Category Archives: Eczema

Although emollients alone can help reduce the symptoms of eczema and prevent flares, most people will need to use anti-inflammatory treatments such as topical corticosteroids of an appropriate strength and duration as well

Effectiveness and acceptability of emollients varies according to disease severity, body site, climate, container, and patient or carer preferences and beliefs

Based on current evidence, the best emollient is the one that the individual prefers after a period of testing

Atopic eczema or dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, is characterised by dry, itchy skin. Although mainly a childhood condition, this disease commonly persists into or develops in adulthood.1 Patients are advised to use leave-on emollients or moisturisers, applied directly to the skin which add or help retain moisture.23 While evidence of their clinical effectiveness is limited, their use is ingrained in clinical practice and guidelines.2

Many different emollients can be prescribed or bought over the counter. Most are formulated as lotions, creams, gels, or ointments (see infographic). There is little evidence to recommend one type of emollient over another. Healthcare professional recommendation is the main source of advice when choosing a prescribed emollient.4 Preferences of the patient or carer are critical and may be influenced by the characteristics of the emollient, patient, and environment.5 The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends patients try different emollients in the clinic before choosing.2 This approach is not practical in most primary care settings, and even in specialist clinics the range of emollients available to try can be arbitrary and influenced by pharmaceutical companies and local formularies.

Older, cheaper emollients may be as effective as newer, more expensive ones,6 and the advantages of products that claim dermatologically tested, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic are dubious.7 Through a process of trial

The rest is here:
Which emollients are effective and acceptable for eczema in children? - The BMJ

Emollients are ingredients in moisturizers that soothe and soften the skin, making them ideal for inflammatory skin conditions. Finding one that works for you might take a little guess-and-test, says Dattner. "You never know what your trigger is going to be, so you might have to experiment," he says. "I usually recommend oils. Creams are obviously sensorily appealing, but you just want to make sure that you're not allergic to the preservatives in those. Again, most people aren't, but you needto know your own skin."

There are quite a few at-home, natural remedies that have received anecdotal praise, from honey face masks to oatmeal baths. These ingredients are emollients and have skin-soothing propertiesand even some smaller clinical studies pointing to their positive effects but no sweeping conclusions from the research community. But overall, the advice remains the same from Dattner: Spot-test first, and remember that everyone is different. Just because it was effective for someone you follow on Instagram doesn't mean it will work for you.

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Eczema On The Face: How To Care For Your Skin Naturally - mindbodygreen.com

Biopharmaceutical company, Aslan Pharmaceuticals, has made progress in their study on a novel therapeutic antibody that could potentially provide complete relief from eczema symptoms in the future.

The drug known as Aslan004 can inhibit proteins that are key to triggering eczema symptoms such as redness and itchiness.

Currently, available treatments for eczema mostly involve steroid creams or taking antihistamines. Which involves a lot of side effects.

Aslan004 however, according to The Straits Times, is a biologic.

Earlier in June 2019, Aslan completed the first part of the study where the dosage of drug increases for every new cohort.

The results showed that the drug was well tolerated at all doses.

There were no adverse events or discontinuations of the drug during the period.

Analysis of results also showed there was potential for the drug to be administered once every month.

Aslan announced on Oct. 22 that they will be doing the second part of the drug test on eczema patients in a randomised manner.

The drug test will also withhold any information that may influence the patients until the end of the test.

The test will also be placebo-controlled that means some people may receive sham placebo that poses no real effect on the skin conditions.

The test will be conducted at Singapores National Skin Centre and Changi General Hospital, led by Prof Steven Thng.

Each participant will receive multiple doses of the drug, this is known as a multiple ascending dose (MAD) study.

The MAD study will evaluate three doses of the drug, delivered subcutaneously, followed by an expansion of the cohort at the most effective dose.

The study will recruit up to 50 moderate to severe eczema patients.

