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What is eczema/ skin rash?

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that starts in infancy or childhood. 1 in 5 children are estimated to suffer from eczema.

It starts as an itchy red rash with cracked skin, commonly over the wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, the rash may be on the neck, face, and body as well. Over time, the skin may thicken due to repeated rubbing and inflammation.

Some children outgrow eczema, however for others, eczema may wax and wane even in adulthood.

Why does eczema occur?

Eczema is a result of the interaction of genes and environment. People with eczema have a more permeable or ‘leaky’ skin barrier, therefore the skin is more susceptible to irritation by things such as soaps, chemicals, fragrances, dust, smoke, sweat, clothing fibres, and more — resulting in the itchy rash.

Eczema is not caused by bacteria, and is not contagious. However, broken skin due to repeated scratching can be at risk of getting infected.

How to manage eczema?

As people with eczema have more sensitive skin, it is important to avoid things that can cause eczema to flare up. Even if the skin is clear with no rashes, care must be taken to keep the skin moisturised and healthy.

Daily maintenance care

• Use a soap-free body wash and lukewarm water in the shower. Avoid taking long or hot showers as it dries out the skin.
• Apply a non-fragranced moisturiser to the whole body twice a day. This is best done within a few minutes after showering.
• Avoid exposure to trigger factors where possible.

Treatment during flares

• Steroid creams or ointments may be prescribed by your doctor for eczema flares. Steroid creams reduce the acute inflammation quickly.
• Antihistamine tablets help to relieve itch, especially at night to allow better sleep.
• For moderate to severe eczema which is not improving despite proper application of steroid creams, calcineurin inhibitor creams such as Elidel or Protopic are an option. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor.

• Wet wraps help to soothe itchy and irritated skin, and reduce oozing discharge from rashes and broken skin. Wet wraps lock in moisture to the skin, similar to the effect of facial sheet masks. They can be left for several hours overnight, and have been shown to reduce scratching and improve sleep quality in children with eczema.

If you suspect you or your loved one has eczema, see our friendly doctors for a thorough assessment and more information on how to manage it.

Photo credit: https://www.eczemacompany.com/what-is-wet-wrap-therapy-for-eczema/