Atopic dermatitis or eczema may begin in the first few months of life, with red weeping crusted lesions on the face, scalp, nappy area, hands and feet. In older children and adults it may be more localized and chronic, appearing on various parts of the body. The course of the condition is always unpredicable and itching is constant. Scratching the itch, and rubbing, leads to an itch-scratch-rash-itch cycle. Secondary bacterial infection is common. Frequent use of prescribed, or over-the-counter, medications exposes the sufferer to many allergens and irritants. Long standing sufferers may develop eye cataracts. Eczema was known to the ancient Greeks, who gave it the name.

It is stated, without any evidence, that susceptibility to eczema is genetic, and then the disorder is triggered by environmental factors. Sometimes stress is blamed. Allergy is nearly always placed centre stage. Despite all these suggestions there is no effective treatment. Eczema is a common condition, but it really does wreck peoples lives. Resulting psychological problems are not uncommon.

So let us see what causes eczema, and how easy it is to treat.

We have described miliaria crystallina and miliaria rubra, skin conditions which occur near the surface of the skin because of inflammation resulting from sweat duct blockage. If the blockage occurs deeper in the skin, in the lower dermis, the inflammation is named miliaria profunda. Miliaria rubra in particular occurs in the "prickle layer" of the skin, thus the name "prickly heat".

If the skin duct blockage occurs a little deeper in the skin, just below the prickle layer, this is the "itch layer". A blockage at this point has never been called miliaria, but that is what it is. The sweat rising in the duct under pressure, rupturing the duct at the blockage, and spreading into the surrounding skin sets up inflammation and intense itching. This is the first ever explanation of the aetiology of eczema or atopic dermatitis.

As we know, the reason for the blockage of sweat gland ducts is that the ducts actively reabsorb sodium from the sweat output. If people are not accustomed to regular exercise or regular heat then the sweat glands become habituated to a slight increase in output as a result of stop-start sweating. This is the connection of stress with eczema. Stress causes very short term sweating.

When habituated to a slight increase in sweat output, (adverse habituation), the sweat ducts absorb too much sodium, salinity falls outside the range for effectiveness of the anti-microbial peptides, and the entry of normal skin microbes to the duct sets up an immune reaction which blocks the duct.

Treatment is by the use of ActivSignal^TM Sodium, to signal to the body that there is sufficient sodium in the body environment. This causes the body to switch off the extra sodium reabsorption from the sweat gland ducts, the ducts unblock and the health of the skin is restored. Unblocking of ducts typically takes about one to three minutes. The signalling medication needs to be continued until genetic habituation is re-established.

ActivSignal^TM therapeutic products are carefully designed for signalling only and, unlike all other medicines, are not absorbed into the body. Also since they are required to signal against adverse habituation, the body must not become habituated to their use and thus ignore the signal. Fortunately, ActivSignal therapeutic products are very fast acting, and, since they are not absorbed and also have a consistent predictable action, they have no side effects. The first commercial ActivSignal product is now under development.

As with other miliaria class conditions the treatment of eczema can be complicated by even a slight rise above normal in blood glucose. Since the body defends osmolality above all else, a rise in blood glucose is compensated for by a fall in sodium. The duct excess sodium reabsorption will not switch off if the body is deficient in sodium. In this case ActivSignal^TM Sodium can used together with increased exercise and a low carbohydrate diet to reduce blood glucose. Alternatively, or in addition, anti-diabetes drugs may be used.

Childhood allergy to foods was almost unheard of fifty years ago. Now it is said that, as one in seven children in the UK has eczema, then allergy is equally common. A large genetic change precipitating this allergy is most unlikely to have occurred within the short space of fifty years. The main cause in the rise of eczema incidence is undoubtedly the rise in blood glucose caused by high carbohydrate diets and less exercise. Cows milk is frequently quoted as an allergic trigger. The fact is that cows milk sugar (4.8%) is absorbed into the body very quickly, rapidly pushing up blood glucose. Skimmed milk is even faster.

So if it is not genetic, how is it that eczema appears to run in families? The answer is that our genes are not a fixed entity but are continuously modified. The temporary adverse habituation of one generation can be passed down to the next. It is known, for example, that mothers with high blood glucose are likely to pass the established higher liver glucose release set point on to their offspring.

But fortunately this adverse habituation can now be restored to original habituation by the use of ActivSignal^TM products, giving the next generation a fresh start.