You can't catch eczema. It doesn't spread from one person to another.

The exact cause of atopic eczema isn't fully understood at present. However, you can have a genetic, or inherited, tendency to develop the condition. Atopy means a family tendency to develop a variety of allergic conditions, including asthma, hay fever and eczema.

Sometimes, the symptoms 'flare up' for no obvious reason. But you may notice certain triggers that set off your, or your child's, eczema including:

chemicals, detergents, soap or shampoo
irritants such as pollen, house-dust mites, moulds or pet dander (tiny flakes of skin)
being "run down", for example if you're unwell
changes in hormone levels - the menstrual cycle and pregnancy can make eczema worse
stress
high or low temperature or humidity - this leads to seasonal variation in eczema severity but sweating can also make eczema worse
rough or irritable fibres, such as wool

 Treatment of eczema

As atopic eczema can't be cured, treatments aim to control the symptoms.

Emollients
Emollients are moisturisers which soothe and add water to (hydrate) the skin. They reduce dryness and the frequency of flare-ups. Emollients are the most common treatment and should be used every day even if you don't have eczema symptoms. Examples include aqueous cream and emulsifying ointment. You can apply emollients directly to your skin as lotions, oils or washes. You may have to try different emollients before you find the best one for you.

Mild steroid creams
Mild steroids, such as hydrocortisone (eg Dioderm and Efcortelan), can calm flare-ups of eczema by suppressing your body's inflammatory response. You should continue to use emollients at the same time as steroid creams.

Prescription medicines
If emollients and mild steroids don't treat your condition, there are a range of other treatment options that your doctor can prescribe.

Stronger steroid creams, such as betamethasone (eg Betnovate) are available on prescription. You should apply them thinly and use the mildest cream that works because of side-effects. If you use a strong steroid for too long, or on delicate skin, it can thin your skin. This can make your skin more fragile leading to blemishes, wrinkles or visible small blood vessels. Always follow your GP's instructions about using steroid creams.

Oral steroids, such as prednisolone, are available as tablets to treat severe eczema. They are used for the shortest period of time possible.

Immunosuppressant tablets, such as ciclosporin (eg Neoral or Sardimun), can be prescribed for severe eczema. They can have significant side-effects so you shouldn't take them for long periods - ask your doctor for more information.
Topical immunosuppressants are creams or ointments that you apply to your skin to reduce inflammation. They may be prescribed if other treatments haven't worked or you can't use them due to side-effects. Examples include tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel). These are new treatments that don't contain steroids so they may have fewer side-effects. However, their long-term safety has not been evaluated.

Antibiotics, such as flucloxacillin or erythromycin, will be prescribed if your skin becomes infected.

Antihistamine tablets that cause drowsiness can help you to sleep but they don't ease itching.

Complementary therapies
Some people find that complementary treatments, such as herbal creams and homeopathy, are helpful.

Living with eczema
Medicines are only part of the treatment for eczema. Eczema also needs to be managed by dealing with the things that make it worse.

Identifying and staying away from the things that trigger your, or your child's, eczema are an essential part of your overall treatment plan.

Some people find that its the parabens in products like shampoo that make their eczema worse which is why all our Natural Herbal Products for Eczema are Paraben FREE

If your, or your child's, eczema is triggered by certain foods you should ask your GP for advice on how to deal with this. Keeping a diary to record anything that triggers eczema can help you to discover a pattern. Excluding foods may not have any effect and can lead to a deficiency of essential nutrients, calcium or protein. It should only be considered for children under the supervision of a GP or dietitian.