According to ST, Thng noted that it was highly unlikely for a cure to eczema anytime soon, Aslan004 would make treatment for patients more convenient, especially since there are limited treatments for those with severe eczema.

Results are expected in the second half of 2020.

Top photo from Singhealth website

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New drug developed in S'pore could provide full relief to eczema symptoms like redness & itching of skin - Mothership.sg

WITH Britain set to be hit with its coldest winter in 30 years - kids will be susceptible to picking up bugs such as norovirus, shigella and the dreaded flu.

And nobody wants their kids coughing and spluttering or off school poorly, especially with Christmas only 62 days way.

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However, there are some simple steps parents can take to protect their kids from some of the main winter bugs.

Here, Dr Sarah Jarvis, Clinical Director of Patient.info, and some other top experts, take The Sun Online through the best ways to ensure your child remains fit and well this winter.

Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and is also referred to as "the winter vomiting bug".

In particular, the first wave of norovirus outbreaks have already closed schools and hospital wards across the country.

Dr Jarvis emphasises the need to make sure kids wash their hands thoroughly to stop them from catching this contagious and extremely unpleasant bug.

She tells The Sun Online: "Wash, wash and wash again!

"Norovirus is spread via the 'faecal oral route', which is just as disgusting as it sounds.

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"Germs passed out in an infected persons poo can be picked up on someone elses hands, and transferred into their mouths when they touch their mouths or via food.

"So wash your hands thoroughly after going to the loo, before you handle or eat food and after you empty a potty.

"Clean surfaces including toilet handles, taps and door handles regularly with disinfectant.

"And make sure you wash your hands if youve been in a public place like a bus or train, where lots of other people have touched surfaces.

"If children in your kids circle are affected, steer clear of them until they have been clear of diarrhoea or vomiting for at least 48 hours."

Shigella is a highly infectious vomiting bug known to spread quickly around schools and workplaces in the UK when there's an outbreak.

Shigellosis causes chronic diarrhoea and sickness and can leave people feeling very unwell.

Good hand hygiene is vital to stop the bacteria from spreading and Dr Jarvis also recommends the "boil it, peel it, cook it or forget it" principle for food and drink.

Follow the boil it, peel it, cook it or forget it principle for food and drink

She says: "This form of dystentery is not a big issue in the UK its far more likely to be a problem if youre travelling overseas.

"If youre travelling outside Western Europe, the USA, Australia or New Zealand, follow the boil it, peel it, cook it or forget it principle for food and drink."

Influenza, often abbreviated to flu, strikes millions of kids each year and it is almost impossible to avoid completely.

Dr Jarvis advises parents take their kids to get the free NHS flu vaccine.

She says: "Encouraging everyone around you who sneezes to use paper tissues, which they dispose of immediately in a bin (and then wash their hands) will help.

"All children from two years old to the end of primary school are now eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine.

"Kids are super spreaders of flu they pass it on far more efficiently than adults.

"And theyre far more prone to serious complications than healthy adults.

"The vaccine is given as a nasal spray rather than an injection in children via your GP surgery or through their school if theyre at primary school.

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"It really is the most effective way to protect them against flu."

Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead atTreated.com, also advises making sure your child is having a healthy diet.

He adds: "So with more dangers around in the air we breathe, its best to keep yours and your kids immune systems fighting fit.

"This means eating a healthy and balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and veg, and making sure youre getting enough sleep."

Sore throats are common in kids in the winter winter and are almost always caused by viral infections.

Normally they're nothing to worry about but they can sometimes be a sign of tonsillitis, which is very common in children.

Dr Jarvis recommends keeping kids away from others who are poorly and, yep, more hand washing.

Keeping your child away from others with bad sore throats, and getting them to wash their hands regularly, will help

She says: "You cant prevent them but keeping your child away from others with bad sore throats, and getting them to wash their hands regularly, will help.

