Singapore seeing more cases of moderate to severe eczema

The prevalence of eczema in Singapore has been largely stable in the past decade, affecting about one in five children and one in 10 adults.

- Joyce Teo Senior Health Correspondent

But the number of people stricken with moderate to severe forms of the disease – with skin that may ooze fluid, crust or bleed – appears to be rising.

Both KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and National Skin Centre (NSC) said there are more patients with moderate to severe atopic eczema, though the numbers are not clear as no recent studies have been done.

Atopic eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is the most common type of eczema. Nobody is born with it – it typically starts after a few weeks or months of life.

KKH, which handles about 20 new atopic eczema cases a day, is seeing more children with moderate and severe forms of the disease, and these children make up about 20 per cent to 30 per cent of eczema patients, said Associate Professor Mark Koh, head and senior consultant at the hospital's dermatology department.

At NSC, Dr Yew Yik Weng, a senior consultant dermatologist and consultant-in-charge of the Eczema Clinic, said the number of eczema cases at the centre has remained largely steady but the number of moderate to severe eczema cases could have risen slightly.

It handled more than 14,000 new eczema cases in the year ended March 31, 2023.

From various epidemiology studies NSC has performed, moderate and severe cases made up about 25 per cent of all eczema cases, of which 15 per cent are moderate and 10 per cent are severe, added Dr Yew.

The doctors said genetics, and Singapore's heat and humidity, are the likeliest causes of eczema here.

"Dust mite allergy also contributes significantly. Dust mites thrive in humid environments. In general, heat, sweat and dust make up the most common triggers and aggravating factors of eczema in Singapore," said Dr Yew.

Besides environmental factors, moderate to severe cases could be attributed to immune dysregulation in these patients, he added.