Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.  If in fact not the most difficult.  As a child gets older and enters into the school world a parent is frequently faced with the question of whether their child is well enough to go to school or not.

Is that runny nose and cough making them too miserable to be at school?  Is their conjunctivitis contagious?  Is that rash going to develop into measles?  Are they sick or have they just forgotten to finish their homework?

Without any medical expertise it is difficult for a parent to know the right answer.  We simply do what we think is right and what we feel is best for our child.

When you have a child with eczema it is a continuous, often daily battle to know whether your child is well enough for school.

So how do you know if your child should go to school or not?

Eczema is not contagious so there is no need to keep your child home from school to protect other children from their rash.

If your child is self conscious of their rash and afraid of the response of the other children talk to them about it and also the teacher so that your child can go to school and feel a part of the class without any feelings of being different.  The situation will not improve by keeping your child at home.

If your child needs eczema creams and emollients to be applied during the day to prevent itching and to keep them comfortable, discuss this with the teacher as she/he may be able to help so that your child is able to go to school.

If your child’s eczema is so severe that they will be unable to participate in activities it is probably wise to keep them at home.

If your child has open weeping eczema and you fear that they may be susceptible to infection by going to school they should probably be kept at home.

If your child has been unable to sleep all night due to the discomfort of their eczema they will most probably not be able to function properly at school.  Letting them sleep in and take it easy for a while is probably advisable. There is however no reason why they cannot be taken to school a little later.  The whole school day need not be lost.

It is important to remember that a child’s education is important and so is their socialisation.  Being at school and learning to play and mix with other children is an important part of a child’s development.  It is however also important that a child’s health and well being not be put at risk by being at school.

Trust your instincts

I guess it still comes back to the parent and what they feel is the best for their child.  Most parents know how their child will cope at school and when their health is too poor for them to be able to cope.

Discuss your child’s health with the teacher and work as a partnership.  The teacher will be able to advise you on how your child generally copes at school and the effect that their eczema has on their days performance.

An understanding with the teacher that she/he will call you during the day if your child’s eczema becomes worse or if they appear too uncomfortable to be at school will also help to put your mind at ease.

Our face plays a very important part of our day to day lives.  It is the first thing people notice when they see us.  It is what we are remembered by.  It is how we are identified.

Caring for our face is therefore important.  The skin on our face is more sensitive than skin on other areas of our body.  It is important that we look after it and ensure it is well moisturised and protected from the sun and wind.  Dry, sun exposed skin will age prematurely and is more prone to irritation.

Daily moisturising using a moisturiser containing a sunscreen will help to protect the skin as will wearing a hat when outdoors.  Also select make up carefully and only use good quality products that suit your skin.  Wash make up off at the end of the day to ensure the skin has a chance to breathe and recover.

Regardless of how well you care for the skin on your face some people will still develop skin conditions affecting their face.  This is often due to an hereditary condition or simply bad luck.

Common conditions affecting the skin on the face include eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and perhaps the most common of all acne.

Eczema – Chronic, Itchy and Irritating

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition most common in children but also prevalent in adults.  The skin becomes dry, red and inflamed however the most irritating symptom of all is the uncontrollable itch that accompanies the rash.

Keeping the skin well moisturised using perfume and preservative free moisturisers that have been designed for sensitive skin will help.  The condition may worsen when the skin is exposed to certain elements including dust mite, pet dander, chemicals, climate changes and certain foods. However the triggering factors will vary from person to person making the condition difficult to treat.

To best control the condition you should avoid using soaps on the face and never wash with hot water as this will aggravate the condition.  Avoid make up as much as possible but if it must be worn use products that are designed for sensitive skin and ensure it is washed off at the end of the day and a moisturiser is applied.

Use an emollient that has been designed to control eczema and its symptoms.  These can often be bought as an over the counter product.  If the condition persists and is resistant to the methods you are using you may need to try an alternate treatment or consult a doctor who will prescribe you a stronger cream.

Rosacea – Blushing and Flushing

Rosacea is a chronic condition affecting the blood vessels of the face.  It is most common in both men and women aged between 30 and 40 and results in red blotches with hard swollen pimple like bumps appearing on the face.

The superficial facial blood vessels become enlarged and dilated resulting in the hot, inflamed rash that is common in rosacea.  Rosacea is most common in people who are prone to blushing and is triggered by any condition that will cause the blood vessels to dilate.

