School kids are missing out because of the condition
Each year up to half a million school days are lost to eczema, is your child a part of this number?
The new term has begun and this should be the time of low absences and sicknesses, but the skin condition attempts to threaten this.
Studies have shown that the condition has seen an increase of 42 per cent over a five-year period. Many experts attribute this change to increased use of soaps and detergenst as well as other environmental factors like pollen and temperatures extremes.
"Eczema is a condition that can have a detrimental effect on quality of life for both adults and children, although those of a school age do tend to be the worst affected. Eczema is often regarded as a condition that produces only minor irritations but as the research suggests, the symptoms can become severe and as a result, many children are missing out education, sporting and social activities," says Tony Wilson, CEO of DreamSkin Health.
Eczema affects around one in every five children and one in every 12 adults. It causes the skin to become red, itchy and cracked impacting on everyday activities such as sport, academic studies and sleep.
Research also suggests that around a quarter of parents caring for children with moderate to severe cases of the condition are forced to take time off work as a result of their child's condition.
Tony continues: "Millions of people in the UK suffer the symptoms of eczema because they believe that treating the problem requires prescription strength emollients or unsightly bandages bit this is often not the case."
The National Institute for Health Research is currently calling for research proposals into childhood eczema and the effectiveness of silk therapeutic clothing.