Care for your feet – they are the only ones you have.

Can you imagine life without your feet?

Our feet are the most used part of our body but few of us take proper care of them as we should.  The feet are prone to many problems – not the least of these are skin conditions such as athletes foot, corns and eczema.

“Feet are often neglected but are extremely good indicators to what is going on in the rest of the body,” says podiatric surgeon Michael O’Neill.  Ailments such as circulatory problems, diabetes and skin problems can all be determined by just looking at the feet.

Care For Your Feet And Avoid Problems

Not looking after our feet can cause both short and long-term problems.  Not drying our feet properly after washing, wearing synthetic socks and closed shoes on a hot day and allowing our feet to remain sweaty will all potentially lead to the skin becoming fragile and unhealthy with eczema and dermatitis often the end result.

Psoriasis can also be evident in the feet as the toenails may often become ridged or pitted.   Joint pain or distortion, or collapse of the foot arch may also be an early indication that psoriatic arthritis is developing especially if the person already suffers from psoriasis.

Extra Care For Eczema Sufferers

We need to care for our feet especially if we are allergy prone or suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.

•    Wear shoes that will allow the skin to breathe.  Open shoes are best.
•    Wear cotton socks in preference to wool or synthetic, as they are less likely to irritate the skin.
•    Wash sweat off as soon as possible and ensure the feet are dried thoroughly.
•    Apply a moisturizer regularly to prevent the skin from drying out and becoming rough.
•    Try alternating shoes each day so that wet or moist shoes do not need to be worn.

Treating Foot Eczema and Psoriasis – Mel’s Recommendations

If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis of the feet it is very uncomfortable and often restricts your daily activities.  Regular and effective treatment is therefore important.

I recommend that the feet be soaked in a tub of warm water (not hot) at the end of each day.  Add a few drops of Grahams Bath Oil to the water and allow the feet to soak for 10 -15 minutes.  Gently pat the feet dry and then apply Calendulis Plus Cream to the feet.  Applying the cream after the soaking is the most effective as this is when the skin is at its softest and is most receptive to the effects of the cream.

If possible apply a moisturizer during the day and if the itching or irritation persists during the day apply the Calendulis Plus Cream up to 4 times a day.

Chronic, inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis cause an itchy rash and considerable discomfort which is often difficult to treat.

The difficulty comes in their individuality.  Eczema is a familial condition that is usually triggered by allergy.  It causes the skin to become dry, red, flaky, inflamed and very itchy.

Psoriasis on the other hand is the result of an overproduction of skin cells causing patches of thick, silvery scales that flake off revealing sore, red, raw skin that bleeds easily.

Whilst both eczema and psoriasis are different conditions they are similar in that their treatments are often the same and they are both difficult to control.

Eczema and Psoriasis Are Very Individual

Both eczema and psoriasis are very individual conditions where everyone experiences slightly different symptoms that are triggered by any number of factors.  Similarly they are difficult to treat because there is no single treatment for either that will help everyone.  It is a matter of trial and error finding the best cream to help each individual.

It can be a long, frustrating and expensive process searching for the treatment that best suits the individual.  This process can be made easier by following some simple rules.

So How Do You Know What Cream To Buy?

• Always look at the ingredients. All ingredients should be listed.  Ensure the ingredients are ones you are familiar with and can use.

• Check there is a preservative listed.  Natural eczema and psoriasis creams made from herbs need a preservative to enable them to have a shelf life.  Avoid products that do not list their preservative as you do not know what they have used.

• Avoid products that claim to cure your condition.  There is no cure for eczema or psoriasis.  Products that claim to cure eczema or psoriasis are misleading you with false representations.

• Avoid products with artificial colourings or perfumes as they are more likely to cause a reaction.

• Be aware that products containing essential oils and alcohol may be more prone to irritate the skin.

Other Things To Consider

• Treating eczema or psoriasis is a matter of trial and error.  If you find a natural product that you want to trial buy the smallest container available first to see if it suits your skin.

