By Dr Jean Ho
It is easy to withstand pain but difficult to withstand itch, so goes an ancient Chinese saying.
Indeed, tell a child with eczema not to scratch and all he will hear is the last word: Scratch.
Any eczema sufferer will swear that its itch is mindnumbing, sleep-depriving and dedicated to compel nonstop scratching. 'Relief' comes only when the skin has been scratched off and the sensation of pain overtakes the itch.
L, a bright 10-year-old girl who aces her exams every year, has found it harder to concentrate in school. She has had eczema since pre-school but her parents had resisted medical treatment.
They had heard that medication like steroids were bad and, instead, turned to alternative therapy and traditional healing. The skin over her neck and body darkened over the years because of recurrent eczema. Countless scars remained on her arms and legs where once there were sores and open wounds.
When she became my patient, she was still suffering from repeated and unexpected bouts of red itchy rashes. She would think twice about wearing her favourite skirt or taking part in social activities with friends. Her eyes were downcast as we spoke.
Atopic eczema, in recent years, has seen an exponential rise in numbers and severity. One in five children in Singapore suffers from this condition.
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