What is eczema, what causes it and how can you treat the painful … – The Sun

One in 12 adults are diagnosed with the condition, while one in five kids have to endure the pain of regular flare-ups

It is painful, distracting and can irritate to the point of despair.

One in 12 adults are forced to endure the misery of eczema and in kids the condition is even more common, affecting one in five youngsters.

We reveal more about the skin condition, what causes it and how sufferers can ease their symptoms.

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Also known as dermatitis, eczema is a common dry skin condition.

Though common it is rare for two sufferers to experience the same symptoms and discomfort. It is a highly varied condition and comes in many forms.

Despite the fact it causes, often unbearable, itching, the condition is not contagious, and so cannot be caught from someone suffering a flare-up.

In mild cases, a persons skin is dry, scaly, red and itchy.

But, in more severe cases there can be weeping, crusting and bleeding sores as a result.

The constant compulsion to itch can leave the skin split and bleeding and also leaves it open to infection.

Eczema affects people of all ages, but is typically diagnosed in children.

Many young sufferers will grow out of their condition as they get older.

But, in many cases flare ups in adulthood can happen.

In the UK one in five children is diagnosed with eczema, while one in 12 adults live with the condition.

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Atopic eczema is a genetic condition, which means it is inherited.

Its caused by the interaction of a number of genes and environmental factors.

In most cases there is a family history of the condition, or of other atopic conditions, which include asthma or hayfever.

The skin is the bodys largest organ, providing a strong and effective barrier to protect the body from infections and irritation.

Skin is made up of a thin outer layer, an elastic middle layer, and a fatty layer at the deepest level.

Each layer contains skin cells, water and fats all of which help maintain and protect the skin.

Healthy skin is moisturised by fats, oils and plumped up with adequate water levels.

In eczema sufferers, the skin fails to produce the necessary levels of fats and oils, and it is less able to retain water.

The result is, the bodys protective layer, isnt as good as it could be.

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Dry skin is more liable to crack and as a result infections, bugs and germs can get into the cracks.

Many everyday products can aggravate the condition, as some soaps and cleaning products remove oil from a persons skin.

Keeping the skin moisturised using emollients or medical moisturisers is the key to managing all forms of the condition.

In some cases, doctors will prescribe topical steroids to bring aggressive flare ups under control.

Source: National Eczema Society

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What is eczema, what causes it and how can you treat the painful ... - The Sun