Living with eczema

Brief overview

Atopy is the word which describes the linked conditions of asthma, eczema and hay fever. Atopic eczema is the commonest form of eczema affecting children. An atopic child may have one or any combination of these three conditions.

The eczema is commonest around the age of 2 years. It can, however, appear for the first time at any stage in childhood from the age of two months and even in adult life. The eczema typically affects the skin creases the folds of the elbows and behind the knees. It can, however, affect all parts of the body. The skin is dry and very itchy. It is the itching that is most distressing to children, often keeping them awake at night. This form of eczema is very prone to infection. Bacterial infections of the skin are often responsible for a flare-up of the condition.