Treatment is therefore aimed at avoiding conditions that will cause dilatation of the superficial facial blood vessels.  These conditions include:
•    Stressful, anxious or embarrassing situations
•    Allowing the skin to overheat (sauna’s, sunburn, overcrowded rooms, washing in hot water)
•    Some medications and foods (always consult your doctor before using a new medication)

It is also important to remember that rosacea is not related to eczema or acne and the treatments normally used for these conditions may worsen rather than improve the symptoms.  Treatment is aimed at treating symptoms and avoiding trigger situations.

Psoriasis – The Silvery Scale

Psoriasis is yet another chronic condition that may affect the face.  It more commonly affects the scalp and extends from the scalp down onto the face.  Psoriasis is uncommon in young children, frequently first appearing in mid to late teens and carrying on through life.

Psoriasis is an hereditary condition resulting from on overproduction of skin cells. This causes the affected areas of skin to become red, scaly and itchy.  The most distinctive symptom of psoriasis is the thick, silver scales that develop on the skin over the rash.

There is no cure for psoriasis.  Treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms.  Warm, moist conditions tend to improve psoriasis hence many psoriasis sufferers will move to warmer climates where they are able to enjoy an outdoors life.

Treatments range from topical creams through to internal and ultraviolet light therapies.  Mild cases are usually managed quite effectively by avoiding environmental triggers and using topical creams.  More severe cases often require a variety of different treatment options being used in conjunction.  Close medical guidance is therefore needed in these cases.

Acne – A Teenage Nightmare

Acne is an inflammatory condition often affecting teenagers during puberty.  It is the result of a build up of sebum behind blocked hair follicles.  The blocked pores create small pustules (pimples) on the skin surface.  If left untreated the pimple will build up in pressure and eventually burst causing bacteria and dead skin to spread across the skin.  This causes the skin to become oily and further hair follicles to become blocked and so increasing the problem.

Acne is best treated early to prevent scarring and to allow treatment to have the best chance of being effective.  There are many acne treatments available.  It is important to remember that not all treatments will help everyone.

If your acne is not clearing up after several weeks of using a treatment you may need to readjust your treatment.  Along with medicated treatments it is important to gently clean your skin twice a day with a mild soap and pat dry.

The Stress Of Facial Skin Conditions

All facial skin conditons carry with them a degree of emotional stress as we all know people can see our belmishes.  There is no hiding our face.

Being consistent with treatments and avoiding factors that are known to worsen the condition will help.  If the emotional side of the condition is weighing you down you should seek professional advice to help you overcome the problem.

Making mistakes is good – providing you learn from them.

It is no different to when you were a toddler learning life skills like walking and stacking blocks. You try different methods – discard the ones that don’t work and continue with the ones that do.

The same works for eczema, the only difference is that now you are doing it consciously.

Making errors is part of the process of finding a treatment regime and lifestyle that effectively controls your eczema.

If everyone suffered in the same way eczema would be an easy condition to treat. But eczema is a very individual condition. Each person will have individual triggers causing their eczema to flare up. It is finding these triggers that often takes trial and error.

Similarly a person’s response to treatments will be individual. What works well for one person often has no effect on another person. A variety of treatments may need to be trialled before an effective treatment is found.

The secret is not to take the failures to heart. Do not take them as a sign to give up, but rather as a learning curve and another step in the right direction to finding the best way to control your eczema.

The reality is so long as you learn from your mistakes they are not really mistakes at all but rather a step closer to successfully managing your eczema.

It is no secret that breastfeeding has huge advantages for the baby.  Breastfeeding will aid in the development of the baby’s immune system and decrease the chances of a baby developing allergies.

Eczema and allergies are closely related so it stands to reason that breastfeeding your baby will be of benefit if eczema runs in the family.  If one parent has eczema there is a 30% chance the child will develop eczema.  If both parents have or had eczema there is an 80% chance of their child developing eczema.

Colostrum may prevent allergies developing

A study in the 1999 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, showed that colostrum, the milk produced by the mother after the first few days of her baby’s life may help prevent the development of inherited allergies.  The study also showed that colostrum, which is high in protein and antibodies, promotes the production of antibodies in the child.

Allergies are more prone to develop if a child is exposed to allergens early in life.  Breastfeeding a baby exclusively for the first 6 – 12 months will allow the immune system to develop more fully and will therefore reduce the risk of the child developing allergies or eczema that are triggered by foods.