"Tonsillitis symptoms include fever, sore throat without a cough, swollen tender glands on the front of the neck and white spots on the tonsils at the back of the throat if you shine a torch into their mouths.

"If they have at least three of these symptoms, see your doctor."

For kids and adults, asthma is normally a lot harder to control during the winter months.

This is because the cold, dry air can irritate airwaves and cause the muscles inside to spasm.

Emma Rubach, Head of Health Advice at Asthma UK, advises parents to make sure their child carries their reliever inhaler and wears a simple scarf during the cold weather.

She says: "Winter can bea dangerous time for the 1.1 million children with asthma in the UK as chilly weather, colds and flu, chest infections and mould are more common and can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks.

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"They cause children's airways to become inflamed, causing symptoms such ascoughing, wheezing and struggling to breathe.

"Make sure your child carries their reliever inhaler (usually blue) with them at all times and keep taking their regular preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed.

"The simple scarf could also save your child's life.

"Do a 'scarfie - wrapping a scarf loosely over your childs nose and mouth to help warm up the air before they breathe it in, as cold air is another asthma attack trigger.

"It could also be helpful to stick to indoor activities when the weather is particularly cold."

The cold chill and central heating systems often cause eczema to flare up during the winter season.

Dermatologist Dr Daniel Glass at The Dermatology Clinic London recommends dressing kids in cotton rather than woollies and keeping their skin moisturised.

He says: "Eczema in the winter is incredibly common, with many people finding that their skin will flare up more frequently or get worse during the colder months, as the cold biting winds and central heating systems continuously dry out their skin.

"Their eczema may be further irritated by taking hot baths or showers, which will in turn strip the skin of its natural oils.

Top tips for parents for protecting kids from winter bugs

1. Make sure kids wash their hands properly

This prevents the spread of bugs like Norovirus and Shigella, as well as the common cold.

2. Keep kids away from other poorly children

Colds and coughs are almost unavoidable so this is one solution to protect them.

3. Get kids the free NHS flu vaccine

All children from two years old to the end of primary school are now eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine

4. Wrap asthma sufferers up in a scarf

By wrapping a scarf loosely over your childs now and mouth this helps prevent airways from becoming inflamed

5. Keep kids' skin moisturised

This prevents eczema flare ups

6. Avoid woollen clothes

Opt for cotton clothes in the winter as wool can trigger eczema

"Bundling up in woollies to ward off the cold may also irritate the skin and exacerbate symptoms, so try to layer your children up in cotton clothing which is often kinder and softer on the skin.

"Keeping the skin well moisturised is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the eczema flaring up.

"This is because eczema is often caused by a problem with your skin barrier function, which can be helped by using a paraffin based moisturiser regularly.

"Try applying a fragrance-free moisturiser at least twice a day, especially after washing, such as Epaderm ointment which can also be used as a soap substitute, or Oilatum cream which is lighter and more easily absorbed."

Hand, food and mouth disease is a common infection that causes spots on the hands and feet.

Though children aged 10 and under are more likely to catch it, it can affect older children and adults as well.

Dr Jarvis said: "This virus infection can occur at any time of year and often starts with a fever, followed by a sore throat and then spots in the mouth which develop into ulcers.

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"Many children also get spots on their hands and feet (and occasionally buttocks and genitals) a day or two later.

"Hand foot and mouth usually settles within a few days with no complications. Once theyve had it once, they should be immune for life.

"Hand, foot and mouth is very infectious usually passed on by coughing or sneezing, as well as by touching someone who has been infected.

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"Its hard to avoid as you can pass it on before you develop any spots."

Dr Jarvis' advice comes after it was revealed snow could hit areas of the UK today as sub-zero polar air blasts Britain.

The Met Office said there could be snow on the hills in the northwest later today and other areas will see cold weather and a touch of frost.

Temperatures could dip as low as 2C overnight in Scotland as the UK is plunged into a cold snap.

