The Facts About Eczema

Around one in 12 adults and one in five children have eczema.

There are many different types of eczema from mild to severe including Atopic Eczema - the most common form that often runs in families and Contact Eczema which may be caused by irritants such as detergents.

Eczema is a non-contagious inflammatory condition of the skin. The term "eczema" comes from the Greek word ekzein meaning "to boil over".

The most common features of eczema are very itchy, dry, red skin. The itching and scratching, commonly known as the "itch-scratch-itch cycle", are seen as the most distressing part of eczema, causing disturbed sleep for the person with eczema.

The itchiness produces an urge to scratch which can be hard to resist - whatever your age.

Eczema can make the skin dry, hot and itchy and it can become broken, raw and bleeding.

However certain things such as stress, house dust mites and detergents can make it worse.

Conventional treatments include moisturizers and topical steroids. However, everyone's skin is different, what helps one will not always help another.

If not treated appropriately the skin may get more irritated and itchy leading to more scratching and damage to the skin. Emotionally and physically this can be devastating.