• Always patch test a product being used for the first time on an unaffected area of skin before using it on the affected areas.

• When using a cream for the first time it is a good idea to use it on one area (ie one arm) for a week or two.  This way you can compare its effects on your skin and your eczema/psoriasis by comparing that area to the rest of your body.  Also if a cream does not suit your skin and causes your skin to worsen it is better to find out on a small area rather than on the whole body.

• There is no cure for eczema or psoriasis.  If the cream you are using stops working when you stop using it, it does not mean that the cream does not work it simply means that it needs to be reapplied.  Its effect is wearing off.  (Similar to how paracetamol controls pain for a short period of time but not permanently unless used repeatedly).

• Eczema and psoriasis require constant attention to be kept under control.  Whilst choosing the right creams for your skin are important adhering to your treatment regime is equally as important. Success of a treatment will often depend on how compliant the patient is with following the instructions.  Dr Steven Feldman, M.D., from Wake Forest University School of Medicine wrote in an issue of Archives of Dermatology “non-compliance can explain why some skin conditions may seem resistant to treatment.”

• The time frame for when a new treatment will be effective will vary from person to person and product to product. Treatments need to be used for several days before they can safely be ruled out as ineffective.

• A person’s lifestyle needs to be considered.  Some people find applying creams several times a day difficult but are able to take oral medication without any trouble.  Others find that treatments applied only at bath time or bedtime are easiest to comply with.

Finding an eczema or psoriasis treatment that suits you is a matter of trial and error.  Don’t be discouraged if the first cream you try doesn’t give you the results you are looking for.

I’ve said it a million times: “Cotton is best”. This is especially so for underwear.

Young girls with sensitive skin getting their first bra should look for an all cotton bra – no lace, no lycra, no cotton blends. Also avoid a bra with seams across the cup. This is not as easy as it sounds especially when looking for a pretty bra or a sporty bra.

Similarly underpants should be all cotton and preferably loose fitting. Boxers are great! These days most boys are more than happy to wear boxers (usually hanging out over their jeans) but girls are a little more reluctant. Try buying undies that are a size too big so the elastic won’t cut in and with a fuller backside so they don’t ride up and irritate.

The less irritation caused the less chance of an eczema flare up occurring. This is particularly important in those sensitive areas. Some wise shopping now may reduce the risk of uncomfortable itchy skin later.

Itching and eczema. They seem to go hand in hand, but it’s not just an itch.  It’s an unbearable itch that you just have to scratch…and scratch…and scratch.

The problem is that the more you scratch the itchier it becomes, leading to a vicious cycle known as the scratch itch cycle.

The cause of the scratch itch cycle may be anything ranging from an insect bite, an allergic reaction, tight clothing or dry skin.  Stress and tension will increase the itch.

The nerves at the site of the itch tell the brain that there is an irritation or itch and so you rub or scratch the skin.  This causes small bumps to form on the skin, which are even itchier.  The nerves tell the brain that you have a bigger itch so you scratch more.  And so it goes on until you have unbearable itching and constant scratching.

The end result is thickened skin that is red, sore and broken, leaving it open to potential infection.  The scratching often becomes a habit that may continue after the cause has been removed.

To control the itching, the habit must be ceased for the cycle to be broken.  In very severe cases an oral antihistamine may be required to ease the cycle.  However, often just a conscious effort not to scratch and the application of emollients will ease the itch and sooth the skin sufficiently to allow it to heal.

Is an itchy scalp driving you crazy?

You may have Psoriasis of the scalp.

Conditions affecting the scalp are often given the prefix of seborrheic to classify their location.  Hence Psoriasis of the scalp is often referred to as seborrheic psoriasis. This term refers to the location of the psoriasis rather than the type of psoriasis.

90% of psoriasis sufferers will have Plaque Psoriasis and it will usually affect the scalp.  Unlike eczema, psoriasis is rare in young children and usually strikes in the teen or early adult years.

