eczema?

Question 1

what is atopic eczema?

Answer 1

is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition that affects people of all ages, although it presents most frequently in childhood

Question 2

what are the symptoms of eczema?

Answer 2

o irritants such as soap
o extremes of temperature
o stress and hormone changes in
women
o Inhaled allergens e.g. house dust
mites, pollens
o Certain foods e.g. dairy, fruits

Question 3

red flag of eczema?

Answer 3

• Broken or damaged skin
• Failure to OTC treatment
• Severe eczema
• Secondary bacterial infection e.g. impetigo

Question 4

life style advice?

Answer 4

• Encourage the frequent and liberal use of emollients, even during periods where the skin is clear
• Advise that they should avoid scratching the eczema (if possible), and simply rub the area with their fingers to alleviate itch.
o Nails should be kept short, and anti-scratch mittens should be used in babies with eczema
• Avoid trigger factors, where known:
o Wear gloves when using detergents and cleaning compounds o Use non-abrasive clothing e.g. cotton
o Avoid temperature extremes

Question 5

drug treatment options for eczema?

Answer 5

• Emollients should be applied frequently, and use should be encouraged as part of the daily routine
• A mildly potent corticosteroid (hydrocortisone 1% or clobetasone 0.05%) can be bought over the counter for adults and children over 10 years for acute flare-ups, applied once or twice daily for a maximum of one week (to avoid skin thinning).
o They cannot be recommended OTC in pregnancy, for the face or anogenital areas
• When using topical corticosteroids, the patient should wait for 30 minutes before applying emollients to avoid diluting the steroid