View original post here:
Norovirus to shigella and eczema the ultimate guide to protect your kids from winter bugs - The Sun

Fragrances and preservatives commonly found in baby wipes, cosmetics, skincare products and toy "slime" are among the most common causes of eczema in Australian children, according to a new study, published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology. Children suffering from suspected skin allergies should be patch-tested for 30 of the most common allergens and potential allergens identified in their research.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that develops as an immune response in the days after exposure to an allergen. The condition is diagnosed by patch-testing the skin on the back.

Historically it was thought it rarely affected children due to their immature immune systems and limited exposure. In fact, the researchers, from the Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre at Melbourne's Skin Health Institute, found it was not uncommon for children to suffer from allergic contact dermatitis and rates appeared to be increasing.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that develops as an immune response in the days after exposure to an allergen. The condition is diagnosed by patch-testing the skin on the back.

Historically it was thought it rarely affected children due to their immature immune systems and limited exposure. In fact, the researchers, from the Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre at Melbourne's Skin Health Institute, found it was not uncommon for children to suffer from allergic contact dermatitis and rates appeared to be increasing.

While the study found very few children under five had been patch-tested, among the six-10 age group, fragrance and colophonium were the most common allergens. Fragrance and nickel sulphate were the most common allergens in the 1117 age group.

Nickel sulphate allergies were more common among girls, which the authors said was consistent with existing literature and most likely due to the "increased use of jewellery in females", particularly ear piercings.

Armed with evidence of the most common allergens affecting children, the researchers have proposed the first Australian Paediatric Baseline Series comprising 30 common allergens and potential allergens for patch-testing.

While patch-testing is "the gold standard" for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), it "appears to be performed infrequently in children, and consequently, ACD is likely underdiagnosed", the authors said. "This is unfortunate because ACD can have a significant impact on a child's quality of life, and early, correct, identification of allergens and subsequent avoidance can lead to substantial improvement in symptoms, preventing progression to a chronic disease state."

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Baby Wipe Ingredient Linked To Eczema - Nonwovens Industry Magazine - News, Markets - Nonwovens Industry Magazine

The Aldi cream that shoppers claim cures ezcema is back on shelves - and sending customers wild once again.

The must-have product, sold at branches of the budget supermarket, costs just 3.99.

Aldi opened its first store in Britain right here in Birmingham some 20-plus years ago.

The store was a huge success, opening back in the 1990s, and the German supermarket has gone from strength to strength since.

Obviously, a large part of Aldi's success is its fantastic prices, with families on budgets routinely flocking to stores to pick up low-priced items.

Aldi's special items - known as its SpecialBuys - are also massively popular with customers.

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The product is now available once again on Aldis website , alongside more than 100 reviews from happy customers, reports the Liverpool Echo .

Many shoppers have pointed out that the product soothes eczema.

One review on Aldis website said she has suffered with eczema for 30 years, but after using the Lacura Miracle Cream it has completely gone, while others have taken to Twitter to praise the cream.

One woman said: I had bad eczema on my ankle which Ive had for a long time. I bought Lacura Miracle Cream from Aldi [and] it has completely cleared up, Im amazed, thank you Aldi. Please stock it forever.

The Lacura Miracle Cream is currently available online and in store.

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Aldi brings back 'miracle' cream which parents swear cures children's eczema - and it costs 3.99 - Birmingham Live

Emma doesnt look so great.

Her legs are puffy and covered in varicose veins. Her eyes are flat and dead, and her backlooks like she spends her days ringing the bell at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Its harsh but true. Emma is a life-sized doll depicting what the average office worker in the United Kingdom could look like in 20 years if changes arent made to the workplace environment.

For a new report titled The Work Colleague of The Future, a team of health experts led by behavioral futurist William Higham looked at survey data submitted by more than 3,000 office workers in France, Germany, and the U.K.

