The Skin Nerd: How to deal with eczema

Eczema shows on the skin in red, flaky, scaly patches, sometimes with swelling

Eczema on the fingers.

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that is incredibly common, affecting around 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults, according to the Irish Skin Foundation. Although there are plenty of educational and helpful resources out there, such as the Irish Skin Foundation website, misinformation on the condition is rampant. Eczema is not simply dry skin, nor is it an occasional itchiness or a sudden rash, for most people. Unfortunately, there is no one easy “cure” for eczema but thankfully, it can be managed.

As eczema is a medical skin condition, your first port of call is a GP. In skin therapy, it is widely accepted as our duty to refer clients to a GP if they are unaware that their symptoms point towards eczema. I must note that when it comes to the management of eczema, there is plenty of advice we can offer to those suffering from it alongside the advice that you may receive from your GP. This is why I often mention what I call the skin health jigsaw puzzle, the term I use to refer to a holistic approach to skin health featuring different disciplines – for example, general practice doctors, dermatologists, nutritionists, skin therapists and psychologists.