Abstract: . . .  although David continued to have quite dry skin, the eczema itself resolved by the time he was eight. Page 8 8 j UNDERSTANDING CHILDHOOD ECZEMA Summary l Atopic eczema is a common condition in childhood which often improves as the child grows older. l It has become more common over the past 20 years. l The causes of eczema are not fully understood but it is known to be a hereditary condition. l Although allergy may be an important cause for a small minority of young children, it is usually not the main cause of eczema. l Eczema is often associated with stress, but it is likely . . .
. . .  appeared to have quite dry skin. At about four months of age he began to develop a raised itchy rash on his cheeks, forehead and tummy. He had great difficulty sleeping and his mother would frequently find him rubbing his face against the cot bumper. He was diagnosed as having eczema by his GP and prescribed emollients and bath oil. Davids mother frequently tried to identify the cause of his eczema. She went through phases of thinking it was due to what David ate, the washing powder she used, the central heating system and the hard water in their area. None of these factors appeared to be the only cause of his symptoms and Davids mother was unable to identify one single cause. In the end, she . . .
. . .  l The causes of eczema are not fully understood but it is known to be a hereditary condition. l Although allergy may be an important cause for a small minority of young children, it is usually not the main cause of eczema. l Eczema is often associated with stress, but it is likely that the symptoms of eczema cause stress, as well as the stress making the eczema worse.  . . .
. . .  cluster of symptoms which make up this condition. It is important to remember that there is no simple test to diagnose atopic eczema and that the diagnosis is made by identifying this cluster of familiar symptoms. In the past there has been a lot of variation in the diagnosis of atopic eczema and these guidelines help to ensure that everyone is using the same criteria for the diagnosis. Box 1. Diagnostic guidelines for atopic eczema. Must have : An itchy skin condition Plus three or more of the following : (1) History of involvement of the skin creases such as folds of the elbows, behind the knees, fronts of the ankles or around the neck (including the cheeks . . .
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