What many people don’t realise about eczema is that it is not just a case of dry skin. It is an allergic reaction that can be unbearably sore and itchy for those who are severely affected. However, there is a lot we don’t know about this common skin condition. Dermatologists providing eczema treatment in the UK are faced with the challenge of managing a condition for which we still don’t know the cause, and for which there is no cure.

What is Eczema?

Eczema typically appears as patches of dry, flaky or scaly skin that is often red and sore-looking. It most commonly affects the creases of the elbow and knee joints, the neck, hands, cheeks and scalp, but it can appear elsewhere. In some people, the symptoms are almost always present, while in others they appear only occasionally, flaring up in response to some kind of trigger.

The Puzzle of Eczema

Although eczema is one of the most common skin disorders in the UK, particularly in children, its exact cause remains a mystery. What we do know is that eczema, like asthma, is some form of allergic reaction that happens when the immune system overreacts. However, eczema isn’t just a simple allergy. Eczema flare ups can occur in response to all kinds of triggers, including soaps and detergents, certain foods, stress, or even the weather. Having eczema can also increase the chances of suffering from similar conditions, including asthma and hay fever, and the condition can run in families.

Eczema Treatment in the UK

Even though we don’t know exactly what causes eczema, dermatologists are able to offer some very effective advice and eczema treatments in the UK to help manage the symptoms. Avoiding potential triggers such as perfumed soaps and biological washing powders, using an emollient to moisturise daily, and preventing scratching, is very important, and many patients develop their own remedies to relive itching, such as using oatmeal scrubs or bathing in saltwater. We can also prescribe corticosteroid creams to relive the inflammation and itchiness during a flare up. However, we still don’t have a cure for eczema, which is why we need more research to help us understand it.

About the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic

The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic is a private clinic in London that specialises in treating disorders of the skin, hair and nails. The consultants have many years of experience providing eczema treatment in the UK, and they continue to help their patients to manage this puzzling condition.