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

Springtime & Hay Fever...aa-aa-choo!

It's so lovely to see the blue sky and flowers blooming after Winter. Ah, who doesn't love Spring?

Hay fever sufferers, that's who. And when I say sufferers, I really mean sufferers.

For those who don't get hay fever, it's difficult to understand exactly how terrible it can be. I mean, it's just a bit of sneezing, right? Wrong.

Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis - rhino- from the Latin word for nose and -itis meaning inflammation. Around 1 in 5 Australians are expected to have an allergic condition at some point in their lives and it can occur anytime of the year, not just in Spring. Symptoms may include sneezing (mild to uncontrollable), a runny or blocked nose, an itchy or tickling sensation in the nose, throat, ears and roof of the mouth, red, puffy and itchy eyes and a loss of smell or taste. These symptoms may affect concentration and even sleep, making severe sufferers tired and irritable. The symptoms are often at their worst in the morning and on windy days when there is more pollen in the air.

Hay fever is caused by an overactive immune system reacting to certain triggers or allergens. Pollen is the most common allergen, but dust mites, mould spores and animal cells or hair (commonly cats or dogs) can also cause problems. Often people with hay fever are also unlucky enough to get eczema, asthma or hives and it generally runs in families. In fact, if either mum or dad has hay fever, the child has about 30% chance of also having it. If both parents have hay fever, it's about 70% likely the child will have it.

There are lots of non-prescription treatments for hayfever available at Terry White Chemists Berwick. Some of these include:

• Antihistamine tablets, capsules or liquids - the most popular ones are non-drowsy and can be taken once a day. For whatever reason, different ones work best for different people so it may be worth trying a few to work out your favourite.
• Antihistamine eyedrops - these help itchy, swollen and runny eyes.
• Decongestant nasal sprays or drops - particularly useful for a runny or blocked nose, but shouldn't be used for more than five days in a row as long-term use can damage nasal tissue.
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays - these help prevent and reduce the inflammation in the nose and help with symptoms of sneezing, runny or blocked nose and puffy or watery eyes. They start to work within a few hours, but will achieve their maximum effect within a few days. They need to be taken continuously during the hay fever season to work best and are safe to use long-term.

Some people may benefit from immunotherapy which aims to build up your body's tolerance to allergens by gradually increasing exposure to them, usually by repeated injections or sometimes drops placed under the tongue. Immunotherapy should only be done under medical supervision as it can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Speak to your doctor for more information or check out this link.

So what else can you do to help manage your hay fever? Some suggestions include:

• Avoiding triggers. For example, keep an eye on the pollen count during weather reports and stay inside on days with high pollen forecasts, windy days or after thunderstorms.
• Keep car and house doors and windows closed during pollen season.
• Shower and wash your hair after being outdoors to remove pollen.
• Splash eyes often with cold water to help flush out any pollen.
• Smear petroleum jelly inside your nose to reduce the amount of pollen that you inhale.
• Avoid cigarette smoke as it can make you more sensitive to other allergens.
• Keep animals outdoors.
• Clean your house regularly to reduce dust and mould.
• Hard surfaces such as floorboards and tiles are likely to be better than carpets and rugs.
• Remove sheepskins and woollen and feather bedding from bedrooms.
• Wash soft toys regularly in hot water (60°C).

Our staff at Terry White Chemists Berwick would love to help you manage your hay fever, regardless of how mild or severe it is. Pop in for a chat and don't forget to ask for your Hay Fever Self Care Card.

To finish, I thought I'd attach this very cute clip. I can't be certain that this bear has hay fever, but I'm sure hay fever sufferers can relate!

References and further reading

• Hay Fever Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website
• Hay Fever Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published June 2011 (accessed online 8 September 2011)