Eczema: its causes, how to get relief from the itching, and the promise of new treatments
- Adele, the Duchess of Cambridge, Nicole Kidman and Brad Pitt all suffer from eczema, an irritation for which there is no cure
- Some sufferers have it in their genes, others get it from something that breaks the skin, such as ear piercings. New treatments offer them fresh hope
What do singer Adele, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and actors Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman have in common? Besides their fame and wealth, these big names suffer from eczema, a common skin condition characterised by unbearable itching, dryness, redness, and flaky skin. Eczema has no cure, and many sufferers have to deal with the symptoms for life.
There are several causes of eczema, the most common being atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, says Dr Adrian Wu Young Yuen, a specialist in allergy and immunology at the Centre for Allergy and Asthma Care in Hong Kong’s Central district.
Atopic dermatitis is a genetic condition, with the genes responsible for the barrier functions of the skin being affected. This results in increased loss of water from the skin, leading to dryness and skin discomfort.
Without these barrier functions, the skin also becomes more permeable to allergens such as dust mites and chemicals in skincare products and household detergents, thus increasing sensitivity to those allergens; it also becomes less resistant to infectious agents such as the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, the herpes virus and certain fungi, which may lead to chronic inflammation followed by itchiness and scratching and a further breakdown of the skin’s barrier.
Long-term use of topical steroids may also weaken this barrier.
