PMC - Eczema

Question 1

What is eczema?

Answer 1

Chronic atopic condition caused by breaches of the skin barrier resulting in inflammation

Question 2

Eczema normally presents in infancy with what?

Answer 2

Dry, red, sore and itchy patches of skin over the flexor surfaces

Question 3

1) What is given for the maintenance management of eczema?
2) How do these work?

Answer 3

1) Emollients
2) Soap substitutes that are thick and greasy - designed to compensate for the defective skin barrier

Question 4

1) Name 2 ways that flare ups can be managed

Answer 4

1) Thicker and greasier emollients, topical steroids, wet wraps and treating bacterial/viral infection if present

Question 5

Topical steroids can be used for an eczema flare up - name a downside of this as management

Answer 5

• Can make the skin skinner and therefore more prone to future flares
• Bruising
• Tearing
• Stretch marks
• Enlarged blood vessels superficially called telangiectasia

Question 6

1) Name a mild steroid
2) Name a potent steroid

Answer 6

1) Hydrocortisone
2) Betamethasone

Question 7

1) Opportunistic bacterial infection of the skin can happen in eczema - what is the commonest organism?
2) What antibiotic can be used to manage this?

Answer 7

1) Staphylococcus aureus
2) Flucloxacillin

Question 8

What is eczema herpeticum?

Answer 8

HSV or VZV skin infection in someone that has eczema