Eczema Awareness Week

September 1 to 7 is Eczema Awareness Week!

Our little girl has eczema. She was diagnosed by our GP a year ago. It was the height of winter and she had terrible rashes all over her body at the young age of 4 months. We even brought her to the emergency room because we initially had no idea what it was as she had difficulty sleeping and was afraid that it might have been a really bad allergy attack.

But it was nothing like that. All we really had to do was moisturise, moisturise, and moisturise her skin regularly. In fact, moisturisers play a major role in the management of dry skin conditions like eczema. However, not all moisturisers are the same. Here are some key points to consider when choosing the best product that will suit you.

Tina Aspres, Pharmacist, Author and Clinical Researcher from Dermal Research Laboratories, Sydney says there are a number of key features to look out for when choosing a moisturiser.

"It's important to choose a product that is fragrance-free, ideally with a pH of around 5.5. Avoid 'cosmetic moisturisers', as they may contain sunscreen, fragrance, antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients and other chemicals.

"Hypoallergenic products are the least likely to irritate the skin. If possible, test the moisturiser on a small area of skin first for a few weeks to ensure that it does not sting, burn or irritate the skin. Never be guided by price or fancy packaging. A moisturiser should be affordable, as you need to use it several times a day," said Ms Aspres.

Well, that is your bit of trivia for the day. To read the full media release on Eczema Awareness Week by the Eczema Association of Australasia Inc, click here.