£6.99
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes the skin to become itchy, reddened, dry and cracked.
Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema, and mainly affects children. The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it often occurs in people who are prone to allergies ('atopic' means sensitivity to allergens).
Treat Discreet sells a wide range of products to relieve and treat eczema.
Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema, and mainly affects children. The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it often occurs in people who are prone to allergies ('atopic' means sensitivity to allergens).
Treat Discreet sells a wide range of products to relieve and treat eczema.
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Oilatum gel 150g£8.89 -
Oilatum plus 500ml£11.99£9.49
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Oilatum scalp treatment shampoo 100ml£8.79£7.49
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Balneum Bath Oil - 1 Litre£18.70£16.29
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Balneum Bath Oil 500ml£9.68£8.49
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E45 Bath Oil 500ml£7.82£6.99
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E45 Cream 350g£7.49£6.49
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E45 Cream - pump dispenser 500g£9.20£7.49
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E45 Itch Relief Cream 100g£4.99£4.49
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E45 Moisturising Lotion - pump dispenser 500ml£6.90£5.49
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E45 Shower cream 200ml£4.99£4.49
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E45 Wash cream 250ml£4.89£4.49
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Eurax cream - 100g£5.99£4.99
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Eurax cream - 30g£3.49£2.89
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Eurax Hc cream - 15g£2.99£2.49
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Eurax lotion - 100ml£4.59£3.99
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Oilatum bath formula 300ml£8.49£6.99
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Oilatum cream 150g£4.99£3.89
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Oilatum emollient 500ml£7.89£7.31
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Oilatum Junior Bath Additive 300ml£8.79£6.99
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Oilatum junior cream 350ml£6.99£5.99
The symptoms of atopic eczema may always be present, but during a flare-up they will worsen and you or your child may need more intense treatment.
Atopic eczema can cause your skin to become:
- dry,
- itchy,
- red,
- broken,
- thickened and
- cracked.
During a flare-up, your skin may be:
- extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly,
- wet, weeping and swollen, and
- infected with bacteria (usually staphylococcus).
The symptoms of atopic eczema will vary according to how severely you or your child are affected by the condition.
People with mild atopic eczema will normally only experience small areas of dry skin, which are occasionally itchy. However, in more severe cases, atopic eczema can cause widespread dry skin, constant itching and oozing fluid.
Scratching can disrupt your sleep and make your skin bleed. It can also make an itch worse and an itch-scratch cycle may develop, with regular scratching. In children, this can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at school.
Atopic eczema can cause your skin to become:
- dry,
- itchy,
- red,
- broken,
- thickened and
- cracked.
During a flare-up, your skin may be:
- extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly,
- wet, weeping and swollen, and
- infected with bacteria (usually staphylococcus).
The symptoms of atopic eczema will vary according to how severely you or your child are affected by the condition.
People with mild atopic eczema will normally only experience small areas of dry skin, which are occasionally itchy. However, in more severe cases, atopic eczema can cause widespread dry skin, constant itching and oozing fluid.
Scratching can disrupt your sleep and make your skin bleed. It can also make an itch worse and an itch-scratch cycle may develop, with regular scratching. In children, this can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at school.
Atopic eczema is an inherited condition, which means that you are born with it. It may be made worse by 'external' factors, such as pet fur and pollen, or 'internal' factors, such as stress and hormone levels.
Genetic factors
Research suggests that atopic eczema is primarily caused by a genetic problem. However, the exact genetic cause is not yet known.
If a child's parents have atopic eczema, there is a high probability that the child will also develop the condition. For example, studies have shown that 60% of children who have a parent with atopic eczema also have the condition. And, in cases where both parents have atopic eczema, 80% of children also have the condition.
Environmental factors
There are a number of environmental factors that can make atopic eczema worse.
Allergens are substances that can cause the body to react abnormally. This is known as an allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergens that can worsen atopic eczema include:
- house dust-mites,
- pet fur, and
- pollen.
Atopic eczema can also sometimes be aggravated by food allergens. Foods that typically cause allergic reactions include:
- cow's milk,
- eggs,
- nuts,
- soya, and
- wheat.
Approximately 10% of children with atopic eczema are affected by the food allergens listed above. It is relatively rare for food allergens to trigger atopic eczema in adults.
Hormonal changes
Many women find that their eczema is worse at certain times during their menstrual cycle. This is because hormonal changes in the body can affect the symptoms of atopic eczema.
Approximately 30% of women experience a flare-up of their eczema in the days before their period. Pregnancy can also have an adverse affect on those who have atopic eczema, with up to 50% of pregnant women finding that their eczema symptoms worsen during pregnancy.
Stress
Although it is known that stress is associated with atopic eczema, precisely how it affects the condition is not yet fully understood. Some people with eczema feel that their symptoms are worse when they are stressed. Others find that it is their symptoms that cause them to feel stressed.
Seasons
Most people with atopic eczema find that their symptoms improve during the summer months and get worse in the winter.
Exercise
After vigorous exercise, you may find that sweating makes your eczema symptoms worse. You should therefore try to keep cool when you are exercising by drinking plenty of fluids and taking regular breaks.
In order to be diagnosed with atopic eczema, you must have had an itchy skin condition in the last 12 months plus three or more of the criteria outlined below.
- Itchiness and irritation in the creases of your skin, such as the front of your elbows, behind your knees, at the front of your ankles, around your neck or around your eyes.
