Definitions

Eczema affects about 10-20 per cent of schoolchildren.The word ‘eczema’ comes from Greek words that mean ‘to boil over’. ‘Dermatitis’ comes from the Greek word for skin and both terms refer to exactly the same skin condition. Eczema is the term generally used here, although the two words are interchangeable.

Eczema is an itchy inflammation of the skin associated to a varying degree with other features such as:

 

Eczema is divided into a small number of subgroups based largely on the factors that may be most important in causing eczema in any one individual, but it is important to recognise that the symptoms and appearance of the skin in all these types can be exactly the same.

Also, it is often difficult or impossible to accurately say what causes eczema to occur in any one person.

The lines of treatment of the different types of eczema are also similar. The main differences are to do with the particular factors causing an individual’s eczema. Thus if it is thought to be mainly due to exposure to an irritant substance at work then removal or protection from this irritant will be an important part of managing that person’s eczema compared to someone else with no such history of exposure.

Main groups

ATOPIC  the ‘allergic’ type often seen in people who also have hay fever or asthma.

ALLERGIC CONTACT:due to skin contact to a substance to which the individual is sensitive. The same substance does not cause eczema in a person who is not sensitive to it

 

IRRITANT CONTACT:due to skin contact with irritating chemicals, powders, cleaning agents, etc. Contact with such a substance is likely to cause eczema in any person, although a degree of individual variation still exists.

 

DISCOID:appears as discrete islands of eczema on a background of normal skin

 

SEBORRHOEIC:in infants appears in the nappy area and the scalp. In adults, also appears on the scalp and in the skin creases between the nose and sides of the mouth. Can be caused by yeast infection.

 

OTHERS:a miscellaneous group including eczema of the legs caused by varicose veins and pompholyx – an intensely itchy form located on the hands and composed of small or (sometimes) large blisters.

Eczema is a common condition. Atopic eczema affects about 10-20 per cent of schoolchildren and 3-5 per cent of adults in the UK, and it is getting more common.

An increase of between two- and five-fold has been seen over the past 30 years, for reasons that are far from clear.

Apparently, it is likely that increasing exposure to allergens (protein substances to which people can become allergic) such as house dust mite and other environmental factors have been the main causes of this increase.

Although some older industrial practices have reduced the level of exposure of workers to irritant chemicals there are still plenty of examples of poor practice, or of inadequate care being taken at the individual level in handling materials known to potentially cause irritant contact eczema.

Even within the home environment ever more cleaning agents, solvents, detergents, oils and other materials potentially harmful to skin are easily available.

Rarely can eczema be said to be curable, but there are ways to help maintain the problems associated with this condition.

It is unusual to be able to identify and eliminate a single agent causing the skin reaction and most of the time we have to settle for improving the condition rather than getting rid of it altogether.

 

If you would like a recommendation for natural products that are in our range that can help with this condition please use the contact us form or please pick up the phone for advice 0844 453 2139.