Breastfeeding has many advantages

Breastfeeding your baby has many advantages.  Decreasing the chances of them developing allergies or allergy related illnesses like eczema and asthma make it all the more important.

It is very rare for a baby to be allergic to their mother’s breast milk.  They can however react to a food the mother has eaten and passed on in her milk.  The most common signs of this are the baby developing colic, frequent colds, skin rashes or restless sleeps.

The usual culprit is dairy foods in the mother’s diet.  Cutting all dairy out of the diet will usually help.  The mother should also avoid any foods that she is known to be sensitive to.

It is not known conclusively if breastfeeding will reduce the risk of allergies developing later in life but if you can give your baby an initial allergy free period that has to be a bonus.

Eczema during pregnancy

A woman’s eczema is often altered during pregnancy.  For some the eczema will resolve whilst for others eczema that has laid dormant for years will flare up.

Click the link to find out more about eczema and pregnancy.

I am always repeating myself so I thought once and for all I would write down what I consider to be the 6 most important things you need to do for your skin when you have eczema.

1. Moisturise:

Dry skin and eczema (or psoriasis) go hand in hand. Applying a good moisturiser regularly (at least daily) will help to prevent the skin from losing its natural oils and minimise eczema. Your moisturiser should be as natural as possible and free from additives like perfumes and colourings.

Remember the emollient you use to treat the symptoms of your eczema will rarely be a moisturiser as well.  A separate moisturiser will need to be used.  Some good moisturisers include Sorbolene, Ego QV moisturisers and my favourite,  Grahams Bath Oil.

2. Drink Lots:

Drinking 8 – 10 glasses of water a day will help to keep the body and the skin hydrated.  Many people with eczema experience thirst caused by loss of fluid from the skins tissues.  This fluid loss needs to be replaced by drinking extra water.

3. Take Omega 3 Supplements:

People with eczema are deficient in omega 3, an essential fatty acid responsible for controlling inflammation in the body. By increasing your omega 3 levels you can decrease the amount of eczema you experience. As our diets today do not contain sufficient omega 3 this needs to be done by taking a supplement. Omega 3 supplements are available in capsule and liquid forms.

4. Choose Your Emollient Cream:

Everyone responds differently to different emollient creams and there is no single emollient cream that will work for everyone.  Finding the right emollient cream is a matter of trial and error.

When choosing an emollient cream look for one that is natural with no added perfumes or colourings.  Most emollient creams will have one preservative to ensure a shelf life.  Take note of the ingredients in the creams you use in an attempt to determine what ingredients work best for you and what ones irritate your skin.

When trialling a new emollient cream always patch test the cream on an unaffected area of skin before using it on the affected areas to ensure you are not allergic to the cream.

5. Be Consistent:

You need to maintain a consistent state for your skin to avoid any outbreaks.  Be consistent with your skin care regime and avoid changes to detergents and clothing fabrics if you have determined that what you are using is safe for you.

6. Find Your Triggers:

Eczema can be triggered by anything and each person’s triggers will be different from the next.  The most common triggers are chemicals, pollens, pet dander, some foods, stress and climate.  To determine if foods are triggering your eczema (and what specific foods) it is best to keep a food diary.  This can be time consuming but if done properly is very effective.

Whether it’s food, the weather, clothing or chemicals, if you can identify the triggers that cause your flareups you’ll be armed with the knowledge to aviod such triggers giving your skin time to heal and possibly even become more resillient to flareups. Eliminating triggers from your environment is the only way to effectively be rid of your eczema.

It has been around forever but it seems that the incredible benefits of Omega 3 have only become widely known in recent years.  Sure naturalists have advertised the benefits of Omega 3 for years but it seems to me that it is only in far more recent times that omega 3 has been considered an important asset to our bodies.

Omega 3 is a powerful weapon against many common diseases and ailments including heart disease, cholesterol, hypertension, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cancer, menstrual cramping, acne, diabetes, depression, dementia, Attention Deficit Disorder, inflammation and eczema.

In fact omega 3 is vital for general well being.

In history the relevance of omega 3 has been of less significance as the typical diet contained sufficient omega 3 naturally for it not to be a problem.  Our modern way of life in the western world has changed this.

We now eat less fresh fruit and vegetables grown naturally in our own back yards and less oily fish freshly caught by our hunting husbands.  Our diets now are highly processed.  Many of our foods are tinned, packaged, pre prepared or heaven forbid “fast”.  The end result for most people of the western world is a diet low, or in many cases, completely deficient in omega 3.