Plaque psoriasis appears as a well defined rash with very thick white scales that are often very firmly attached to the hair. The borders of each patch are well defined and small points of bleeding will occur if the scales are picked off.  Each individual patch may come and go but it is more common for them to be present for years.

Rarely affects the face

The psoriasis may cover a small area at the back of the head or upper neck or it may involve the whole scalp. This type of psoriasis may spread onto the forehead and into the ears however the face is rarely affected.

Although hair loss is not generally caused by seborrheic psoriasis the hair is usually thinner in the affected areas.

The typical appearance of plaque psoriasis is the basis for diagnosis however seborrheic psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) are often confused and even with biopsy may be difficult to tell apart. Doctors may refer to the rash as “seborrhiasis” if they are unable to separate the two conditions.

What to do

Although not the cause of psoriasis, hair care treatments will often exacerbate the condition.  It is therefore important to use shampoos and conditioners that are designed for sensitive skin and are free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Propolene Glycol – the two main ingredients that people are sensitive to and may trigger a flare up.

It is reasonable also to expect that the use of any harsh chemicals on the scalp will worsen the psoriasis.  Perms and dyes are therefore best avoided.

One of the most natural treatments for psoriasis is vitamin D.  Exposure to sunlight will also help to control psoriasis of the scalp – remembering of course to protect from the dangers of sunlight that we know so well.

When I was a baby, mother’s routinely took their babies to the clinic to have their routine vaccinations.

When I was a baby Whooping Cough was almost non existent.

Today many mothers question the benefits of immunizations and decide not to have their babies immunized.

Today it is not uncommon to hear of a child having Whooping Cough.

Whooping Cough Can Kill

Whooping Cough can kill and it is not the only preventable disease that is reappearing in our society. I dread the day that I hear of a child having contracted Polio.

So why don’t parents routinely immunize their children anymore?

Details of a recent study looking at child immunization which was carried out by German Researchers were published in the German Medical Journal, Deutsches Arzteblatt International.

The researchers were concerned that whilst vaccinations are amongst the most effective and important form of medicine available to us today many parents and some doctors were opting to not have children vaccinated.

“In spite of all this, some parents and doctors have reservations against vaccinations.  The fear is  that vaccinations overburden, stress or weaken a child’s immune system and may therefore cause harm.

“As a result they think that vaccinated children are more prone to falling ill than non-vaccinated children.  In addition, vaccinations are deemed to be responsible for the occurrence of increased incidence of other diseases, including chronic diseases,” they noted.

Vaccinations are safe

Vaccinations are a safe efficient form of preventative treatment.  They do not increase the risk of children developing infectious or allergic illnesses such as eczema, gastrointestinal infections and bronchitis.

The study analysed data from 13 453 children aged between one and 17 and compared the occurrence of infections and allergies in vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

Results were not surprising:

* Vaccinated children are less likely to develop diseases they have been vaccinated against (i.e. measles, mumps, whooping cough).
* Unvaccinated children are more likely to develop measles, mumps and whooping cough
* Both vaccinated and unvaccinated children develop infections and allergic conditions at a similar level.
* The prevalence of atopic (allergic) conditions like eczema is more common in older children but this prevalence does not depend on the child’s vaccinated status.

The researchers concluded “The prevalence of allergic diseases and non-specific infections in children and adolescents was not found to depend on vaccination status,”

Just because it is on the market doesn’t mean it is safe

There are a lot of products on the market claiming to treat eczema.  Many go through strict testing to get FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval.  FDA is the US’s regulatory agency for medical drugs.

However with today’s modern technology any one can produce any product and sell it online.  They can claim it is a new miracle cure and target the unsuspecting customer.

One such product is Magicream which claims to treat eczema.  The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has issued a warning about this product which is being sold over the internet because it contains a steroid and a substance used to treat fungal infections.  The label does not list either ingredient therefore the required special authorisation to sell products containing these ingredients has not been obtained.

IMB says the product is not authorized for marketing in Ireland and cannot be considered safe.  It may be a good product but it is impossible to tell and not listing vital ingredients like steroids is a serious warning sign.

