October is Eczema awareness month — here’s what you need to know

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that affects 20% of children and 10% of adults. Although there are plenty of informative and helpful resources, misinformation is common, which is frustrating for people who manage the skin condition daily. 

One of the most common myths is that eczema is just dry skin. Eczema also is not a sudden rash or occasional itchiness. Unfortunately, there is no easy ‘cure’ for eczema, but, thankfully, it can be managed with the right care and information.

Eczema is a medical skin condition, so your first port of call should be your GP. In skin therapy, it is our duty to refer clients to a GP when they are not sure if their symptoms point towards eczema.

We have plenty of advice on how to manage eczema, alongside the advice that you will get from your GP. 

This is why I often mention the skin health jigsaw puzzle, which is the term I use to refer to an holistic approach to skin health and which involves a variety of different disciplines, such as doctors, nutritionists, dermatologists, skin therapists, and psychologists.

Eczema is more of a category than a condition, and when we refer to eczema, we often mean atopic eczema, the most common form. 

Eczema sufferers may have symptoms such as red, purple, or grey-ish patches of inflammation, scaley patches, itching, cracking and swelling, as well as soreness and discomfort. Some people may find — especially those who scratch or experience cracking — that any open wounds may allow for infection, which, of course, warrants a trip to the GP.

Causes

The cause of eczema is not clear. Research has shown that you’re more likely to have it if, for example, one of your parents has it. 

Additionally, studies have found that those with atopic eczema have lower amounts of lipids and differences in the lipids in their skin, and subsequently tend to have problems with the functioning of their skin barrier. 

This is the protective layer of our skin, which has the important job of keeping irritants out, while retaining moisture. 

Common eczema triggers include potentially irritating cosmetic ingredients, such as drying alcohols and certain sulphates, mites, extreme weather conditions, food allergies, stress, pollen, hormonal changes, and dry or dusty air.

Treatment

As mentioned, your first and most important line of treatment is what is recommended by your GP.

At The Skin Nerd, we have lots of clients who suffer from eczema and our feedback has revealed that essential fatty acid supplements (such as an omega supplement) can be very helpful, as can skincare that includes anti-inflammatory properties that calm irritation.

Omega–3 supplementation has promise in assisting with eczema symptoms and increasing the omega–3 in your diet. 

To make sure that your skincare doesn’t exacerbate your eczema, I recommend that you look at your cleanser first.

Many of the most popular cleansers contain ingredients that may be too harsh and stripping for those with eczema. 

My go-to recommendations for anyone with sensitive, reactive skin are creamy, nourishing probiotic cleansing formulas, such as the award-winning Skingredients PreProbiotic Cleanse (€25, skingredients.com, selected pharmacies and department stores). 

Another recommendation is the iconic Avène thermal water spray (€15, theskinnerd.com and selected pharmacies), which contains an anti-itch microflora to soothe sore skin and calm any inflammation. It is ideal for those with eczema or sensitive skin!

The next steps

If you think you have eczema or if you know you have eczema, but are struggling to manage your skin, head to your GP for support — your skin is an organ, and it deserves special care and attention!