Eczema: Spread the word

Lazarus Sauti

Eczema, a group of skincare conditions which affects all age groups, is reportedly on the increase in Zimbabwe.

The disease, according to the World Allergy Organisation (WAO), an international umbrella organisation whose members consist of 89 regional and national allergology and clinical immunology societies from around the world, is triggered by certain soaps, detergents, disinfectants, foods with preservatives such as canned foods, bottles foods, pets, dandruff.

The WAO is, however, quick to state that although is true that food allergies are more commonly found in people who suffer from eczema, the assumption that food allergies are a root cause of the disease is not always the case.

In fact, not everyone with eczema has food allergies.

Tapiwa Karumbiswa, a medical doctor, says the severity of the disease varies: in mild forms, for instance, the skin is dry as well as hot, while in more severe forms, the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding.

“Eczema is not just a skin disease; it has major psychological impacts on the sufferer,” he added. “Treating the disease therefore requires understanding it and how eczema affects a person physically and emotionally.”

Aflred Derera of the Eczema Association of Zimbabwe Trust (EAZT), a patient advocacy and non-profit making organisation that provides a place where eczema sufferers and their families can get information, friendly advice as well as support, adds that eczema is a major problem: it can decrease the quality of life, interfere with achievements both in school and careers as well as affects friendships and choice of partners.

Speaking during the World Eczema Week commemorations and exhibitions that were staged recently in Harare, he added: “If you suffer from eczema, you will know how frustrating it can be and how hard it is to avoid scratching, but one will not be alone – it is estimated that a significant number of people in Zimbabwe suffer from some form of eczema.”

Derera also said that lack of public awareness of the rare disease is one of the main impediments in efforts to curb its unwanted growth as well as spread around the country.

“The impact eczema has on an individual can be overlooked by those that do not understand the condition. While some may have a few patches of eczema around the body, there are many different forms of this disease,” he said

Derera believes an informed and sensitive approach to eczema by relatives as well as friend can be helpful; therefore, he urged stakeholders in the health sector to raise awareness and break the stigma on eczema.

“Awareness can make a difference in the life of someone who is struggling with eczema,” he said. “Eczema awareness campaigns not only lead to more understanding and research funding, but more attention and support given to this inflammatory disease as well.”

Sharing the same views, the National Eczema Association (NEA), an American not-for-profit organisation established to improve the quality of life for individuals with eczema through research, support and education, adds, “Awareness about eczema is needed as it breaks through the stereotypes about the disease and creates a new public perception about how eczema really affects people’s lives.”

The NEA added, “The more people know about eczema and the effect it has on one’s quality of life, the further progress we can make to find better treatments as well as an eventual cure.”

Since the time is now to debunk the myths surrounding the eczema disease, awareness is of paramount importance.

The eczema sufferers should feel comfortable expressing that they have the disease, that it is one the most common skin conditions and it is not contagious.