Eczema is a very common skin condition in Singapore, but the underlying cause varies between individuals. Most commonly, there is a genetic predisposition to having dry skin.
When the skin is dry, it allows for tiny gaps (not visible to the naked eye) in the skin to develop. This results in loss of moisture from the skin to the environment (inside out) and entry of allergens (substances which promote allergy) and bacteria into the skin (outside in).
Someone who is prone to dry skin may develop more severe eczema due to reasons such as use of harsh soaps, lack of moisturizers, constant scratching, or use of creams or oils that irritate the skin. All these will cause more gaps to appear in the skin and hence worsens the situation.
To learn more about eczema, do come down to National Skin Centre's public forum on Eczema on 27 October 2018 to find out more!
Dr Lucinda Tan, Consultant at National Skin Centre
