DEAR READERS,
Jenifer, from Braeton, St. Catherine, is very concerned about the ever-present dry, rough rash she sees and feels over the back and upper limbs of her three-year-old son.
The skin of his face, back and upper limbs tends to be dry and itchy. She has treated the rash before with ointments prescribed by her family doctor but notices that they soon return and is much worse with significant exposure to heat and sunlight.
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that tends to recur. The skin is usually red and scaly and tends to itch. The most common form of eczema is atopic dematitis which can affect any part of the body, but which is most commonly seen on the face, scalp, in the skin creases and behind the ears. In children a patchy rash tends to appear on the face, elbows and knees, on the sides of the neck and on the wrists and hands. In adults, the rash can occur anywhere.
Eczema is the most common skin condition for children under 12. Atopic dermatitis is an inherited form of hypersensitivity which tends to appear in early childhood. Usually, people with atopic dermatitis have other family members who have had eczema, hey fever or asthma. Often this eczema is associated with allergies to food and pollen.
Prevent flare-ups
Medication does not cure eczema which can only be treated and controlled. Treatment seeks to heal the skin and prevent further flare-ups. Topical anti-inflammatory ointments, usually steroids such as hydrocortisone, bertrude, elocon, dermovate or several others, are usually prescribed to rub into the skin areas with the rash. The itching is often controlled with oral anti-histamine preparations such as DPH, Tavegy, Claritine, Zyrtec, Phenegon and many more.
Very often, monitoring the diet and being careful what you eat can help to control or prevent flare-ups. Allergies to citrus, cow's milk, eggs, shellfish and chocolate can also present as eczema. An effort should be made to determine whether ingesting these food types affects the skin by elimination. The food types are eliminated one at a time over a period of time and the person observes if it makes a difference to how the skin looks.
Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are good skin supplements which help to promote healing of the skin. Selenium and zinc supplements are also useful in supporting healthy skin. Avoid drying out the skin by taking long baths or showers as this removes the skin's natural oils. Do not use harsh soaps either to bathe or to wash your clothes with. Several substitutes for soap are available, including Emusol and Oilatum. Decrease sources of stress as stress worsens eczema.
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