The percentages of U.K. office workers who said they already suffered from sore eyes (50 percent), sore backs (48 percent), and headaches (48 percent) as a direct result of their work environment informed the design of the sickly Emma, who also suffers from stress-related eczema, excess weight, and swollen limbs.

If we dont majorly shake-up the standard office environment, according to Higham, were headed toward a future rife with Emmas.

Unless we make radical changes to our working lives, such as moving more, addressing our posture at our desks, taking regular walking breaks, or considering improving our workstation setup, our offices are going to make us very sick, he said, according to The Independent.

Originally posted here:
Here's How 20 Years of Office Work Will Disfigure the Human Body - Futurism

By the time Mary Elizabeth Bretz was 15, her mother, Christina, thought shed exhausted treatment options for her eczema. We tried everything thats on the counter and more, Christina says. We would go to the doctor constantly with her flare-ups, and they would prescribe a steroidal cream and say it may work, it may not. She says if it did work, it would only work for a short time, leaving them back at square one.

Mary Elizabeth, now 16, had her first flare-up with atopic dermatitis (a term used interchangeably with eczema) at 6 months old, and the symptoms exacerbated when she was in seventh grade. She felt the effects both physically, in the form of cuts and blisters on her skin, and emotionally. It caused me to be very self-conscious, and people would make fun of me, Mary Elizabeth says.

Christina adds that Mary Elizabeth had anxiety and depression because of her physical features. Christina noticed her daughters grades slipping, and she says Mary Elizabeth had trouble concentrating in school and on the soccer field because she was scratching her skin constantly. Soccer was taken away from me because I was in constant pain, Mary Elizabeth says. Sweating hurt so bad.

RELATED: Eczema Triggers and How to Target Them

Thats when Mary Elizabeths dermatologist suggested traveling from their home in Lexington, Kentucky, to Denver, for an intensive two-week wet wrap therapy program.

Photo Courtesy of National Jewish Health and Mary Elizabeth Bretz

Wet wrap therapy is a treatment option for intense eczema flares that are accompanied by itching or pain. Wet wraps work for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, says Kanwaljit Brar, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, where Mary Elizabeth received her treatment. (Dr. Brar didnt treat her, however.) The therapy isnt designed for mild cases. Its considered a rescue therapy, so its something we do to rescue the skin, Brar says. I like to think of it as a skin reset.

The therapy involves wrapping the affected areas of skin with damp fabric, either for a couple of hours during the day or overnight, which Brar says is the most effective and the most convenient for busy families. The therapy is generally used for a couple of days, according to Seattle Childrens, though Brar says it could be used for up to two weeks for severe cases.

During the first week of Mary Elizabeths visit to National Jewish Health, the wet wraps were applied for two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, and overnight.

RELATED: A Detailed Guide to Eczema Treatment

The goal of the treatment, according to the National Eczema Association, is to rehydrate the skin and make medications soak in more effectively. Brar says it helps restore the skin barrier, reduces water loss, helps heal the abrasions and crusty areas on the skin, and can treat inflammation if the skin is infected. It also serves as a physical barrier, so by covering the area, it can prevent scratching as well, she says.

Wet wrap therapy is often used on children, which parents can administer at home, but it can work for adults, too. Its just a little more cumbersome given the larger bodies and bigger surface area to treat, Brar says.

Essentially, youll apply medication or moisturizer to the affected areas and then wrap the body (or part of the body) with a damp layer followed by a dry layer.

Heres how a full body wet wrap is done, per Seattle Childrens, the National Eczema Association, and Brar:

Wearing the wet clothes can be uncomfortable Mary Elizabeth recalls feeling freezing cold and wet so Brar recommends putting blankets straight out of the dryer on top of the patient for extra warmth.

You can also apply the wet wrap to just the affected areas, say the knees. Brar says in that case, cut the foot off of long socks and use those tubes as the wet layer. Or, if the eczema is on the face, a nurse can help apply a wrap made of gauze and surgical netting, according to National Jewish Health. Brar says to be careful when applying a face wrap to children especially overnight and during naptime because it could shift and end up blocking their nose or mouth.

