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 socialization.  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.

Sufferers of the inflammatory skin condition eczema are plagued by itchiness.  It is often the single most irritating aspect of the condition and the symptom that causes them the most grief.

Many different aspects of the environment aggravate the itchiness but one of the major problems is the fabric we put against our skin.  Many fabrics are course or scratchy and increase skin irritation which in turn increases itching.

A textile manufacturer in Japan has developed a new fiber that they claim will reduce the itchiness and irritation.  In a clinical study where 100 eczema sufferers wore underwear made of the fiber overnight, 80 of them reported decreased itchiness the next morning.

What makes this fiber so special?

The Osaka based textile maker Daiwabo Neu Co. drew on research conducted by Shinshu University and other institutions.  The end result was a fiber dyed with iron phthalocyanine which is an organic chemical that destroys the protein that accelerates itchiness by decomposing allergens such as dust mites and house dust.

This sounds like a huge breakthrough for the everyday lives of eczema sufferers and in deed any one with sensitive, easily irritated skin.  Unfortunately the report did not indicate how long it would be before the fiber makes it onto the market where we can all benefit from it.

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 very 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.

Dust is the general name for minute solid particles of matter.  Dust occurs in two main forms, Atmospheric dust and Domestic dust.  Although it was the atmospheric dust I’ve been dealing with for the past two weeks, domestic dust is what commonly causes flare-ups for eczema sufferers.

It’s spring, so dust in the house and dust in the air (in the form of pollen) is very common.  It’s a common time for allergies to flare up and the scratching of eczema begins.

Where there’s dust, there’s dust mites

We have known of the dangers of dust mite for those who suffer from allergies for longer than the word allergies has been around.  And they are difficult to avoid.

Dust mites are everywhere

Dust mites live off organic debris and their preferred diet is skin cells.  Dust mite can therefore be found wherever humans are.  They are most abundant where dead human skin cells are most plentiful – bedding, rugs, upholstered furniture.  They thrive in warm moist environments.

Dust mites are resilient

Dust mites are also very resilient.  They can survive in warm soapy water and can withstand freezing temperatures for up to 5 hours.  Bedding and furnishings should therefore be laundered regularly in the hottest water possible and then put through the hottest cycle of a clothes dryer.

It is best to replace childrens soft plush covered toys with toys that have smooth plastic bodies and washable clothes.  If children have special toys they just can’t part with they should be washed 2 –3 times a week in very hot water to kill the dust mite or placed in a plastic bag and put in the freezer overnight.  The next morning they can be washed in warm water to remove the dead mites.

Although regular vacuuming will not totally rid a room of mites it will remove up to 70% of them.  However they will be back to their original numbers within a week.  Regular vacuuming is therefore essential.

The most effective way to keep your environment as dust mite free as possible is to vacuum regularly, launder in hot water regularly and replace what ever can’t be laundered with that which can be laundered easily in hot water.

Blisters are a result of a number of causes.  Blisters are small fluid-filled sacs that appear on the surface of the skin.  They may vary in size from pinpoint to 10mm in diameter.  Larger blisters are known as bulla, whilst the smaller ones commonly seen in eczema are called vesicles.

Blisters are caused by an allergic reaction, which causes an increase in fluid accumulation in the skin’s tissues.  Blisters usually break easily releasing their fluid onto the skin’s surface.  When the fluid dries yellow crusts like scabs may remain on the skin.

Although not commonly recognised as a main symptom of eczema, blisters can be present in most types of eczema.  They are however mainly associated with Dyshidrotic eczema. Nummular eczema and Atopic eczema may also have blisters but they are a less distinctive part of the conditions.

The eczema rash is one of the most distinctive features of eczema, despite the fact that its appearance will vary from person to person.  Everyone with eczema will have a rash … and an itch. The typical eczema rash is dry, red, scaly and itchy.  The skin is always inflamed.

Baby eczema oozes and crusts

Although born with a predisposition to develop eczema it is rare for the condition to develop before the age of 2 months.  The eczema rash, which usually appears on the skin of a baby developing eczema between the ages of 2 – 4 months, will typically be red and inflamed with oozing and crusting.

A child not developing eczema until the age of 2 years will generally find that the eczema rash is drier and more scaly.  Despite the differences in the presentation of the rash the eczema rash is still quite easy to identify and fortunately for most children their eczema and the rash will be outgrown by the time they start school.

The rash is dry, red and scaly

For some the eczema continues on into the teens and adulthood.  Eczema at this age is typically characterised by dry, red skin that is scaly and inflamed.  The itch is always present resulting in the presence of numerous scratch marks covering the rash and in some cases the skin over the eczema rash will become broken and possibly infected.

Eczema developing in adulthood is often quite different in appearance to that of the eczema rash found in children.  And the location of the rash is often more confined.  Whilst children will often find the eczema rash appears mainly on the face and behind the knees and elbows, adults will be more prone to develop eczema on the hands or sometimes in patches on the lower leg.

Of course this is a generalization and the eczema rash can cover any part of the body at any age and the severity of the rash will vary from person to person.

Adult eczema often affects the hands – look out for the rash

The most common form of eczema experienced by children is atopic eczema.  Whilst adults can also develop atopic eczema contact dermatitis of the hands is more common.  Here the eczema rash will appear in response to the hands coming in contact with something they are sensitive to.

Another form of eczema common amongst older adults is nummular eczema.  Here the eczema rash presents as small, red, coin shaped lesions usually on the legs.  As the rash heals it develops an appearance not unlike ringworm.