Due to the accessibility of the internet it is possible to buy products such as Magicream anywhere in the world.  To the best of my knowledge American Authorities have not declared Magicream unsafe but then it may not have reached the authorities attention as it is not an American product.

American products are FDA approved

Each country has a medical authority board which will approve medicinal products for that country.  In Australia it is the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association). In Ireland it is the IMB and in The US it is the  FDA (Food and Drug Administration).  These organizations ensure the medicines we buy over the counter and by script are not harmful and work in the way they are said to.

This system  has its faults as we saw in the US  when in 2000 and 2001 the FDA  approved two new drugs for use in the treatment of eczema.  These treatments were later black boxed (strongest of all safety warnings) and there have been calls to have them removed from the market altogether due to their links with cancer.

Many new drugs become available to us that are not approved.  They are often natural products made by people with eczema who have experimented with different ingredients trying to control their own symptoms.

Whilst some of these products are not that great and would be best avoided many are very good and may be just the thing to control your symptoms.

So how do you know?

* Always look at the ingredients. All ingredients should be listed.  Ensure the ingredients are ones you are familiar with and can use.
* Check there is a preservative listed.  Natural eczema creams made from herbs need a preservative to enable them to have a shelf life.  Avoid products that do not list their preservative as you do not know what they have used and their reliability to have listed all other ingredients can no longer be guaranteed.
* Avoid products that claim to cure eczema.  There is no cure for eczema. Products that claim to cure eczema are misleading you with false representations and may be misleading you in other areas and possibly in the ingredients used as well.
* Avoid products that contain artificial or synthetic ingredients.  These are not natural and are more likely to cause a reaction.
* Avoid products with artificial colorings or perfumes.  Once again they are more likely to cause a reaction.

Trial and error

Treating eczema is a matter of trial and error.  If you find a natural product that you want to trial buy the smallest container available first to see if it suits your skin and always patch test it on an unaffected are before using it.

When using a cream for the first time it is also a good idea to use it on one area  (ie one arm) for a week or two.  This way you can compare its effects on your skin and your eczema by comparing that area to the rest of your body.  Also if a cream does not suit your skin and causes the eczema to worsen it is better to find out on a small area rather than on the whole body.

Finding an eczema treatment that suits you is a matter of trial and error.  Don’t be discouraged it the first cream you try doesn’t give you the results you are looking for.

Please Note

The Calendulis Plus Cream is a natural product that is TGA approved and lists all of its ingredients (including its preservative).

“It hurts Mummy”

No mother wants to hear their child utter these words.  And to hear these words time and time again is heartbreaking.  It is also frustrating when all attempts to help your child prove ineffective.  It happens all too often for the parent of the child with eczema.

So what is eczema and why does your child have it?

Eczema is a chronic, recurring, non-infectious, inflammatory condition of the upper layers of the skin.  It is rapidly becoming one of the most common medical problems in the world.

Although both adults and children can develop eczema it is predominantly considered a childhood condition.  The fact is there are many different forms of eczema and it is the atopic form of eczema that most commonly affects children.  One Scottish study revealed that children are five times more prone to develop atopic eczema than adults.

An inherited tendency

The term atopic refers to a person who is prone to allergy.  Most children who develop atopic eczema inherit it from their parents.  It is however not eczema itself that they inherit but rather the tendency for their body to overreact to certain substances in their environment.  These substances most commonly include house dust mite, pollens, proteins on cat and dog fur and some foods.

Although children with atopic eczema have a hypersensitivity of their immune system and produce too much of the allergy antibody (IgE) they have no other problem with their immune system.

The exact underlying mechanism as to why this hypersensitivity develops is not known.  However research shows that children born to parents where one parent has an atopic condition (eczema, asthma or hayfever) the chances of their child developing eczema are considerably increased. The chances are even further increased if both parents suffer from an atopic condition.

Two Months

That is the age that eczema frequently first appears.

