Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis Treatment in Kuwait
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common inflammatory skin disease worldwide, affecting around 230 million people. At its core is a weakened skin barrier that leaks water and lets irritants in — which is why moisturising is not an add-on but the foundation of treatment.
What you should know
- It affects up to 20% of children, and 80% of those affected develop it before age 6. It is not contagious.
- It results from genetic and environmental factors involving skin barrier dysfunction (including filaggrin mutations) and immune activation.
- Sites change with age: infants — scalp, face and creases; children — flexures (elbows, knees); adults — flexural or diffuse, sometimes occupational hand dermatitis.
- Common triggers: skin care products and fragrance, harsh detergents, wool clothing, weather and temperature change, heat and sweating, stress, allergens (dust mites, pollen, pets), and skin infection.
- Emollients are the foundation for everyone, can be enough for mild disease, and reduce both flare severity and the amount of topical steroid needed. Apply at least twice daily, continue even when skin looks better, and wash with an emollient instead of soap.
- DermNet gives guide quantities of roughly 150–200 g per week for young children and 500 g per week for adults — far more than most people actually use.
Treatment options
- Topical corticosteroids — relieve symptoms quickly. DermNet describes a typical course of once daily for 5 days to several weeks, with no added benefit from applying more than once a day. Potent preparations are avoided on thin skin such as eyelids.
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus) — an alternative when steroids are unsuitable or stop working, useful on the face and folds.
- Newer topicals — crisaborole, roflumilast, ruxolitinib and tapinarof. The AAD notes tapinarof can relieve itch rapidly, sometimes within 24 hours.
- Moderate to severe disease — dupilumab, IL-13 inhibitors (lebrikizumab, tralokinumab), nemolizumab, and oral JAK inhibitors (abrocitinib, upadacitinib).
- Phototherapy — requires 2 to 3 treatments per week for several months.
Practical advice for patients
The practical points from the patient sheet I hand out in clinic.
- Moisturizing is the cornerstone of treatment: apply a fragrance-free moisturizer at least 3 times daily — the more, the better.
- Bathing: lukewarm water, short (5–10 min), with a gentle soap-free fragrance-free cleanser and no loofah (use hands or a soft sponge).
- Pat dry — do not rub — and apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of drying to lock in moisture.
- Wear cotton; avoid wool and rough fabrics; use fragrance-free laundry detergent for sensitive skin.
- Avoid applying perfumes and oud oil directly onto the skin.
- Keep children's nails short — scratching makes eczema worse.
- Diet (updated guidance): do not eliminate foods (eggs, fish, milk, nuts…) unless an allergy is confirmed by testing; unnecessary elimination diets harm nutrition and may increase the risk of true food allergy.
- When starting solids (~6 months): introduce one new food every 3–5 days to spot reactions; early introduction of allergenic foods is now encouraged — ask your doctor.
- Use the prescribed anti-inflammatory creams during flares as directed; moisturizer alone is not enough during a flare.
Frequently asked questions
Will my child grow out of eczema?
Often, yes — it usually improves with age. A meta-analysis of over 110,000 subjects found 20% of children still had persistent disease at 8 years, and fewer than 5% at 20 years. It typically worsens between ages 2 and 4, then tends to improve.
Are steroid creams safe?
Yes, when used correctly — they are a standard, effective treatment. They are typically applied once daily to inflamed skin for 5 days to several weeks, then stopped or stepped down. Prolonged unsupervised use risks skin thinning, stretch marks and bruising, which is why potent preparations are avoided on eyelids and face.
What should I do during a flare?
Keep moisturising heavily, apply the prescribed treatment to inflamed areas, and identify the trigger. Bathe in warm — not hot — water for 5–10 minutes, pat partially dry, apply medication to nearly-dry skin, then moisturiser over the top. Keep nails short, and ask about wet wrap therapy for severe itch.
From my Kuwait TV interview
Kuwait Television · 4 September 2023 — An interview in the morning show’s talk hour on allergic skin disease, one of the most common health problems: the difference between contact allergy (eczema) and internal allergy such as that triggered by seafood, the usual symptoms of redness and itching, the effect of changing weather and the start of winter, and prevention, treatment and when a case needs the hospital. All my TV interviews and press articles →
Walk-in clinic – no appointment needed
My private clinic at Kuwait Hospital (Sabah Al-Salem) — walk-in, Sunday to Thursday, 8 am – 4 pm. Direct assessment and a treatment plan built around your case.
Ask on WhatsAppPatient advice sheets
Practical sheets you can read here and return to whenever you need them.