Eczema
What is eczema?
Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a common problem affecting many people, especially children. The main symptom is red, swollen, scaly, itchy skin, which sometimes weeps.
Although all parts of the body can be affected, eczema is most often found in areas known as 'flexures' — where skin folds back on itself — such as the back of the knees, front of the elbows and behind the ears. In small children it often occurs on the face and scalp.
What causes eczema?
There is no precise cause of eczema. In some cases, it is a type of allergic reaction and often occurs in people who have asthma or suffer from hayfever. Many people in the same family may have similar problems. In other people there is no direct relationship to causative factors.
What are the common eczema triggers?
Many things cause eczema to flare up. These can include extremes of temperature and irritation from products such as wool, synthetic clothing, soaps and strong detergents.
Sometimes an allergy to certain foods, for example cows' milk, is blamed for eczema. Although this is sometimes the case, it is probably not as common as thought. However, parents of children with eczema could experiment, in consultation with their doctor, by eliminating specific things from the child's diet for a few weeks and then re-introducing them to see if they make a difference.
What are the complications associated with eczema?
One of the biggest problems with eczema is the occurrence of infection in the affected skin. This is usually due to scratching, which is hard to stop. Antihistamine tablets or syrup may help with this. Sometimes children need to sleep with their hands bandaged to stop them scratching.
Last Reviewed: 16 September 2004
Sponsored links