It is rare for a child to develop atopic eczema before the age of two months.  The reason for this is unclear however one theory is that the baby’s nervous system is too immature prior to this age to enable the baby the ability to scratch.

Eczema is a very individual condition and each child will suffer differently.  Similarly the severity of the eczema will vary from child to child.  Despite this the clinical features and the pattern of involvement make atopic eczema usually quite easy to recognize.

Dry, red, scaly and itchy skin

Atopic eczema may appear in small patches or cover the whole body.  Typically the affected skin is dry, red, scaly and very itchy.  Eczema is characteristically quite severe in the early months often becoming less severe by the age of two years.

Skin oozes and crusts

For a baby who develops childhood atopic eczema between the ages of 2 –4 months the initial symptoms include inflammation of the skin with oozing and crusting.  The cheeks and scalp are often the first areas affected.

Facial eczema usually subsides and the rash becomes more prominent on the limbs especially the wrists and hands and behind the knees and elbows.

Dry scaly eczema

Childhood atopic eczema may continue on past the age of two years but for some the first signs do not appear until this age.  When eczema develops around the age of two years the oozing and crusting is less common as the rash is usually drier and scaly.

Atopic eczema clears spontaneously in the majority of children between the ages of 2 – 5 years.  If it does persist there is usually a marked improvement by the time they start school.  However those with severe eczema when young may carry their eczema into their teenage years or even into adulthood.

Due to the nature of the condition a flare up is not uncommon and can occur at any time even on skin that has been eczema free for years.  This is especially so for those people who choose occupations in adulthood where their hands and face are exposed to irritant chemicals or detergents.  For those who have had eczema they will be more prone to have sensitive skin for the rest of their life.

It is all trial and error

Finding an effective treatment for your child can be a long drawn out process involving much trial and error.  Due to the individual nature of the condition treatment is also individual and what works for one child may not always work for the next.  This means there is no single treatment for eczema.

There are however some characteristics of eczema that are present in all but the rarest of cases.  Hence the principals of treatment remain consistent even when the specifics of the treatment vary.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Eczema and dry skin go hand in hand, meaning moisturizing the skin is of vital importance for anyone with eczema.  Eczema skin lacks the natural oily layer that acts as a protective barrier.  This needs to be replaced regularly with the use of emollients or moisturizers.

Moisture decreases itching

Regularly moisturizing the skin will help to reduce the itching and inflammation associated with your child’s eczema.  This in turn will help to minimize the severity of the condition and make it easier to live with.

Moisture increases flexibility

The skin remains more flexible when moisturized regularly.  Well-moisturized skin is less likely to become cracked.  Cracked skin is not only painful but also prone to infection.  Once an infection develops on the already tender skin the pain and discomfort will increase and the skin will become more difficult to care for.

The secret is to find a good emollient and use it regularly.  Make it a habit to moisturise after bathing or showering and after any prolonged exposure to water.  Carry an emollient with you so you can remoisturize your child’s skin as needed.  Be aware that not all creams used to treat your child’s eczema will be a moisturizer.  It may be necessary to use a separate moisturizer as well as your treatment creams.

Emollients equal moisture

Emollients are oil-based or fat-based moisturizing and softening agents.  You will need to use them regularly on your child to keep the skin soft and supple.  There is a huge range of emollients available including bath oils, creams, lotions, ointments, shower gels and the list goes on.

Emollients have two basic functions.  Firstly they work to form a protective water proof layer over the skin.  This helps to keep moisture in and prevents it from being lost from the skin.  The second function of an emollient is to make the skin feel smoother and more comfortable by helping to  stick the skin layers together much the same as how the skins natural oils do.

Avoid perfumes, colorings and preservatives

Choosing the right emollient for your child can be a very difficult process and it may simply be a matter of trial and error until you find one that suits your child’s skin.  As a general guideline it is best to select products that are marked ‘hypoallergenic”.  Additives such as perfumes, colorings and preservatives are all prone to cause an allergic reaction in a child prone to atopic eczema.

