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Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Atopicdermatitis(commonlyknownaseczema)isaninflammatoryskinconditionthatusually appearsinearlychildhood.Theskinbecomesred,scalyanditchy.Sometimes,tinyblisters containingclearfluidcanformandtheaffectedareasofskincanweep.Weepingisasignthatthe dermatitishasbecomeinfected,usuallywiththebacteriumStaphylococcus aureus(Golden Staph).Eczemaisnotcontagious. Eczemacanvaryinseverityandsymptomsmayflareuporsubsidefromdaytoday.Useof moisturisersandcortisone-basedointmentscanhelpeasethesymptoms.Itisalsoimportantto avoidskinirritantssuchassoap,hotwaterandsyntheticfabrics. Ifyoureczemabecomesworse,seeyourdoctor. Causes Eczemaiscausedbyaninabilitytorepairdamagetotheskinbarrier.Thisisduetoamutationin thegenecalledfilaggrin.Filaggrinisimportantforformationoftheskinbarrier.Normallyeverycell intheskinhastwocopiesofthefilaggringene.However,peoplewhoaresusceptibletoeczema onlyhaveonecopyofthisgene. Althoughonlyonecopyofthegeneisrequiredtoformanormalskinbarrier,twocopiesare importantforeffectiveskinbarrierrepair.Iftheskinisexposedtoirritantsandtheskinbarrieris disrupted,peoplewithonlyonecopyofthegenemayfindthattheirabilitytorepairtheskin barrierislimited. Oncetheskinbarrierisdisrupted,moistureleavestheskinanditwillbecomedryandscaly. Environmentalallergens(irritantsfromthepersonssurrounds)canalsoentertheskinandactivate theimmunesystem,producinginflammationthatmakestheskinredanditchy. Physical effects Thephysicaleffectsofeczemacaninclude: Skindryness Redandscalyareasonthefrontoftheelbowsandthebackoftheknees Wateryfluidweepingfromaffectedskin Itch Lesionsthatmaybecomeinfectedbybacteriaorviruses.

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Triggers Somethingsmakeeczemamorelikelytoappear.Theseinclude: Contactwithirritantsintheenvironment Heat,whichcanaggravateitchandmakeaffectedpeoplemorelikelytoscratch Occasionally,allergicreactiontoparticularfoodsthisisrare.Foodallergyappearsas rednessandswellingaroundthelipswithinminutesofeatingtheoffendingfood.

How to manage eczema Waystomanageeczemainclude: Avoidlong,hotshowers,soapandotherskinirritants. Applymoisturisersimmediatelyafterbathingorswimming. Keeptheskincool,especiallyinbedatnight.Doonasarebestavoided. Inmostcases,eczemaisntcausedoraggravatedbydiet.Ifyoufeelafoodistoblame, seeyourdoctorordietitianforproperallergytestinganddietaryadvice.

Eczema(atopicdermatitis)

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Treatment Treatmentoptionsforeczemainclude: Moisturisers(emollients) Anti-inflammatoryointmentseithertopicalcorticosteroidsornon-steroidalantiinflammatoryointment Coaltartoreducetheitch Dietarychangesseekprofessionaladvicebeforechangingyourdiet Ultravioletradiationtherapy(phototherapy).

The importance of eczema treatment Thereisgrowingevidencethatallergensintroducedintothebodythroughtheskincanleadtothe laterdevelopmentoffoodallergy,asthmaandhayfever.Treatingeczemainchildrenaggressively andtakingstepstorestorenormalskinbarrierfunctionmightlowerthefutureriskofthese conditions. Where to get help Yourdoctor Aspecialistdermatologistreferredbyyourdoctor Pharmacist YourlocalMaternalandChildHealthnurse EczemaAssociationofAustralasiaTel.1300300182or(07)32063633

Things to remember

Atopicdermatitis(commonlycalledeczema)isatypeofinflammatoryskinconditionwith symptomsincludingdry,itchingandreddenedskinpatches. Eczemaisnotcontagious. Avoidingtriggerssuchascontactwithirritantsintheenvironment,heatand(inrarecases) particularfoodsisadvised. Ifyoureczemabecomesworse,seeyourdoctor.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

StVincent'sHospital-DepartmentofDermatology

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

Eczema(atopicdermatitis)

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