Eczema

We had our second baby in March, a daughter, so it's been awhile since I've managed to find time to write a new post.

Thought I'd restart by doing something short and sharp on eczema. Eczema is a type of chronic dermatitis that usually affects people with a family history of eczema, asthma and/or hayfever. The main signs include dry, red and itchy skin and it can vary in severity from mild redness or itching to weeping and infected blisters.

Eczema  is very common, especially in babies, but 50% of babies grow out of it by the time they are two years old, and 85% by the time they are five.

The main rules for looking after eczema are:

1. Moisturise

Keeping skin nice and moist helps to decrease itching and dryness. Moisturisers should be applied liberally at least twice a day, including after bathing. There are literally hundreds of different moisturisers available, but perfumed products should be avoided. Our pharmacists at Berwick Pharmacy can assist you in choosing the right one.

2. Avoid soap

Soap can be very drying on the skin so it is better to use specially formulated soap substitutes, available from Berwick Pharmacy. Try not to have the water too hot in the shower or bath as this can increase dryness and itchiness.

3. Medications if needed

The most common medication used to treat eczema are corticosteroid creams. These vary in potency, with some available from Berwick Pharmacy over-the-counter whilst others require a prescription from your doctor. Chat to our pharmacists to discuss your options.

Other medications such as oral antihistamines, other skin preparations or even immunosuppressants may also be useful. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor about these.

If the skin becomes infected (look for crusts which are often yellow and weeping of the area), see your doctor as your may need a course of antibiotics.

4. Avoid triggers

If you are able to identify triggers that make your eczema worse, it makes sense to avoid these. Some triggers include stress, cat and/or dog hair, overheating (either from showers or baths, ducted heating or electric blankets) or chemicals (wear gloves if handling chemicals or detergents). It's often better to wear cotton clothing and to try and limit clothes with synthetic fabrics or wool which can be scratchy against the skin.

5. Try to avoid scratching

This can be super difficult, but it may be useful to try and relieve itching by using cool compresses or covering the skin. Ensure you keep your nails short and you may even need to wear cotton gloves while you are sleeping.

So if you or someone in your family has eczema, pop into Berwick Pharmacy to speak to our pharmacists and pick up your free Self Care Card.

References and further reading

Eczema and Dermatitis Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published June 2012 (accessed online 4 July 2012)
Knowing Your Child's Eczema, Royal Children's Hospital website
Eczema Association of Australasia Inc website