Products containing lanolin should also be avoided.  Lanolin is an animal fat derived from sheep’s wool and often causes a reaction in those with sensitive skin.

It is also recommended that any topical application being used for the first time should be patch tested before applying it to the affected areas.  Simply apply a small amount to an unaffected area.  The inside of the forearm is often ideal or for younger children who you don’t want to touch the area the back of the shoulder works well.  Leave the cream for 24 hours and observe it for redness or irritation.

Bathing is good – despite what you have been told

Most babies and small children love their bath.  The freedom of no nappy, being able to splash freely in the water.  It is usually a time of fun filled pleasure for both parent and child.

Unfortunately many parents avoid bathing their child if they have eczema or at least minimize the number of baths and the amount of time spent in the bath.

And why shouldn’t they?

Water is drying to the skin.  It will strip the skin of its natural oils and make the babies eczema worse.  Whilst it is true – water is drying to the skin – there is a way around it.  Bathing your child can be beneficial for their sensitive eczema skin.

The secret is to always add a bath oil.

Bath oil will soften the water and moisturize the skin whilst your baby baths.  Ensure the water is only ever luke warm as overheating the skin will dilate the blood vessels increasing redness and irritation.

A 10 – 15 minute bath in luke warm water with bath oil added each evening is ideal.  Follow this by the application of the treating cream.  It is after the soaking that your baby’s skin will be at its softest and moistest making it most receptive to the cream you use.  This means the cream will have its greatest effect when applied straight after the bath.

Doing this of an evening, just before bed means your baby is relaxed, soothed and settled.  Hopefully a better sleep is in  store – less irritation and less itching.

Remember that bath oil makes your child’s skin slippery.  Extra care is always needed to ensure they do not slip whilst in the bath.  For areas of skin which are extra dry or for areas that are difficult to soak (ie face, behind ears) the bath oil can be applied directly to their skin.  Simply put a little on your own fingers and gently rub it onto your child’s skin.  This will give a greater concentration of moisture to a localized area.

Itching and scratching – a never ending battle

The other major factor to be overcome with childhood eczema is the itching.  Atopic eczema is characteristically very itchy.  This will make a child restless and irritable, not to mention the damage that is done to the skin by continual scratching.

If it were as simple as a good scratch and the itch were gone it would be fine but this is simply not the case.  The more a child scratches the itchier they become and so they keep scratching.  This is known as the scratch itch cycle.

A child who has chronic eczema and is continuously itching and scratching will develop a habit of scratching and even when the eczema is gone and the itch is resolved they will continue to scratch out of habit.

The end result of continued scratching is scratch marks and thickened skin that is red, sore and broken, leaving it open to infection.

The habit needs to be broken to overcome the problem.  In very severe cases an oral antihistamine may be required to ease the cycle.  However, often just a conscious effort not to scratch and the application of emollients will ease the itch and sooth the skin sufficiently to allow it to heal.

Try not to overheat the skin, or let it become excessively dry, and if possible avoid any irritants that you know will irritate your child’s skin.

In an attempt to minimize damage done by the itching keep your child’s fingernails short.  Cotton gloves or mittens especially at night are also a good idea.  This will not stop them from trying to scratch, but it will reduce the damage they are doing to their skin.

Similarly keeping as much of their skin as possible covered will prevent damage from scratching.  Long pants and sleeves are ideal.  The worst time for scratching is usually at night when the child is asleep.  If possible dress your child in all in one pajamas that have feet and hand covers included.

During the day distraction is the best remedy.  If you can keep your child’s mind and hands busy they are less likely to scratch.  Of course this depends on the age of the child.  The best you can do with young babies is to keep their hands covered in little cotton mitts.

As a child gets older it is possible to talk to them and explain why they should not scratch.  This will not stop the scratching but at least with gentle reminders they may try not to.  If they simply must scratch try applying a cold compress to the area to ease the urge.

Try also to identify any triggers that aggravate your child’s rash or if there is a pattern of itching.  There may be a time of day when the itching is worse.  There may also be certain products that make your child’s itching worse.  For example synthetic bedding or clothing often aggravates eczema and increases the itching as does an over heated dry atmosphere.

