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Award winning dermatology service, with over 20 years of experience
Short waiting lists, on some occasions offering same week appointments
Safe environment, in Care Quality Commission approved facilities
Eczema is a long-term condition which causes the skin to become dry, red, itchy, and cracked. It is most common in children and can improve over time, although many adults find that they still have flare-ups of eczema during periods of stress. The most common form of eczema is atopic eczema, which can affect any part of the body but is often found inside the elbows, knees, on the neck, hands, cheeks, and scalp.
If eczema is affecting your life, then the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic is here to help. As an eczema specialist in London, our consultant dermatologists can offer you expert treatment with a very good chance of dramatically improving your eczema.
Alternative names:Â Atopic eczema, dermatitis, skin allergy, contact dermatitis, lichen simplex, nodular prurigo, sensitive skin, seborrhoeic dermatitis, asteototic eczema, constitutional eczema, allergic eczema, irritant dermatitis, venous eczema, stasis dermatitis, dishydrotic eczema, popholyx eczema.
Eczema and dermatitis mean the same thing; inflammation of the skin characterised by redness, swelling, itching and excoriation (scratch marks) in the acute form. In the chronic (persistent) form, regular rubbing of the skin through itching and scratching, leads to thickening or ‘lichenification’, scaling and post-inflammatory darkening of the skin. There are many different causes for eczema:
Atopic eczema; common in children and related to other allergic conditions such as asthmas and hay fever.
Allergic contact dermatitis: an eczema caused by an allergic reaction to something coming in to contact with the skin (such as fragrance or hair dye). This can be identified by means of a patch test.
Irritant contact eczema: an eczema caused by a chemical irritating the skin (such as soap or disinfectants)
Lichen simplex chronicus:Â a thickened itchy area caused by repeated rubbing and scratching
Nodular prurigo: similar to lichen simplex, multiple small itchy areas of thickened inflamed skin
Asteototic eczema: dermatitis due to dry, cracked skin that occurs with age
Drug-induced eczema: eczema that might resemble any of the above types, but that is caused by medications.
Pompholyx/Dishydrotic eczema: itchy tiny blisters (or vesicles) occurring under the skin on hands and feet.
The cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it often runs alongside other conditions including asthma and hay fever, and flare-ups are triggered by things such as soap, laundry detergent, stress, the weather, and occasionally food allergies. There are many different causes for the different types of eczema.
Acute eczema is red with swelling of the skin, sometimes to the point of tiny blisters or vesicles appearing. It is often symmetrically distributed. Chronic eczema that has been rubbed repeatedly might be thickened and darkened.
The key feature of eczema is that it is itchy! This can be a minor distraction or a major feature that interferes with your life and prevent sleeping, working and concentration. In children it can prevent sleep which causes unhappiness at home. The condition can cause redness and thickening of the skin which might affect ones appearance and confidence.
The treatment of eczema can be divided into three basic strategies depending on severity, namely creams, phototherapy (ultraviolet/sunlight) or systemic medication (oral or injectable drugs).
Creams include emollients, soap substitutes, steroids or tacrolimus.
Phototherapy involves precise doses of ultraviolet light being delivered by a medical UV-machine.
Systemic medications include tablets such as prednisolone, azathioprine, methotrexate and ciclosporin. These powerful drugs are reserved for severe or life-limiting Eczema.
Our eczema dermatologists at the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic can offer patients specialist treatment for all types of eczema and dermatitis to help control their disease.
Remember, although eczema is incurable, it can be well controlled with medication – please see our before and after pictures. There is no need to let eczema rule your life.
Acute eczema is red with swelling of the skin, sometimes to the point of tiny blisters or vesicles appearing. It is often symmetrically distributed. Chronic eczema that has been rubbed repeatedly might be thickened and darkened.
The key feature of eczema is that it is itchy. This can be a minor distraction or a major feature that interferes with your life and prevent sleeping, working and concentration. In children it can prevent sleep which causes unhappiness at home. The condition can cause redness and thickening of the skin which might affect one’s appearance and confidence.
There is currently no known cure for eczema, though many articles in the media suggest otherwise. Treatment is focussed on the symptoms and minimising the triggers.
Please fill in this form and one of our team will give you a call back to arrange a consultation with one of our expert dermatologists.
Having the right dermatologist is important especially when you have a chronic skin condition that will require ongoing treatment. We want you to feel confident that we’re providing you with the best possible care. We also want you to feel as comfortable as possible with your dermatologist.
The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic specialises in conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails. Our goal is to provide all the care that you need when you’re experiencing these kinds of problems. We want to make it easy for you to access the best eczema specialist in London.
The clinic is conveniently located in Central London, so it’s easy to visit us if you need to see a dermatologist. You will find yourself in a very comfortable and welcoming environment. We have created a relaxing space where you will receive the highest quality of care. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, are part of the British Association of Dermatologists and are top rated by patients of Doctify so you can be sure of safe and effective treatment with us.
Contact us to arrange a no-obligation consultation with our experienced acne specialist who will examine and discuss your stage of eczema.
There are a wide range of eczema treatment options available depending on the severity and location of your eczema. Our experienced dermatologist will explain all of your treatment options and help you to decide the best programme for you.
Once an appropriate treatment has been agreed upon, the treatment programme begins, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthier, happier skin. Results will likely appear within the timeframe suggested by your eczema specialist.
Winter weather can take a heavy toll on our skin. We are constantly stepping between the warm, heated rooms indoors and the cold, dry air outside. We also tend to wrap up more at this time of year, which can cause problems if clothes are
Sun damage isn’t usually a problem in the UK in winter. The UV rays are not usually strong enough at this time of year to cause sunburn, but they can still affect your skin. Sun damage is responsible for many of the skin conditions treated
Skin conditions can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and tricky to treat, but they are often dismissed as minor or cosmetic problems. It’s time we all took our skin more seriously.
We accept PMI Patients from all major insurers which makes all Consultations and Treatments FREE. *
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