Eczema Treatment in London

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterised by redness, itching, and dryness, with possible scaling in more advanced stages. It is not a contagious skin condition and cannot be spread from one person to another. It can be hard to resist scratching the skin, but doing so can open the skin and lead to infection and bleeding.

There are several types of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type and often begins in childhood. One in five children in the UK is affected by atopic dermatitis. It is most common in children but can affect people of all ages. While many children outgrow eczema, they may have a tendency to dry, sensitive skin in adulthood. It is also possible for eczema to recur during adulthood, so it is important to maintain a treatment regimen designed to prevent the skin from becoming too dry. Other types of eczema include allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis.

At our leading private eczema clinic in London, our dermatologists specialise in diagnosing and treating all types of eczema. They can help create a personalised treatment plan to manage symptoms and improve skin health, ensuring you receive the best care possible.

Recognizing the correct type of eczema is a crucial part of producing an effective treatment plan. At The London Dermatology Centre we are able to offer Patch Testing on site as well as other allergy testing. Eczema can be acute, sub-acute or chronic and a variety of treatments exist that can help to effectively manage the condition.

Eczema treatment can be complex and comprises of a maintenance skin care programme to reduce the incidence of flares as well as treatment for the acute episodes.

During periods of active eczema the skin can become very red, itchy, sore, blistered and weepy. This is called a flare up and requires additional treatment on top of emollients to help calm the skin. Without the additional treatment these areas of skin may thicken and become even more itchy. The most common treatment for eczema flare ups are topical steroids. Topical steroids reduce the inflammation in the top layers of skin.

Topical steroids come in several different forms and strengths. They are available as creams, ointments, lotions, scalp applications and in plasters and tapes. There are four different strengths of topical steroid available: mild, moderate, potent and very potent. Depending on your age, the severity of the eczema flare up, where it occurs on your body and any other treatments you use, the doctor will decide which strength of topical steroid you need.

In general, mild strength topical steroids are used for the face, genital areas and for babies. The length of time you need to use the topical steroid for also depends on the severity of the flare up and of the strength of the topical steroid you are prescribed.

Topical steroids are used for short periods of time to treat flare ups. Patients should continue to use their emollient for washing and moisturising during the use of the topical steroid. It is important to use emollients all the time to prevent the skin becoming dry and itchy. Your doctor may prescribe you a topical steroid to keep at home in case of a flare up. If you have more severe eczema with frequent flare ups, your doctor may prescribe you topical steroids to apply 2 days a week to the areas where the eczema usually flares up. This is known as ‘weekend therapy’ and is a type of preventative strategy for those people with severe eczema. It can help prevent the almost continuous flare cycle, meaning that in the long run less topical steroid is used than if each flare were treated as it occurs.