Health Skin care
Know your
Here’s a guide to some common skin conditions, including how to spot them and how they can be treated
skin
With the hot weather summer can bring, skin conditions can flare up. So it’s a good idea to know how to identify and treat any issues you may be having with your skin – that way your skin can feel its best when the sun comes out. Here are some things to look out for, including the signs
and symptoms of dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea, plus what you can do to relieve them.
Dry skin Dry skin can be a problem during the winter thanks to the drying effects of central heating and cold, harsh weather conditions. But skin can be dry in summer too, especially if you spend a lot of time in dry air (in rooms that are air conditioned, for example). Some people also find certain types of skincare products dry their skin out all year round.
How to spot it Look out for rough, flaky or scaly patches of skin that can sometimes also cause itching. If your skin is very red or broken, or if you also have a rash, talk to your local Careway pharmacist or see your GP.
What can you do? Your pharmacist can recommend moisturising products designed to add moisture to dry skin called emollients, including moisturising creams and lotions as well as bathing and cleansing products. Use these instead of your usual moisturisers and soap, which may include ingredients that can irritate your skin. Also try not to bathe or shower in hot water, as this too can make skin dry (use water that’s warm rather than hot).
Eczema If your skin is itchy, red, sore and cracked in addition to being dry, you may have eczema. According to the NHS some people with eczema only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread red, inflamed skin all over their bodies.
How to spot it Atopic eczema – which is the most common form of eczema – can affect all areas of the body but is most common on the hands (especially the fingers), the insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children. It can also come and go, so you may have times when your symptoms improve followed by periods when they get worse (these are called flare-ups). If you have symptoms of atopic eczema, see your GP for a diagnosis. Skin that’s affected by atopic eczema can also
occasionally become infected, causing fluid oozing from the skin, yellow crusts forming on the skin and more severe swelling and soreness. If you think your skin may have become infected, see your GP as soon as possible.
What can you do? There’s no cure for atopic eczema but treatments may help ease your symptoms. These include emollients as well as creams and ointments called topical corticosteroids that are used to control flare-ups. Your pharmacist can advise you about the best ways to apply these products.
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