What is eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition that causes your skin to become dry, cracked and itchy. It can appear on any part of the body, though some are more common than others. It is a long-term condition that often recurs throughout someone’s life.
There are different types of eczema. Atopic eczema is the most common, affecting 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults. It usually first emerges in childhood, though occasionally in adulthood. Children are often affected on their elbows, knees, face and scalp. Adult atopic eczema usually appears on the hands.
Seborrheic eczema affects around 4% of the population, appearing on the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and scalp. Varicose eczema is caused by blood flow problems and usually appears on the lower legs. Discoid eczema consists of small disc-shaped patches that can gradually become larger.
Your eczema may be worse at some times than others. It can be affected by lots of different things, and some may cause stronger flare ups.
While there’s no cure for eczema, you can effectively manage it through various treatments. Seeking professional advice will provide you with more knowledge about the options available.
Around 1.5 million adults have atopic eczema
86% of people with eczema say it impacts daily activities
Stress can make eczema worse
30% of people’s atopic eczema is moderate to severe
What causes it?
Eczema can be caused by various things and there are usually several contributing factors.
A family history of eczema may make you more likely to develop eczema, especially if your parents or a sibling has it.
Dry skin can develop eczema as it is more vulnerable to triggers like allergens. Your eczema may be caused by contact with certain products, like soaps or detergents. For instance, it might appear if you’ve recently changed your shower gel, washing up liquid or fabric conditioner. Hay fever or specific food allergies could also trigger it.
Stress is both a cause of eczema and can also make your symptoms worse. Being aware of your eczema may be stressful, and this can cause a cycle of flare-ups.
Environmental conditions can also exacerbate symptoms. For example, you might find your eczema worse or flares up when the weather is cold and damp or hot and humid.
Identifying triggers can be difficult as they vary from person to person. Some people may never be able to pinpoint anything specifically, and this could be because several things are causing it.
What are the symptoms & effects?
Your skin may get itchy, dry, cracked, and sore. Some people have small patches of dry skin, while others experience widespread inflammation. Eczema appears red on lighter skin, while on darker skin, it may look brown, purple, or grey, making it harder to see.
Atopic eczema can affect any part of your body but commonly targets hands, elbows, knees, face, and children’s scalps. You may have periods when your symptoms are less noticeable and flare-ups when they are more severe.
Eczema can also impact your mental health. You may feel uncomfortable, embarrassed and fed up. These can all make you more stressed, becoming part of a cycle where your eczema causes stress that then exacerbates your symptoms.
How can it be managed?
There is no cure for eczema but improvements often occur with age, especially in children. You can try to reduce your eczema symptoms in numerous ways.
Moisturiser and skin treatments
Daily use of moisturisers can help prevent dry skin to reduce your eczema symptoms. It can also relieve itchiness and soreness, making it easier for you to avoid scratching.
Keep moisturiser close at hand and build up a habit. This could mean having moisturiser on a bedside table to use when you get up or go to bed. You might keep it by your front door so you use it whenever you enter and leave the house.
If your eczema is more challenging, consider paste bandages and wet wraps.
Reducing stress
Stress can majorly impact skin conditions like eczema, so it’s important to minimise it. Find ways to relax by doing something you enjoy. Make regular time for reading, sport, music or baking – whatever helps you unwind.
If you are experiencing a lot of stress or over a long period, you should speak to your doctor to discuss treatment options. You can also consider talking therapies like hypnotherapy for eczema, which directly addresses stress in relation to eczema.
Diet
While there’s no universal diet for reducing eczema symptoms, you can try to avoid foods that worsen your symptoms. If you’ve had a period of not eating well, this might be impacting your eczema. Focus on a nutritious diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and lean proteins. Overall, a healthy balanced diet can reduce symptoms.
Identifying allergens
If you can, narrowing down allergens will help you avoid triggers. Soaps and detergents, food, drink, perfumes, and certain fabrics could all affect you.
Over the counter medication
Over the counter medicines like antihistamines may help to manage your symptoms. Pharmacies offer a range of eczema treatments, including various moisturisers like creams, ointments and bath oils. They can also provide mild steroid creams, such as 1% hydrocortisone and 0.05% clobetasone, to alleviate itchiness. You should consult a GP or pharmacist for tailored advice.
Prescription medication
- Topical Corticosteroids: For flare-ups (e.g., hydrocortisone, betamethasone), used with caution due to skin thinning risks.
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIs): Tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus for sensitive areas, minimising steroid side effects.
- Baricitinib (Olumiant): A JAK inhibitor prescribed for severe cases in specialist settings.
- Advanced Treatments: Phototherapy, oral steroids, immunosuppressants, biologics, and other JAK inhibitors for severe eczema.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy for eczema harnesses the strong connection between your mind and body. Stress is one of the most common triggers for eczema flare-ups but you can learn to manage it effectively through hypnosis for eczema. This helps rewire your thought patterns, with hypnotherapy for eczema using your brain’s natural ability to influence physical responses.
Solution focused hypnotherapy for eczema helps you to change your subconscious patterns and manage stress better. It aims to provide you with healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with your personal eczema triggers.
This approach promotes healing responses in the skin and also significantly reduces anxiety and stress. Through visualisation and relaxation techniques, hypnotherapy for eczema encourages a decrease in stress levels. This can lead to a notable improvement in both your skin health and emotional wellbeing.
Our Eczema Specialists
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