Regardless of the appearance of the eczema rash or the type of eczema experienced it is important to take care of the affected skin and remember to keep it well moisturized at all times.  Consult your doctor if your eczema rash takes on a different appearance of if you are having difficulty controlling it.

Over the past couple of decades Western society has started exploring what the eastern world has known for centuries.

Green tea has therapeutic properties

Green tea and black tea both come from the same plant, camellia sinensis, which is native to the rainy forests of South East Asia.  The difference is in the processing.  Green tea is less processed so it still contains much of its original plant substances.

Green tea possesses many therapeutic properties, due to the high levels of polyphenols that it contains.  Polyphenols are naturally occurring substances that neutralise the damaging effects of the free radicals in the body.  Free radicals disrupt normal cellular function causing damage to many cells in the body.  The polyphenols, which are abundant in green tea, help to prevent this cellular damage.

Studies into the benefits of green tea are continuing and reports are promising.  Green tea contains anti-carcinogenic, anti-allergenic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Green tea is believed to reduce inflammation and itching

Drinking green tea on a regular basis is believed to be beneficial in controlling the symptoms of eczema.  It is believed to reduce inflammation and itching and to calm the overactive immune response.  It is only effective whilst being taken regularly and is by no means considered a cure for the condition.  Studies indicate that the eczema symptoms will reappear if the green tea is not taken regularly.

The amount of green tea required to control the symptoms of eczema is disputable.  Some reports claim 3 cups per day will control the symptoms of eczema whilst other reports indicate that up to 10 cups per day are required.

If you suffer from eczema why not try drinking green tea?  You never know the benefits you might discover.

Foot eczema is most common amongst children in the wintertime, when the air is dryer.  It presents as a scaly area of dry irritated skin on the foot.  In severe cases the skin may crack and bleed leaving it open to infection.

The problem arises when an allergy prone child reacts to an element in his shoes or socks, or from excessive sweating.  Intense sweating, which is often the result of poorly chosen shoes, results in the skin’s natural oils being washed away.  This leaves the upper layers of skin barren of their natural moisturisation.

What can be done to control foot eczema?

As with any eczema prevention is easier than control.  Keeping the feet well moisturised especially in winter and careful selection of shoes may help to prevent the condition developing.

It is advisable to avoid the use of soaps, as soaps are known to be harsh on sensitive skin stripping it of its natural oils.  Use soap substitutes, which are gentle on the skin and don’t contain fragrances, additives, preservatives or colouring.

Where possible select shoes that are not occlusive or synthetic.  Open sandals are better than closed in shoes as they allow the air to circulate.  Canvas runners/trainers are known for inducing sweating.  They should be avoided whenever possible.  Air shoes out each night to ensure they are thoroughly dry before being worn the next day.  A second pair of shoes may be necessary so they can be worn on alternating days.

Soaking the feet in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of bath oil each evening is very beneficial.  This will cleanse the accumulated sweat off the feet and remoisturise the skin.  If eczema is actually present on the skin the most effective time to apply treating creams is after the feet have been soaked and dabbed dry.  This is when the skin is at its softest and moistest and therefore most receptive to the cream.

If the skin becomes broken and bleeds antibiotics or wrapping may be required.  Your doctor can advise you about the necessity of these.

Over recent years we have seen a trend towards natural products.  It is often thought that if it is natural it must be safe.  It is true that natural products do not contain the harmful man-made chemicals known to be harsh on the skin.  It is however fallacy that natural ingredients will not cause an allergic reaction.

Whilst it is true that natural ingredients are less likely to cause an allergic reaction, some people are just more prone to allergy.  This is especially so for the eczema sufferer.

Unfortunately unless you are already aware of certain ingredients that will cause a reaction there is no way of knowing how your skin will react to a product until you have tried it.  It is for this reason that any new topical application should be patch tested before being applied to the affected area.

If your skin does react to a substance it will become red, itchy and burn.  Severe reactions will result in small papules sometimes filled with a watery fluid to develop.

Sensitive skin can be aggravated by environmental influences like wind, sun and heat.  Perfumes, some essential oils and products containing alcohol will also aggravate sensitive skin.  Stress, changed diet, illness or medication may make you prone to an allergic reaction.

Sometimes it may take several applications of a preparation before a reaction occurs.  If an allergic reaction occurs immediately wash the substance off your skin.  A cold compress will soothe any resulting stinging or redness.

Despite the possibility of a natural product still causing an allergic reaction it is less likely than a product containing perfumes, chemicals or sulfates to cause irritation.  I believe it is still a good choice for your skin – a more friendly, gentle choice for your skin.  You just need to remember to take the required precautions.

In a survey of 1000 consumers looking for an over the counter remedy to treat a medical problem indicated that the pharmacist exerts considerable influence.

The study carried out in the UK showed that over half the UK population has asked a pharmacist for advice on a cough or cold remedy.  20% have asked the pharmacist for advice regarding an eye problem and 19% regarding a headache or migraine.  14% of people have asked for advice from the pharmacist regarding a skin complaint such as eczema.

Findings show that women are more likely to ask for a pharmacist’s advice than men.  Haemorrhoids (3%) and weight loss (2%) are the least likely ailments for people to seek a pharmacist’s advice about.  Almost 70% of pharmacists were said to not only give advice but to suggest a brand of product to use.

This shows that the pharmacist is a key influencer in consumers determining treatment when seeking an over the counter remedy for medical ailments.