What is Omega 3?

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid (or polyunsaturated fatty acid) found in fish tissues and some leafy green vegetables.   They were originally classified as “Vitamin F” until it was realised that they must be classified with the fats.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are particularly valuable because the body needs them to function properly but is unable to manufacture them on its own.  EFA’s protect cell membranes throughout the body keeping them efficient at admitting healthy substances while barring damaging ones.

Put simply Omega 3 is one of the “good fats” and our body needs it to stay healthy.

Omega 3 has been found to have many benefits:

It improves the health of the cardio vascular system by lowering serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels to make blood less viscous, thinner and less sticky and therefore less likely to clump together.  High cholesterol, heart disease and high blood pressure are all less likely when a diet high in omega 3 is observed.  Omega 3 also reduces inflammation in the body.  Eczema and psoriasis are both inflammatory skin conditions that will decrease if the levels of Omega 3 are increased.

Where do we get it?

If today’s diet does not include enough Omega 3 then the question must be asked:  Where can we get it from?

There are many Omega 3 supplements available over the counter.  They often come in capsule form like the cod fish oil supplements but may also be a liquid supplement.  Mega Oil is a liquid Omega 3 supplement with a difference.  It not only contains Omega 3 but also Omegas 6 and 9, in a ratio  specifically balanced to maintain optimum health.

Mega Oil is designed to reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.

Psoriasis comes in varying degrees and we so often hear of people referring to the condition as mild, moderate or severe.  But what is the severity of your psoriasis?  How do you know how severe is severe?

For some their psoriasis appears as a few small areas of affected skin or just the nail beds being involved whilst for others the entire torso or legs are involved.  At what point does the condition stop being mild and become moderate or severe?

It’s all in the palm of your hand

The severity of psoriasis is measured by the use of the palm of the hand.  One palm of the hand represents 1% of the skin involved.  Less than 3% of the skin being affected by psoriasis means the condition will be classified as mild.  Between 3 – 10% coverage is classed as moderate and anything over 10% is considered severe psoriasis.

The form of treatment selected to treat psoriasis is often based on the severity of the condition.  Mild psoriasis is usually treated with topical creams alone.  Severe psoriasis frequently uses a combination of topical treatments, systemic treatments and ultraviolet light therapy.

Biologic Drugs – New treatment available

In 2003 a new form of treatment became available when the FDA gave approval for the new biologic drugs to be used in the treatment of psoriasis.  Some of these biologic drugs were on the markets prior to 2003 but were only approved for the use in treating immune related disorders such as ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Biologic drugs are only used for moderate and severe psoriasis.  It is believed that they are safer and more effective for long term treatment however a full evaluation of long term side effects is yet to be established as the drugs themselves are still relatively new.

Whilst the severity of psoriasis persists at least the treatment options are ever improving giving sufferers increased options and more hope of leading a comfortable life with reduced psoriasis symptoms.

Hand Eczema is an extremely common problem.  Unfortunately hand eczema is also very difficult to keep under control as we are constantly using our hands for so many things.  People with hand eczema usually notice their hands becoming increasingly dry and sore.  If the eczema persists, the hands often become patchy, red, scaly, inflamed and very very sore.

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A new discovery that may lead to long lasting therapies against psoriasis and assist in healing has been found.  A new type of immune cell has been discovered that can be out of control in certain chronic inflammatory diseases, worsening the symptoms of conditions like psoriasis, atopic eczema and asthma.

German Research Scientists have recently discovered a new type of immune cell that plays a role in certain chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and asthma. The cell which has been named Th22, is a type of immune cell called a T helper cell.

T helper cells are white blood cells that help control inflammation in the body to help fight off infection.  They also activate other immune cells when the body comes under attack by a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria.

How Th22 cells work

In healthy cells the Th22 cells have a protective effect as they produce a signaling molecule that provides tissues with an advance warning that inflammation or infection is going to happen.  This gives the tissues time to prepare to attack the invading pathogen or protect themselves against inflammation.

The protective nature of Th22 cells is ineffective in people with chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic eczema as there appears to be a malfunction within the Th22 cell. This leads to excessive inflammation and often a worsening of symptoms.

“These diseases can have a big impact on people’s lives, and patients can face a constant battle to keep their symptoms at bay. We are very excited about discovering this new subset of T-helper cells, as we believe it could provide a new target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases in the future.”  stated Dr Carsten Schmidt-Weber of the National Heart and Lung Institute of Imperial College London in the UK.

