Eczema
Eczema and dermatitis are interchangeable terms and refer to the inflammation of the skin. The skin becomes red, swollen and may be cracked, weeping and, sometimes, scaly.
Types and Causes of Eczema:
There are many different causes and types of eczema or dermatitis including:
Atopic
Seborrhoeic
Allergic
Irritant
Asteatotic (due to excessively dry skin)
Drug induced
The Skin Company approach:
Treating eczema depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Education is important to treat what is often a chronic and reoccurring issue.
Identifying individual triggers along with topical options such as barrier repair with soap substitutes and ceramide-containing moisturiser will be discussed.
Often topical corticosteroids or immune modulators (elidel cream or tacrolimus ointment) are used. Occasionally we recommend Phototherapy (narrow band UVB) or oral treatment ( Prednisone, Methotrexate, Cyclosporin or Mycophenolate).
Biological treatments to manage moderate-to-severe chronic atopic dermatitis have recently become approved but are not yet funded in New Zealand.
If we suspect allergic contact dermatitis, we will discuss patch testing with you.