classifications of Eczema, depending on where it is located, the symptoms and the cause.  Atopic eczema is one of the most common forms, where it starts in childhood and continues into adulthood.

What causes Eczema?

There is no single cause of eczema, but can be a combination of environmental and genetic factors.  You may be born with the condition or develop it later on in life.

Allergens are substances that cause the body to react abnormally and may be responsible for triggering the appearance of eczema.  These can include pollen, dust or pet fur.  Food allergens can be responsible, especially in the first year of life.  Food that typically cause allergic reactions are: cow’s milk, eggs, nuts, soya and wheat.

Other triggers can be non-allergic.  These could be damp conditions, harsh soaps, cold weather, rough clothing or washing too much.

Certain factors may not cause eczema, but can make existing eczema a lot more severe.  This includes hormonal changes, stress and irritants such as chemicals, pets and clothing.

Where does eczema occur?

The areas where eczema commonly occurs are:

How common is eczema?

It is a very common skin disorder.  According to statistics in England, 1 in 9 people have been diagnosed with this condition as some point in their lives.

How do I treat my eczema?

If you are an eczema sufferer, we are here to help.  There is no current cure for eczema; however, there are several treatments available to aid the symptoms.  At our clinic, we have the UK’s leading dermatologists who have the experience and expertise to treat chronic skin conditions.  You can book a private consultation with our dermatologists.

Current treatments available include topical or systemic medication, which may be prescribed depending on the severity of your condition.  Your dermatologist will guide you through a treatment programme designed to relieve you of the harsh symptoms that are painful, uncomfortable and affect self-esteem.  They can also carry out allergy tests to find the possible root cause of your condition.

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