ECZEMA: SOOTHING SORENESS

摘要

Eczema affects around one in five children in the UK (National Eczema Society (NES), 2018). Although a common condition, it is also highly personalised: the underlying causes and the triggers vary from case to case, as do the symptoms. Some children experience eczema as a patch of mildly dry, red, itchy skin, often behind the knees or in the crook of the elbow. Others will have extensive areas of their bodies that are inflamed, cracked and crusty, even weeping and bleeding. At its most severe, eczema is uncomfortable, stressful and distressing for children and their families. Children with acute eczema are often prescribed corticosteroids, but the usual treatment for the condition is simple emollients (moisturisers). Various lotions, creams and ointments are available, with two key roles. The first is to replace soap or soap-based washing products, which can harm the skin. The second is to form a protective barrier when they are applied directly to the skin and left on. Sometimes a third type of emollient is used - an oil added to bath water, intended to create another filmy, protective layer for the skin. These bath additives recently came under the scrutiny of the UK BATHE study, which looked at whether they offered any benefit beyond that of soap substitute and leave-on emollients (Santer et al, 2018).