- You currently have asthma or hayfever, or you have had them in the past. In the case of a child who is less than four years of age, they must have an immediate relative, such as a parent, brother or sister, who has asthma or hayfever.
- Your skin has been dry within the last 12 months.
- Your condition started when you were two years of age or younger (this criteria is not used if your child is less than four years of age).
- There is eczema on the skin covering your joints, or the parts of your body that flex, such as your elbow, knees and wrists
You should usually try to establish what factors worsen your eczema. Ask some questions about your diet and lifestyle to see if there are any obvious factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. For example, if you have recently changed the type of soap or detergent that you use, it may be a trigger factor.
Keep a food diary, to establish whether a specific food is causing your symptoms to worsen.
A food diary involves you noting down everything that you eat, while at the same time making a record of any eczema flares that you have. In this way, you can see if there are any patterns between your symptoms and what you eat.
- Itchiness and irritation in the creases of your skin, such as the front of your elbows, behind your knees, at the front of your ankles, around your neck or around your eyes.
- You currently have asthma or hayfever, or you have had them in the past. In the case of a child who is less than four years of age, they must have an immediate relative, such as a parent, brother or sister, who has asthma or hayfever.
- Your skin has been dry within the last 12 months.
- Your condition started when you were two years of age or younger (this criteria is not used if your child is less than four years of age).
- There is eczema on the skin covering your joints, or the parts of your body that flex, such as your elbow, knees and wrists
You should usually try to establish what factors worsen your eczema. Ask some questions about your diet and lifestyle to see if there are any obvious factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. For example, if you have recently changed the type of soap or detergent that you use, it may be a trigger factor.
Keep a food diary, to establish whether a specific food is causing your symptoms to worsen.
A food diary involves you noting down everything that you eat, while at the same time making a record of any eczema flares that you have. In this way, you can see if there are any patterns between your symptoms and what you eat.
Although there is no simple cure for atopic eczema, the symptoms during an eczema flare can usually be eased using a variety of treatments. Children with atopic eczema normally find that their symptoms naturally improve with time.
Self-care
There are a number of self-care treatments that you can use at home to help manage your or your child's eczema symptoms.
Emollients
Emollients are substances that help to soften and smooth your skin in order to keep it supple and moist. They are one of the most important forms of treatment for atopic eczema.
As atopic eczema can cause your skin to become dry and cracked, it is important to keep it moisturised to prevent it from becoming further irritated.
Most people will need a number of different emollients for long-term use. For example, you may need to use one type of emollient on your face and hands and a different one for the rest of your body.
There are a number of different emollients that are designed for use on different skin types. For example, for very dry skin, ointments are often prescribed, and for skin that is less dry, creams and lotions are usually recommended.
If you have been using a particular emollient for some time, it may eventually become less effective, or it may start to irritate your skin. If this is the case, you should speak to your GP.
Topical corticosteroids
If your or your child's skin is red and inflamed from an atopic eczema flare, a topical corticosteroid (one that is applied directly to your skin) may help ease your symptoms. Corticosteroids work by quickly reducing inflammation.
You may be concerned about using medication that contains steroids. However, corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids (which are sometimes used by bodybuilders to build muscle). When used correctly, corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment for eczema.
If your atopic eczema is moderate to severe, you may need to apply topical corticosteroids in between flare-ups, as well as during them.
If you need to use corticosteroids frequently, you should visit your GP regularly so they can check that the treatment is working effectively.
See below products available from Treat Discreet:
- Balneum Bath Oil 1ltr
- E45 Cream Pump 500g
- E45 Itch Relief Cream 100G
- Eurax Cream 100g
- Oilatum Junior Bath Additive 500ml
Self-care
There are a number of self-care treatments that you can use at home to help manage your or your child's eczema symptoms.
Emollients
Emollients are substances that help to soften and smooth your skin in order to keep it supple and moist. They are one of the most important forms of treatment for atopic eczema.
As atopic eczema can cause your skin to become dry and cracked, it is important to keep it moisturised to prevent it from becoming further irritated.
Most people will need a number of different emollients for long-term use. For example, you may need to use one type of emollient on your face and hands and a different one for the rest of your body.
There are a number of different emollients that are designed for use on different skin types. For example, for very dry skin, ointments are often prescribed, and for skin that is less dry, creams and lotions are usually recommended.
If you have been using a particular emollient for some time, it may eventually become less effective, or it may start to irritate your skin. If this is the case, you should speak to your GP.
Topical corticosteroids
If your or your child's skin is red and inflamed from an atopic eczema flare, a topical corticosteroid (one that is applied directly to your skin) may help ease your symptoms. Corticosteroids work by quickly reducing inflammation.
You may be concerned about using medication that contains steroids. However, corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids (which are sometimes used by bodybuilders to build muscle). When used correctly, corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment for eczema.
If your atopic eczema is moderate to severe, you may need to apply topical corticosteroids in between flare-ups, as well as during them.
If you need to use corticosteroids frequently, you should visit your GP regularly so they can check that the treatment is working effectively.
See below products available from Treat Discreet:
- Balneum Bath Oil 1ltr
- E45 Cream Pump 500g
- E45 Itch Relief Cream 100G
- Eurax Cream 100g
- Oilatum Junior Bath Additive 500ml
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