Dramatic Increase in Childhood Eczema
| Author: Irene Robertson | Published: 13th September 2007 20:00 |
DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CHILDHOOD ECZEMA - NEW SURVEY REVEALS
This weekend marks the start of National Eczema Week 2007 (15th - 23rd September), which aims to raise awareness of the impact eczema has on people's lives.
Eczema now affects 1 in 5 children of school age, compared to 1 in 12 adults in the UK, and has been on the increase over the last 20 years. A new survey from the British Skin Foundation reveals that 27% of dermatologists reported a noted increase in eczema in children in the last 12 months.[1]
The severity of the disease can vary greatly. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy whilst, in more severe forms, the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding.
According to the British Skin Foundation:
"The effect on a child who suffers with eczema goes far beyond the physical itching, burning and painful skin. It can affect the child's self-esteem and lead to tiredness and irritability through lack of sleep due to the condition, which all impacts on the child's quality of life. The disease has an enormous effect on the family too[2]."
Recent statistics show that 52% of carers of children with eczema feel they have no control over their child's condition, 23% never get a good night's sleep and 15% feel the whole household is disrupted[3].
Apart from allergies to things like house dust mite and possibly some foods, little is known about which things in the environment may be important in increasing the risk of eczema.
As Eczema is particularly prevalent in children, the British Skin Foundation has set up the Childhood Eczema Fund to raise money for research into childhood eczema. The money in the fund will go towards finding treatments and eventually cures for the disease.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Get your kids involved in the Swim For Skin during January 2008, supported by Sanex Kids, and help raise money for the British Skin Foundation's Childhood Eczema Fund.
There are many ways that families of children with eczema manage the condition, all of which begin with an effective skin care routine. That's why Sanex Kids is proud to be supporting the Swim For Skin to help raise awareness and vital funds for further research into childhood eczema.
The Swim For Skin welcomes all children over the age of 3 years, regardless of swimming ability, to take part in a sponsored swim any time during January 2008.
Registration is FREE. Visit http://www.swimforskin.org.uk/ (live from October) for more information as well as to register and download posters and sponsorship forms.
The first 3,000 kids who register will receive a swimmers' pack containing a Swim For Skin kit bag and swimming cap as well as a Sanex Dermo Kids Head-to-Toe wash to help keep your child's skin healthy, even after swimming, plus all information needed to organise their sponsored swim.
Sanex Dermo Kids has recently been added to the Sanex family of washing and bathing products. All Sanex products contain a dermo active formulation that works with your skin's natural processes, rather than just sitting on the surface, to help keep it healthy and working at its natural best. Sanex is committed to making healthy skin achievable for all and have been working with the British Skin Foundation since 2005 to help promote the importance of skin care health.
REFERENCE SOURCES:
[1] National Eczema Society (http://www.eczema.org.uk/)
[2] British Skin Foundation (http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/)
[3] British Association of Dermatologists (http://www.bad.org.uk/)
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