What is the nurse’s role in the management of eczema?

This article tells you about:

• What eczema is and what it looks like
• How to manage this common skin condition
• How it affects patients psychologically

You would be likely to reference this article if you were researching:

• dermatology
• eczema
• practice nursing

In what situations will this article be useful to me?

It will prove useful if you are nursing patients who have this common skin condition.

Patients admitted with other medical conditions or for surgery may have eczema which will need treatment and management during their admission. Eczema is common in young children who may have it sufficiently severely to require hospital admission. You may also meet this condition on your community placement as eczema is commonly managed within general practice.

Questions for your mentor/tutor

• How can you find out more about how to correctly apply creams and ointments for skin condition?
• What is the nurse’s role in the management of eczema?

Student Nursing Times decoder

Atopy

Atopy is when you are more likely to have an allergic response to common antigens such as pollen, different foods or chemicals. Atopy is hereditary. As a result atopic eczema is caused by an allergic reaction which runs in families

Emollients

These are skin preparations that moisten and lubricate the skin. They are the mainstay of treatment for eczema and come as ointments or creams. As a general rule they need to be applied in greater quantity that you would first assume.

Pruritus

This is the medical term for itching which is a symptom of eczema. Scratching skin made sore by eczema aggravates and worsens the condition. Part of the nurse’s role in eczema, particularly in children, is to discourage scratching of the skin.

Other articles you might find useful

• Use of emollients in dry skin conditions
• The importance of emollients in treating the increasing incidence of atopic eczema
• Raising the profile of skincare among health professionals