As your child gets older explaining their condition to them and gaining their co-operation is important.

Eczema cannot be cured but it can be managed

Although it often feels like you are the only ones in this situation – you are not alone.  Childhood eczema is a very common condition.  Arm yourself with as much information as you can and talk to people in a similar situation.  Build up a support network around you.

And most of all don’t give up – keep at it until you find the right solution to control your child’s eczema.

Control the eczema, don’t let it control you.

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting one in five of our children.  For some the condition is just a mild discomfort but for others the rash and itchiness are quite severe causing disruptions to normal daily life. Eczema affects mainly young children and most will grow out of it by the age of 5.

Unfortunately not all children will outgrow their eczema by the time they go to school.  It is estimated that the average classroom will contain between 1 and 5 children with eczema.  Having eczema at school and feeling like you are different to the other children can be very stressful for a child.

To make this transition easier for the child it is important that your child’s teacher knows that your child has eczema and what she can do to help.

* Pack a special soap and soft towel for your child to use

* The teacher needs to be aware of how to cope if your child has an itching attack and that a flare up can make your child tired and lack concentration

* Ensure the teacher understands the dangers of your child coming in contact with infectious diseases such as impetigo or cold sores.

* Ensure your child has emollients in his bag that can be applied during the day especially after activities that will dry the skin

* Ask for your child to be sat away from open windows and radiators as overheating can trigger a flare up.

* If swimming at school, ensure the teacher knows that your child will need extra time to shower and apply emollients afterwards.  Applying a barrier ointment before swimming may also be beneficial.

* Sport is beneficial for your child, however it can prove embarrassing as overheating can provoke symptoms.  Ensure your child’s sport teacher understands this and allows time after the lesson for your child to shower and apply emollients.

* Most importantly your child must understand the importance of caring for their skin and applying their emollients.  If your child is co-operative with their skin care your battle is half won.

The weather is changing world wide.  In the last month or so we have seen New York, London and Japan covered in an uncharacteristically large amount of snow.  New Zealand has been rocked by earthquakes and the tremors just keep on happening.  And of course in Australia most of Queensland is under water.

The changes in weather mean the air is different, for some the air is moist and humid while for others the air is cold and dry. These changed conditions can cause unexpected changes in skin conditions.

Flare Ups Are Not Uncommon

If you are experiencing a flare up of your eczema or psoriasis at the moment look at the weather.  It may be the changed conditions are affecting your skin.  Sending your eczema or psoriasis into turmoil.

It is important that you take extra care of your skin during this time.  Be vigilant with moisturizing and emollients.  You may find you need to use emollients more often until you get the flare up under control.

With flare ups comes extra itchiness.  Try not to scratch.  Keep nails short and try to keep your hands busy.

Cold, Dry Air

Skin exposed to cold, dry air will need extra moisturizing.  Protect your skin from the cold.  Keep it covered with natural non-itchy fibers.  Wear cotton under woolen outer clothes.  If the skin becomes too cold reheat slowly.  Do not put cold skin up closely to open flames to warm it up.  This will damage the skin leading to a flare up.

Hot, Humid Air

When the air is hot and humid the risk is skin irritation from perspiration.  Keep the skin clean and dry but moisturize after showering or washing.  Try to wear dry clothes and change out of wet clothing as soon as possible.  Whilst extra moisturizing may not be necessary use of emollients to control flare ups is vital.

Remember cotton clothing breathes best allowing better air flow for the skin to remain cool.  Avoid sunburn in hot climates as this will damage the skin leading to flare ups.

Stress Always A Factor

Stress is known to be a common trigger for eczema and psoriasis flare ups.  When we are experiencing extreme weather conditions that are threatening our livelihood it is difficult to not become stressed.  I guess all you can do is accept this as a factor affecting your skin, try to weather the storm (no pun intended) as best you can and keep looking forward.  This weather cannot last forever.