Eczema

Not just a simple allergy to dust, house dust mites, pets or moulds.

Many people with eczema have a simple allergy to dust, house dust mites, pets or moulds. With allergy testing it is possible to identify specific triggers.

Eczema, Mites, Pets & Homes

House dust mites thrive in a warm, humid environment such as modern, well insulated, centrally heated homes; their main habitat is bed mattresses, carpets and soft furnishings. We know that they die in very low or very high temperatures and where the humidity is low. Cooler, well ventilated homes discourage inhalant allergies. Some patients have made the observation that their severe eczema, previously thought to be a permanent or irreversible problem, actually improves within days of arriving in any Mediterranean country or high in the mountains, where humidity is low, only to relapse on their return to the UK. This confirms that eczema can partly or totally be reversed if we could effectively control the quality of the air we breathe.

Eczema & Diet

Contrary to popular belief, eczema is not always caused by allergens in the air. Some people find that their symptoms get worse after eating certain foods or additives and get better when they leave them out of their diet for 1-2 weeks. On the basis of this observation, we can define an elimination & challenge process which aims to identify specific foods, responsible for one's eczema. It is called Type-B, delayed or masked allergy and is a common cause of eczema as well as asthma and rhinitis. This kind of allergy is very different to peanut allergy, which is fast and potentially life threatening.

Eczema and chemicals

Several modern chemicals have been associated with contact eczema, which varies from the so-called housewive's hands, if it is caused by washing up liquids; allergy to latex, often affecting health professionals using latex gloves; to nickel sensitivity. It is relatively easy to pin point the specific substance causing this type of eczema.