Know what kind of skin condition you have?

Itchy, swollen, dry skin, fluid-filled blisters, a red rash… does this sound familiar? These are the common symptoms of atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis, a skin condition which affects nearly 21 per cent, or one in five people in Singapore.

Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema, an itchy skin disorder that can occur at any age. It is particularly common in babies and young children and can be caused by a combination of factors including a genetic predisposition, skin irritants, allergies, the environment and stress. Eczema is not infectious or contagious.

“The rash may appear red, wet and weepy or dry, thickened and scaly. Scratching often aggravates the rash,” says Dr Pang Shiu Ming, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

“The skin thickens and becomes darker after repeated scratching and rubbing. The rash can affect any part of the body, particularly the elbow bends, back of the knees and the neck.”

What are the different types of eczema?

1) Atopic eczema

This usually runs in families and is part of a group of inherited allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever.

Related article: How to stop the recurrence of eczema

2) Seborrhoeic eczema

There are two types, one most commonly seen in babies and the second common in adults. Areas affected tend to be the oily parts of the body, such as the scalp, face, groin and chest. Seborrhoeic eczema is not normally itchy.

3) Discoid eczema

This condition is usually confined to the arms and legs. It consists of itchy, coin-shaped patches which may be weepy or scaly.

4) Varicose eczema

This is a condition of the legs, commonly found in the elderly and people with varicose veins.

Related article: Are you at risk for varicose veins?

5) Contact dermatitis

There are two types – irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to soaps, detergents and water. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by sensitivity to materials like nickel, cement, rubber and hair dye.

Eczema tends to be recurrent with periods of flares and remissions. Topical steroid creams and moisturisers are the cornerstone of treatment for eczema. Attendance to aggravating factors is also important. This involves lifestyle changes.

Related article: Get doctor’s tips on how to best use moisturisers and topical creams for eczema

Do you suffer from red and scaly skin? Does the unbearable itchiness not seem to improve despite trying all types of moisturisers and ointments? SGH is organising a bilingual Public Forum on Atopic Eczema on 20 April 2013, from 2pm to 4pm. Click here for more information.

This article was written by the Anjana Motihar Chandra for Health Xchange, with expert input from the Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

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