There is a lack-lustre appearance to the skin and it looks and feels scaly. This dryness occurs even in the areas of skin not involved directly with active eczema.
The skin of eczema is unable to provide adequate “waterproofing” so the there is an increased evaporation from the skin surface which leads to further dryness. This dry skin is more easily irritated. Certain bacteria such as staph aureus is able to colonize the surface of the skin. It is thought that a protein in the wall of these bacteria may well increase itching.
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