Teaching patients to apply treatment
In order to adhere to treatment, your patients need to know how to apply their emollient and steroids and understand the difference between how each is applied:
| Emollients3 | Steroids4 | |
|---|---|---|
| When? | Every day, even when skin is clear | During flare ups |
| How many times a day? | Ideally 4 times – morning, lunchtime, afternoon, evening | Once or twice |
| How much? | Volume varies depending on the part of the body. Patients often do not use a sufficient quantity (Teaspoons or pump actuations can be a useful measure) | Sparingly (Finger tip units can be a useful measure) |
| To where? | Areas of active eczema and clear skin | Areas of active eczema only |
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Living with eczema has a practical impact on the lives of people with the condition, and the parents and carers of children with eczema. Building a daily emollient routine may be difficult for some patients to achieve, so giving them hints and tips about how to fit treatment routines into a busy lifestyle, like identifying times when it is suitable for them to apply their emollient, can make a difference.
Enabling patients » « Helping patients to understand eczema
References:
- 3.Primary Care Dermatology Society & British Association of Dermatologists (2006) Guidelines for the management of atopic eczema. (PCDSBAD-Eczema.pdf Accessed May 2009)
- 4.NICE (2004) Frequency of application of topical steroids for atopic eczema. Technology Appraisal 81, August 2004