Health Winter skin
NB: Body Image to change according to topic. Also move pointers.
What you need to know about…
eczema and rosacea
People with eczema or rosacea often find their symptoms flare up during cold weather. Here’s a quick guide to both conditions and how they’re treated
Q A
How can you tell the difference between eczema and rosacea?
Both conditions can cause skin redness. But while rosacea can also trigger other
symptoms such as spots and small visible blood vessels in the skin, eczema can make skin itchy, dry, cracked and sore. Rosacea also mostly affects the face, with eczema affecting any part of the body but most often the hands, insides of the elbows and backs of the knees. Children, however, can also have eczema on their face and scalp. If you have eczema your skin can feel itchy,
making you feel you want to scratch. Rosacea, on the other hand, can cause burning and stinging sensations. With both conditions there are usually periods when your symptoms flare up and times when your skin doesn’t seem so bad.
Q A
What treatments are available for eczema?
The main treatments for atopic eczema – the most common form of eczema affecting
people who have allergies – are moisturising treatments called emollients that you use every day and corticosteroid creams and ointments that can help reduce swelling and redness. There are several types of emollients you can
use, including skin creams and lotions, soap substitutes and products you add to your bath water. Your local Careway pharmacist can help you choose which ones would suit you best. Your GP may also prescribe a corticosteroid
cream if your skin is sore and inflamed. Ask your pharmacist to explain how these creams should be applied and follow the instructions on the leaflet carefully.
Q A
What else can you do to prevent eczema?
If you’re aware of the things that make your eczema get worse – such as getting too hot,
using certain soaps or washing detergents or even wearing certain fabrics – you can try to avoid them. Some people find certain foods can trigger a
flare-up too. However, speak to your GP before making any changes to your diet, as you may need advice on alternative foods you could eat to avoid becoming deficient in any nutrients.
Q A
Are there treatments for rosacea?
There are medicines that may help keep your rosacea under control, such as treatments to
help reduce facial redness, which include medicines that relax the blood vessels, anti- anxiety medications and a topical gel. Spots caused by rosacea can be treated by creams and gels, but if your skin has become inflamed you may need antibiotic medication. Modern treatments such as laser and intense
pulsed light (IPL) can also improve redness and visible blood vessels. However these are normally available on the NHS and can only usually be recommended by a dermatologist.
Q A
Are there any self help measures you can take for rosacea?
Some people with rosacea notice certain things make their symptoms worse, including
cold weather, stress, sunlight, alcohol and spicy foods. Avoiding these triggers may help reduce how often – and how badly – you get flare-ups. It can also be helpful to use very gentle skincare products. Ask your local Careway pharmacist to recommend products suitable for people with sensitive skin. Your pharmacist can also advise you about make-up products that help can disguise redness if you’re bothered by it.
Need more advice about problem skin? Visit your local pharmacy (find your nearest Careway pharmacy by using the Pharmacy finder at
www.careway.co.uk).
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