Mary Elizabeths skin improved dramatically the first night of the therapy. It helped so much within 24 hours, she says. I woke up and it felt tremendously better.

The results will vary from patient to patient, but astudy published in the JulyAugust 2014 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunologyfound the benefits of wet wrap therapy continued one month after treatment ended.

RELATED: Can Essential Oils Help Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis?

The same study noted that in practice, wet wrap therapy is a safe intervention treatment. If youre unsure of how to go about it or want more guidance, speak with a doctor first.

As Mary Elizabeth knows, wearing wet clothes can induce chilling. That was the only side effect noted in aprevious study, though Mary Elizabeth says it was still worth it.

A more serious side effect is the potential increased risk of infection. Areview published in November 2016 in The British Journal of Dermatologyfound a higher incidence of mild skin infections following wet wrap therapy. And astudy published in May 2015 in Acta Dermato-Venereologica found infections were more frequent when corticosteroids were used on the skin rather than moisturizers. Thats a catch, though, because the researchers found using wet wrap therapy with corticosteroids is more effective, so its important to keep a lookout for signs of infection. The researchers found the most common infection was folliculitis, which will look like white-head pimples or red bumps around hair follicles, accordingto the Mayo Clinic.

RELATED: Do You Need a Topical Steroid to Help Control Your Eczema?

Since Mary Elizabeth returned home after that two-week visit to National Jewish Health last November, she hasnt experienced any flare-ups and hasnt needed wet wrap therapy since. Christina now helps administer Dupixent (dupilumab), a biologic medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), twice a month, which has helped keep her daughters symptoms under control.

Mary Elizabeth is no longer scratching her skin continuously throughout the day. I really feel the wet wrap therapy brought her to a level where she could concentrate and she could function like a normal person, Christina says, adding that Mary Elizabeths overall well-being improved and her grades have, too. Teachers noticed, myself and my husband noticed, and she noticed that she was able to concentrate more and the improvement was definitely there in all areas of her life.

Mary Elizabeth has regained self-confidence, too. [My boyfriend] told me when I came back from Denver that he knew I was a changed person because I was just happy in my skin.

Read more here:
'I Tried Wet Wrap Therapy for Eczema, and It Helped Reset My Skin' - Everyday Health

Purple and orange are the colors for Eczema Awareness Month.

iStock; Shutterstock

The symptoms of eczema, commonly known as atopic dermatitis, can be so visible and intense that people living with this skin condition are constantly aware of them. It isnt just the symptoms the incessant itching, the redness, and the inflammation its the sleepless nights, its the depression and anxiety, explains Julie Block, president and CEO of the National Eczema Association (NEA). Its the truth that for many with moderate to severe disease, every waking moment is a decision based on how their skin is.

October is the month when organizations in the United States such as theNEA and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) spread awareness about eczema, its causes, the stigma attached to it, and new developments for relieving symptoms. This is especially important because the disease is prevalent in the United States, affecting 9.6 million individuals younger than 18 as well as 16.5 million adults. (1)

What they are grappling with is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition linked to an overreactive immune system. (2,3) Symptoms include skin that is dry, inflamed, itchy, rashy, scaly, or oozing clear fluid when scratched (a symptom called weepy skin). Triggers for flare-ups can be dry skin, allergens such as pet dander or seasonal pollen,chemical irritants such as laundry detergents or scented soaps,stress,hormonal changes,or infections. (3) Eczema may disappear as a child grows older or continue into adulthood. (4)

Most people with mild symptoms can manage eczema with over-the-counter products, says Block. Yet those who have moderate to severe symptoms can feel worn down by the continual need to avoid triggers or the negative reactions that others may have to visible signs of eczema. Take scaly skin, for example. Some people describe their eczema by saying, Im allergic to life, says Block. The isolation that some people feel is kind of numbing.

