Atopic Eczema

Symptoms

Atopic eczema can appear in different areas of the body, but it's common on the elbows, knees and hands. In babies and toddlers, it's also common on the face.

Atopic eczema can make your skin:

• itchy
• dry, cracked, crusty, scaly or thickened
• red, white, purple or grey, or lighter or darker than the skin around it (depending on your skin tone)
• blister or bleed

Symptoms can start at any age, but they usually start in babies and young children and tend to get better as they get older.

There are usually times where your symptoms get worse (called flare-ups) and times where they are better.

Causes

It's not always known what causes atopic eczema.

You're more likely to have it if:

• one or both of your parents have atopic eczema
• you or a close family member has asthma or hay fever

Atopic eczema can be made worse by things like:

• coming into contact with an allergen or irritant such as soap, washing detergent, pets, some fabrics, pollen, house-dust mites or certain foods
• heat or changes in temperature
• skin infections, such as a staph infection
• stress
• hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy

Atopic eczema is not contagious so you cannot catch or spread it.

Treatment Options

There's currently no cure for atopic eczema, although the symptoms tend to get better as you get older.

There are treatments that can help manage it and improve your symptoms.

The main treatments are:

• moisturising creams, lotions, ointments and gels you apply to your skin and wash with (emollients)
• steroid creams, lotions or gels you apply to your skin (topical corticosteroids)

If your eczema is more severe, there are other treatments such as special dressings or medicines.

Prevention Tips

There are some things you can do that can help with atopic eczema.

• avoid things that make your eczema worse such as soap, washing detergent, some fabrics or pets
• apply moisturising treatments (emollients) to your skin as often as possible (at least 2 times a day) – continue to moisturise even if your eczema improves
• wash with an emollient instead of soap
• keep cool – being hot can make your eczema more itchy
• keep nails short and put anti-scratch mittens on babies to help prevent damage to the skin from scratching
• do not scratch your eczema, as it can make it worse – if your eczema is itchy, try gently rubbing the affected area with your finger instead
• do not share your emollients with anyone else
• do not put your fingers into an emollient pot – use a spoon or pump dispenser instead
• do not use aqueous cream as it can irritate the skin and make eczema worse
• do not change your diet unless you are told to by a doctor (this includes if you are breastfeeding a baby with eczema)

• do not smoke or go near naked flames if you use an emollient – emollients are not flammable on the skin, but when they get on fabrics such as dressings, clothing and bedding they can catch fire more easily
  

When To See A Doctor

See a doctor if:

• you or your child have symptoms of atopic eczema
• treatments are not helping your atopic eczema