What this means for eczema and psoriasis

Studies of the Th22 cells are continuing in more detail as researchers are hoping to determine their role in inflammatory diseases as well as where the cells are produced in the body.  With this determined it may be possible to control the cells before they start to cause problems by targeting new drugs directly at the Th22 cells.

It is a popular belief that a good suntan is a sign of good health. In fact, a suntan is visible evidence of having received enough sunlight to damage the skin.  Our views and knowledge of the sun and a suntan have changed considerably over the years.

One hundred years ago the Europeans considered a pale complexion to be a social and fashion asset.  Large hats were worn and sunshades were carried to protect their skin from the sun.  The rich and fashionable avoided the sunlight.

A Suntan became desirable

It was in the 1930’s that attitudes began to change.  People started to enjoy outdoor activities such as walking, camping and cycling.  A suntan gradually became more acceptable and even desirable.

In the 1940’s, after World War II had ended, cheap holidays enabled people around the world to enjoy the pleasures of travel.  A most popular holiday destination was the beach.  And so the outdoor lifestyle was established, along with it, the suntan.  To have a good suntan was considered to have a healthy glow.

It was however, around this time that Australians were being informed of the potential dangers of the sun.  There was a high rate of skin cancer being reported amongst white-skinned people.  Public health campaigns were introduced to warn people of the dangers and to educate them about the use of sunscreen and the early detection of skin cancers.

The sun damages our skin

But still people persisted in sunbaking and not protecting their skin.  Repeated exposure to sunlight causes premature aging of the skin known as ‘photoageing’.  Here the skin becomes dry, wrinkly and saggy, with red and brown blotches.

There are more than 200,000 new cases of skin cancer reported each year in Australia alone.  About 8,000 of these are malignant melanomas which are responsible for about 1,600 deaths each year.  Doctors estimate that 90% are potentially preventable by taking care in the sun.

The sun has benefits too

The positive effects of sunlight are also considerable.  The warmth and light offered by the sun after a long, dark winter will hugely lift the spirits.  The aim is therefore to enjoy the psychological benefits of the sun without suffering from its hidden harmful effects.

What Happens When We Sun Bake?

When we sun bake the UV rays from the sun penetrate the skin.  This causes damage to the skins cell molecules, in particular the DNA in the cell nuclei.  By damaging the cells DNA, the function of the cell is impaired, and thus complications can begin to occur.

The body will largely repair the immediate DNA damage, but some can be inaccurately repaired.  Problems arise when the inaccurately repaired DNA is passed on to new cells when the cell divides. An accumulation of these cells may gradually lead to skin photoageing or eventually skin cancer.

Sunburn is where the damage begins

After we have experienced too much sun we feel the effects.  These common symptoms include pain, warmth, redness and swelling.  The sun causes the body to release chemicals, which are partly responsible for these symptoms.  Over exposure to the sun will cause the blood vessels to swell, which also contributes to the characteristic symptoms of sunburn.

Tanning is your skins response to UV light.  It is a protective reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun.

Care In The Sun

The sun has so many benefits that we should not be avoiding it.  We should simply be taking care when exposed to it and being aware of its potentially damaging effects.

Below are some simple tips for all of us to follow to help reduce the risks and increase the pleasures of the sun.

•    Avoid the midday sun.  During summer time or in sunny climates it is between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm that the sunrays are at their harshest.

•    When exposed to the sun, cover as much of the skin as possible.  Long sleeves and a hat will significantly reduce the chances of sunburn.

•    Wear a sunscreen that offers a high SPF protection (15 or more) and has broad-spectrum protection.

•    Remember to reapply the sunscreen regularly whilst exposed to the sun.  You will need to reapply hourly and immediately after swimming or excessive perspiring.

•    It is worth applying a sunscreen routinely as part of your daily moisturising program.  Especially to the face, which is exposed to the sun even when we are not sunbaking.

Effects of the sun on Eczema

We all need to take care but for those with inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema, need to be extra careful.  Eczema may be helped temporarily by sunlight, however the sun tends to aggravate the condition as it will increase the skin itch and worsen the overall skin condition.  The sun will take the natural moisture from the skin and cause perspiration, which irritates the skin, all leading to a flare up of the condition.

People suffering from eczema can still enjoy the outdoors, however they need to take extra care when venturing out in the sun.