In fact, a review published in December 2018 in JAMA Dermatology found that people with eczema are 44 percent more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 36 percent more likely to attempt suicide than those who do not have eczema. The study authors write that contributing factors may be severe symptoms such as pruritus (the urge to scratch), pain, burning, and sleep loss, as well as stigma and feelings of shame. (5)

That is why theNEA has launched the #TheRealEczema campaign for Eczema Awareness Month 2019, whose colors are orange and purple. They are asking people with eczema to share their stories on social media using the hashtag,raise funds for research, and register for theNEA's webinar"The Cure," which took place on October 16.

The best way for people to advocate is to share their truth, says Block.

Also, theNEA is promoting the Understanding AD campaign, which follows the life of a 17-year-old with atopic dermatitis and shows his support network in managing the disease. The biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals funds the video series, along withdrugmaker Sanofi. It's the maker of Dupixent (dupilumab), an injectable medication for moderate to severe cases that disrupts the immune systems overreaction to atopic dermatitis triggers.

Meanwhile, the AAFA has launched the #ADinAmerica awareness campaign, encouraging people to share facts about the disease all month through social media.

Use the information below to learn more about Eczema Awareness Month activities, how you can use your voice to fight stigma and advocate for better treatments, where you can find morale-boosting support for managing the disease, and how you can donate toward research or even participate in studies related to eczema.

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Eczema Awareness Month 2019 - Everyday Health

They analysed patch-test data dating from 1993 to 2017 from two tertiary referral patch-testing centres including the results of 511 children who presented with suspected skin allergies.

Of those, more than half had a positive patch-test, and 65.8 per cent of those (38 per cent of the total) had a positive patch-test deemed relevant as an allergic reaction to a substance they had been exposed to.

The five most common relevant patch-test reactions were to fragrance mix (a mixture of eight individual fragrances commonly found in perfumes, cosmetics, laundry products and toothpaste), a group of preservatives (MCI/MI and MI) commonly used in wet wipes, liquid soaps, shampoos, cosmetics and toy 'slime', the plant resin colophonium (which commonly causes reactions to adhesive dressings), another fragrance (myroxylon pereriae) found in cosmetics and food, and nickel sulphate.

The study's lead author Claire Felmingham said MI and MCI/MI are particularly "potent allergens" that have been described as causing an "epidemic" of allergic contact dermatitis in adults and should be generally avoided even without a diagnosed allergy.

Dr Felmingham said the preservatives are being gradually removed from a lot of products, but that given their presence in baby wipes and 'slime', "its not surprising that theyve also affected the paediatric population".

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While the study found very few children under five had been patch-tested, among the 6-10 age group, fragrance and colophonium were the most common allergens. Fragrance and nickel sulphate were the most common allergens in the 1117 age group.

Nickel sulphate allergies were more common among girls, which the authors said is consistent with existing literature and likely due to the "increased use of jewellery in females", particularly ear piercings.

Armed with evidence of the most common allergens affecting children, the researchers have proposed the first Australian Paediatric Baseline Series comprising 30 common allergens and potential allergens for patch-testing.

While patch-testing is "the gold standard" for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), it "appears to be performed infrequently in children, and consequently, ACD is likely underdiagnosed," the authors said.

"This is unfortunate because ACD can have a significant impact on a childs quality of life, andearly, correct, identification of allergens and subsequent avoidance can lead to substantial improvement in symptoms, preventing progression to a chronic disease state," the study found.

Dr Felmingham said parents should consider patch-testing their children if they have persistent eczema that isn't responding to treatment, as well as keeping an eye on product labels for ingredients that commonly cause allergies.

Jenny Noyes is a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald. She was previously a writer and editor at Daily Life.

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Fragrances found in baby wipes and 'slime' among most common causes of skin allergies - Sydney Morning Herald