And yet, the beauty treatment imported from Turkey is also used in its country of origin as a treatment for skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. I suppose it makes sense when you remember that these fish effectively exfoliate the skin, removing any dead cells and eating them.

It is not a cure, although it is reported that it can relieve the symptoms of the condition and stimulate the growth of new cells. For the moment in the UK, I haven’t heard of anywhere that provides this service – the focus seems to be on pedicures only.

And with the RSPCA currently investigating whether the treatments are cruel to the fish, it seems unlikely that we’ll see all-over exfoliations being offered anywhere soon. Correct me if I’m wrong. Otherwise, maybe the next time you head to Turkey on your holidays, you should look up your local doctor fish for some temporary eczema relief…

All clothing is made from organic cotton, sourced from Soil Association approved suppliers. The benefits of organic cotton for eczema sufferers are:

• No pesticides are used in the production of the cotton. Scientific studies have linked pesticides with both eczema and asthma.

• Organic cotton allows the skin to remain cool and ‘breathe’. Clothes that encourage perspiration without facilitating its evaporation can irritate the already damaged skin.

• Dyes are natural and organic, again to avoid a high environmental impact and protect fragile eczema-prone skin.

Demand has been high, leading to the extension of the range to include older children. The principles are sound for anyone who suffers from the skin condition: natural breathable fabrics, keeping the skin cool and dry, and choosing fabrics that have not used harmful chemicals in the production processes.

Professors as Sheffield University have recently conducted research which has found that:

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Since the 1940s, our genes have not changed but there have been substantial changes in our environment. One of these is the exposure of babies to harsh soap and other detergents that directly interact with changes in several genes, leading to a breakdown of the skin barrier. This allows the penetration of allergens that interact with the immune system and trigger flares of atopic eczema.

• The marketing of cleansing products has resulted in increased and unnecessary washing, using products that contain substances that can irritate the skin. Perfumed products should be avoided.

• Contrary to popular belief, organic or ‘natural’ products may not be any better! Organic products cannot prevent the growth of bacteria, and olive oil has been found to be unsuitable for young skin.

• Aqueous cream, which is commonly prescribed for the ailment, has also been found to be damaging to young skin, and should be avoided.

• Medical moisturisers or emollients may be the best way forward when young children are affected by eczema

The results show that a significant proportion of children with eczema miss up to five days of school per year, while 18% miss out on sport and play directly because of the condition. This can affect parents too, who have to take leave in order to care for their children.

Half of parents of children with moderate to severe eczema report the belief that the condition has had a negative impact on their child’s self-esteem.

Sufferers and relatives will already understand the impact that eczema can have on people’s lives. The physical discomfort and disruption to sleep, combined with the time-consuming and laborious treatments, can have detrimental effects on a person’s mood and self-perception.

It is hoped that the findings of this survey will highlight these difficulties and raise awareness amongst the general public.

70 children were provided with enough steroid cream to allow a regular use that kept their conditions under control and all but eliminated symptoms. A control group of 22 children were studied at the same time. Both groups were examined for evidence of steroid-related side effects, in particular, for evidence of thinning skin.

No difference was found between the two groups. This news could be extremely reassuring for parents who are caring for children who suffer from the condition. It could mean that parents do not need to find the balance between relieving the symptoms of eczema and limiting the use of effective treatment.

Normal, routine use of topical corticosteroids is the best way of keeping the skin condition under control. The treatment should be part of a combination of approaches, which includes keeping the skin well moisturised, avoiding the use of soaps and bath bubbles that could aggravate the skin, and keeping the bedroom environment cool.

After I have been on a heavy night drinking, I have tried to limit my alcohol to determine which types of drinks may help cause a flare up. For example I thought it may have been the yeast in the pints of beer that I was drinking so I had a night out where I just drank wine to see if this would stop my eczema being bad the next day.  However, wine still makes me get a flare up and so does vodka and amaretto.

Another instance where I get bad eczema is when I have been on a night out so I am presuming, when I am out I am dancing and I am in a hot and sweaty club this makes the eczema on the creases on my arms even worse.  

When does your eczema flare up?

• You will have a pink, red or inflamed skin
• The skin will be dry, flakey or cracked.
• You can get water blisters on your skin, which if you scratch them they can begin to weep.
• If you scratch specific areas of your skin frequently then these areas will have thicker skin.

Your doctor can prescribe mild steroid creams or emollients, he could also give you prescription medicines can calm flare-ups of eczema by suppressing your body’s inflammatory response.

So how do you end up with this itchy, unsightly condition?

Well, you people do tend to have a genetic tendency to develop it (which is what “atopy” means).

Once you develop it, you can treat it, and although there’s no clear cut reasons why it flares up, you will begin to notice things that make it worse – and so you can avoid them. Common triggers can include:

• soaps, shampoos, detergents, etc
• rough fibres in clothing
• dust, mould, pet dander, pollen, etc
• being under the weather
• stress

However, there are 6 main types of eczema:

1. Atopic eczema
2. Allergic contact eczema
3. Irritant contact eczema
4. Seborrhoeic eczema
5. Varicose eczema
6. Discoid eczema

Symptoms will vary from person to person, type to type, and by the severity of the type, but symptons can include any and all of the following:

• red, inflamed skin
• dry, cracked skin
• itchy skin
• small water blisters on the skin – often found on hands and feet
• wet and weepy skin if it becomes infected
• when scratching frequently, these areas of skin can thicken

So when any of the above symptoms appear, get it checked out. It’s not a fun thing to have – and its treatable!