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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
Dermatitis is a common skin reaction in which the skin becomes red and itchy, sometimes with swelling and a rash. The skin may be dry and flaky, and blisters may occur. Although dermatitis is not an infectious condition, there is a risk of developing an infection from scratching. ‘Eczema’ is often used to describe an atopic skin reaction, and ‘dermatitis’ is usually used to describe the skin reaction caused by irritants or allergens, but the two words are sometimes used interchangeably.
Atopic eczema is common and affects up to 20% of people at some time during their lives. A red, itchy rash commonly occurs in the skin creases, such as behind the elbows or knees. Sometimes the skin may be broken. Although the cause of eczema is not known, there is often a family history of the condition. Many people with eczema also have hayfever and/or asthma. Allergies sometimes play a part, such as reactions to certain foods, dust mites, pollen or animal fur. Eczema may be made worse by irritants such as woollen clothes, perfumes, soaps and chemicals. Stress or changes in the weather can also cause flare-ups (periods of time where the skin becomes more itchy and inflamed than usual). Eczema often follows different patterns depending on the age a person develops it.
Infantile eczema usually starts between 4 and 6 months of age. The baby develops a red rash, which may weep. It appears on the cheeks and may spread to the forehead, scalp and the backs of arms and legs. In severe cases it may involve the whole body. This type of eczema usually disappears between the ages of 3 and 5 years.
Childhood eczema may follow infantile eczema, or it may start for the first time between the ages of 2 and 4 years. It tends to occur in the creases of the elbows, behind the knees, across the ankles and also may involve the face, ears and neck. Childhood eczema usually disappears by the age of 10, but may continue into adulthood.
Adults with eczema usually have large areas of itchy, reddened, weeping skin. The elbow creases, wrists, neck, ankles and behind the knees are areas especially affected. The condition tends to improve in middle life and is unusual in elderly people.
When you touch a substance you are allergic to, your body’s immune system reacts and a rash appears at the point of contact, often your hands. Common substances that cause allergies include hair dye, nickel in jewellery, sticking plasters, latex in rubber gloves, plants and cosmetics. This type of dermatitis usually resolves with avoidance of the allergen.
Irritant substances such as soaps, disinfectants, chemicals, detergents and solvents can remove natural oils from your skin. Repeated contact can make skin red, itchy and dry and lead to scaling, cracking and roughness. Hands are the area most commonly affected.
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Body Wash, Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, DermaVeen Soap-Free Cleansing Bar, DermaVeen Soap Free Wash 5.5 (Cleanser), Eulactol Soap-Free Cleansing Bar, Eulactol Soap-Free Wash for Dry Skin, Eulactol Soap-Free Wash for Normal to Oily Skin, Hamilton Dry Skin Treatment Mild Foam Wash, Hamilton Dry Skin Treatment Wash; aqueous cream, emulsifying ointment
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Alpha Keri Lotion, Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Lotion, Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Cream, Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion, Cetaphil Moisturising Cream, Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion, DermaDrate Cracked Heel Treatment, DermaDrate Dry Skin Treatment, DermaVeen Moisturising Lotion, DermaVeen Moisturising Cream, Eulactol Cream for Very Dry Skin, Eulactol Heel Balm, Eulactol Hypo-A Sensitive Skin Moisturiser, Eulactol Moisturising Lotion, Hamilton Dry Skin Treatment Cream, Hamilton Dry Skin Treatment Lip Balm, Hamilton Dry Skin Treatment Lotion, Hydraderm, Macro Natural Vitamin E Cream (lanolin-free), Neutraplus, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Oilatum Emollient, Q.V. Cream (lanolin-free), Q.V. Skin Lotion (lanolin-free), Rosken Skin Repair; aqueous cream, emulsifying ointment
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Silic 15
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Alpha Keri Bath Oil, Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Wash, Aveeno Skin Relief Shower Oil, DermaVeen Colloidal Oatmeal Bath Powder, DermaVeen Shower and Bath Oil, Eulactol Soap-Free Wash for Dry Skin, Eulactol Soap-Free Wash for Normal to Oily Skin, Q.V. Bath Oil (non-slip), Q.V. Flare Up Bath Oil
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Eurax (cream), Pinetarsol Cleansing Bar, Pinetarsol Bath Oil, Q.V. Bath Oil, Sarna Lotion
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. ichthammol (Egoderm Cream, Egoderm Ointment [also contains zinc])
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g. hydrocortisone 0.5% (Cortaid, DermAid Cream 0.5%, DermAid Soft Cream 0.5%)
[PHARMACIST ONLY]
e.g. hydrocortisone 1% products (DermAid Cream 1%, DermAid Soft Cream 1%, Sigmacort 1%)
[PHARMACIST ONLY]
e.g. clobetasone butyrate 0.05% w/w (Becoderm-C FlareUp, Cortef)
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Last Reviewed: 02 December 2009
