They said though not contagious, Eczema, which is a type of dermatitis – a group of conditions that cause skin inflammation, often affects children, adolescents, and adults.
He explained that the outer layer has different layers of protection against certain eczema-causing bacteria, which are the basal, spinous or prickle-cell, and the corneal or horny layer. According to him, a mutated gene, which affects the production of the protein filaggrin needed by the body to make the skin’s outer layer, is also responsible.
A Consultant Public Health Physician at Havana Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Ngozi Obiora, was of the opinion that eczema appears on the body of people that are dirty and lack good personal hygiene. “Care providers and families can also suffer psychosocial stress and anxiety over the affected member. Depression and anxiety are more common in people with eczema, especially when they see their peers’ bodies without eczema. People often stare at them and refuse to share personal effects with them,” he said.
Recognising neglected skin diseases, WHO published a training guide to make it easier for health workers to identify the signs and symptoms of neglected tropical diseases of the skin and other common skin conditions through their visible characteristics. “It is possible to identify the most common skin diseases as their treatment is simple, with many responding to medication that is widely available.
He noted that the success of the integrated approach depends on well-trained health workers and community volunteers who can correctly identify multiple skin conditions.