Up to 20% of children are said to suffer from eczema, one of the most common skin disorders |
Wellbeing /
Body
By Feriha
İbrahim
Skin is the
largest organ of the human body and it serves multiple functions. The most
important of these is as a protective barrier, keeping the body away from
noxious external elements. It also keeps the internal system intact. Other
functions of skin are:
- UV light protection
- Thermoregulation: helping the body to maintain a regular temperature even in varying external temperatures
- Control of water loss
Skin
disorders can occur when a layer of cells start losing their main properties.
There are many types of skin disorders but the two most common ones are eczema
(dermatitis) and psoriasis. Both these conditions can flare-up at any time, but
with the right treatment can go into remission.
Eczema
Eczema
is also called dermatitis, which means ‘inflammation of the skin’. It is a
long-term chronic illness that can affect all ages. Up to 20% children can suffer
from eczema, however many grow out of it by their mid-teens.
There
are different types of eczema, the most common being atopic eczema. The condition
can appear on any part of the body, from the head down to feet. The main symptoms
are:
·
Skin feels dry
·
Some areas of skin become red and inflamed
·
Itchy
·
Skin can become cracked
Ask your pharmacist about the most suitable over-the-counter treatments for your skin disorder |
Those
living with this condition should:
·
Avoid irritants to the skin and other factors that trigger
the disorder
·
Use emollients regularly
·
Use topical steroids for severe outbreaks
Psoriasis
Psoriasis
is another common skin disorder. This auto-immune condition, which triggers the
rapid growth of skin cells, is said to affect up to 3% of the population, affecting
both males and females equally.
Red, scaly skin typical symptom of psoriasis |
Essentially
psoriasis suffers find that their skin replacement process takes a few weeks
instead of a few days, which results in a build-up of excess skin cells. The excess
then forms into patches (plaques) of red, scaly, flaky skin. It can affect any part
of the body, including the scalp, hands, feet and genitals.
Factors
that cause psoriasis are stress, infections, drugs, sunlight, hormone changes,
alcohol and smoking. There are many applications that can be prescribed to
treat psoriasis too.
Treatment
The key to treating
skin disorders is keeping the skin soft and moist. If your regular skin cleanser
and moisturiser for dry skin are not working, ask your local pharmacist about medical
emollients. Their properties tend to be milder, avoiding colours and fragrances
that often cause irritation, while helping to nourish and rehydrate the skin, and
restore the balance of essential oils.
Popular treatments
you can buy over-the-counter include creams, ointments, lotions, shampoos and shower
gels. Some are more suitable than others, depending on where on the body the
symptoms are and the severity of your condition. For example creams are great
for moisturising, but ointments are more effective if you are suffering a
flare-up. Talk to your pharmacist, who can advise on the ideal emollient
therapy for you.
Each person’s
skin disorder is unique to them and it can take a few attempts before your pharmacist,
or in more serious cases, GP or specialist consultant finds the right treatment
for you. These can also include steroids, antihistamines, Ultra-Violet (UV)
light therapy, bandages and wet wraps, immunosuppressant tablets and biologic
injections.
For more
information, visit the National Eczema Society and the Psoriasis Association or NHS Choices
About the author: Feriha İbrahim is a fully qualified pharmacist who, together with her family, runs Woodside Pharmacy – both branches are located in Leytonstone, London E11.
About the author: Feriha İbrahim is a fully qualified pharmacist who, together with her family, runs Woodside Pharmacy – both branches are located in Leytonstone, London E11.
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My husband suffers from eczema and has been using foderma serum twice a day. It took him 3 weeks to try it because he is very traditional and stubborn and thinks that oatmeal cures all. Even though it never cured his eczema. He humbly admitted that his eczema is gone!!! He'll never switch and the Mrs. has new cred.
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