There have been recent major advances in the understanding of what causes eczema and it all concerns a molecule called filaggrin. [Brown SJ and McLean WHI.  One remarkable molecule: Filaggrin.  J Invest Dermatol 2012; 132(3 Pt 2): 751-762.]   Now, there is a common dry skin disorder called … [Read more...] about Do you have the genes for eczema?

There are safe ways to tan, aren't there? I had one patient recently who told me that she was ‘safe’ in the sun.  She applied a sunscreen of SpF 20 and sunbathed for 40 minutes on one side and then rotated for 40 minutes on the other side.  She liked the nice nutty brown colour her skin had become … [Read more...] about What lies beneath…

We are in the midst of hayfever season.  This typically spans March to September when all the tree and grass pollens are in the air.  Many hayfever sufferers are allergic to one or more tree and grass pollens and this time of year can be particularly problematic for them.   So why do they have … [Read more...] about Do you have hayfever and trouble eating apples?

Is this even English? No, not at all.  Charles Arthur in the Guardian on March 27th  2013 writes that the Language Council of Sweden (who are responsible for the addition of official new words to the Swedish lexicon or language) had noted the increase in use of the term ‘conversesjukan’ or Converse … [Read more...] about Do you have ‘conversesjukan’?

A friend recently asked my opinion about water softeners as he was thinking of purchasing and installing a water softener in his home.  His family, bar himself, suffered with eczema which had worsened in recent months.  This is actually a not uncommon question.   What evidence is there for water … [Read more...] about The role of water softeners in eczema

Vitamin D is all the rage currently; everyone seems to be asking if vitamin D has a role in this disease or that disease.  Only last week, I was asked if vitamin D had a role to play in eczema; as far as I am aware, there have been no large, good quality studies that have investigated this nor shown … [Read more...] about The role of Vitamin D in melanoma

The NICE guidelines for psoriasis were published in October 2012.  Its 61 pages are quite a lengthy read and there is quite a lot to digest.    [Psoriasis: The assessment and management of psoriasis.  NICE clinical guidelines 153; issued October 2012.  … [Read more...] about Psoriasis and alcohol

Now, if you have been busy bashing around in the kitchen over the festive period you may have a few of these white spots on your nails. A friend of mine also once asked me if I thought she suffered from a vitamin deficiency.  She was worried as she had noticed small white spots on her nails  and … [Read more...] about Spotty nails

It’s that time of year when my hand eczema always deteriorates; it’s something to do with the harsh, cold weather, increased central heating and the increased washing up around Christmas time, what with all the increased amount of food preparation.  Nevertheless, it is extremely common for … [Read more...] about What’s new in hand eczema?

It is that time of year when if you’re lucky (or unlucky!) you’ll have a whole load of Christmas parties or social drinks thingies to go to, where inevitably, alcohol will be in surplus.  This brought me to thinking that this must be a pretty hard time of year for those who suffer from several skin … [Read more...] about What’s new in rosacea?