Islamabad: Eczema affects quality of life as 84% eczema patients experience difficulty falling asleep, 47% patients feel frustrated, 39% are embarrassed about their appearance, and 35% were often angry about their appearance. Patients suffering from this skin disorder also have inferior mental health scores compared to those with diabetes or hypertension and inferior social functioning scores compared to patients with hypertension. Dr. Shireen Ansari, head of the Department of Dermatology at Federal Government Polyclinic shared these data in connection with International Awareness week for Atopic Dermatitis (AD), which is observed every year in the last week of November. AD, which is commonly known as Eczema, is a kind of skin disorder characterized as an inflammatory, relapsing, non-contagious and itchy skin malady. “The cause of AD is not known. There is some evidence that genetic factors and probably growing up in a ‘sanitary' environment (hygiene hypothesis) may predispose to the development of AD. Regarding the genetic predisposition, many patients affected by AD have a family history of atopy, such as asthma, food allergies, AD, or hay fever,” Dr. Shireen added. Common symptoms of eczema are itching, redness, scaling, bleeding, and cracking. “The triggering factors of eczema include 30% by exposure to hot or cold temperature; 20% children were affected by foods account, and 10% revealed that AD prevalence was due to skin infection. As many as 60% children had AD in family history, whereas 40% were without any family AD background. The outbreaks of eczema can be avoided and the severity of this skin disorder can be lessened by avoiding excessive bathing and all types of contact irritants including common soap, detergent, shampoo and cleansing agents,” Dr. Shireen informed. Though symptoms of AD can be uncomfortable and at times difficult to control, the disease can successfully be managed and in some cases even prevented through proper medication. Dr. Shireen suggested use of appropriate protective measures including gloves and barrier creams. “Many types of fragrance-free emollients and moisturizers will help skin protection, especially in low humidity season. Proper use of moisturizers can improve the skin barrier function of eczema patient while occasional extreme anxiety may need psychological treatment,” she suggested.
