D”pliant eng. - Eczema Canada

Helping you take control of your
eczema
The Eczema Awareness, Support
and Education (EASE®) Program
What is the EASE Program?
The Eczema Awareness, Support and Education
(EASE) Program is a national and fully bilingual
patient education program developed with the
assistance of leading Canadian dermatologists to
provide access to useful and accurate information
about eczema. Supported through an educational
grant from Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., the EASE
Program has been recognized with four Public
Education Awards from the Canadian Dermatology
Association (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007).
Why an education program?
It is widely believed that individuals who are
knowledgeable about their medical condition will
have better results when making the effort to
manage their health and well-being.
Eczema can have a profound impact on the lives
of patients and family members. Understanding
the triggers and making certain lifestyle changes
can help alleviate the discomfort and frustration
associated with eczema.
Patients often complain about the many side-effects
experienced with eczema treatment, which may
cause them to stop taking their medications.
However, by learning about the benefits of innovative treatment options and the importance of
following a daily treatment program, patients can
enjoy a far better quality of life.
The EASE Program offers parents insight on
dealing with the issues that affect young children
with eczema, which include coping with low
self-esteem, managing sleepless nights and
preventing infection.
What is eczema?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common, chronic
and recurring skin condition that causes inflammation
deep in the skin. Signs and symptoms include
dry, itchy skin and redness that may appear
when the body reacts to environmental elements
that would normally be harmless. Eczema tends to
run in families and usually appears in children
before the age of five.
The exact cause of eczema is unknown; but it
has been linked to environmental, genetic and
immunologic factors, or triggers. Eczema symptoms
can flare when these triggers come into contact
with the skin. For example, the immune system
may try to fight off common house dust mites or
pollen allergens, causing the skin to become red,
itchy and inflamed. In some cases, the itching and
redness are so intense that sufferers scratch
themselves until they bleed, increasing the risk of
secondary infection.
Emotional factors such as stress can also influence
and worsen the condition. Visible eczema
flare-ups can lead to low self-esteem and difficulty
interacting with others, which is particularly stressful
for children and teenagers. The severe itching
associated with eczema can also interfere with
sleep, making it difficult for sufferers to stay alert
or function well during the day.
What does eczema look like?
Mild Eczema
Moderate Eczema
Severe Eczema
Eczema symptoms can vary from one person to
another. In milder cases, the skin may be hot, dry
and itchy. In more severe cases, the skin may
crack, bleed, ooze and become raw.
Facts about eczema
• Over two million Canadians suffer from
• eczema.
• Since 1970, the incidence of eczema has
• nearly tripled.
• Twelve to 25 per cent of children and 10
• to 15 per cent of adults suffer from eczema
• in Canada.
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Although some children may eventually
outgrow eczema, about 80 per cent will
have dry, irritable skin throughout their
lives.
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Help is available. Greater public awareness,
together with new medical research and
better treatment options, can make a
difference in the lives of eczema sufferers.
Winner of the 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2007
CDA Public Education Awards
To learn more about eczema,
please visit our website at
www.eczemacanada.ca
© 2007 Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are owned by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.
How is eczema treated?
Although there is no cure for eczema, there are
several treatment options, including :
•
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Topical corticosteroids (cortisone creams)
Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs)
Phototherapy
Antibiotics
Antihistamines
Prescription treatments play an important role in
the management of eczema. For many years,
doctors have relied primarily on corticosteroids
to treat eczema. However, significant medical
advances have resulted in the development of
topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), the newest
class of eczema therapy. Steroid-free TCIs target
the inflammatory process that is involved in
eczema, rather than only treating the symptoms.
They prevent cells in the immune system from
“switching on” and releasing chemicals that
cause the inflammation and itching associated
with eczema. Speak to your family doctor or
dermatologist about the various available
treatment options.
If you have already been prescribed medication,
be sure to carefully follow the directions for use.
You should also ask your dermatologist if there are
any specific programs that are available to help
you use your medication properly. Continue to
talk with your doctor about your treatment goals
so that, together, you can set realistic expectations
about when you can expect to see results, better
understand potential side-effects and find the
medication that is right for you.
Eczema self-test
• Do you have a red, itchy rash anywhere on your
body?
• Does this rash come and go?
• Did these symptoms begin in early childhood?
• Does the itch interfere with your sleep or other
daily activities?
• Do you have frequent skin infections?
• Does hay fever or asthma run in your family?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions,
see your family doctor or dermatologist for advice.
Take control of your eczema
There are two important factors in keeping your
eczema under control: a good daily skin care
program and regular use of a medication suited to
your particular needs.
You can protect your skin by generously applying a
good-quality bland moisturizer designed for sensitive
skin several times a day. You should also avoid any
irritants that might trigger an eczema flare-up.
Soaps, detergents or fabric softeners, abrasive
clothing, perfume, carpet fibres and dust mites
may bring on eczema signs and symptoms. Know
your triggers and avoid them whenever possible.
Be part of the EASE Program!
I would like to be part of the EASE Program in
order to receive new information and helpful tips
on eczema (Your personal information is held in
strict confidence. Please refer to the privacy
statement outlined on the EASE Program website
at www.eczemacanada.ca)!
Please let us know how you would like to
receive information from the EASE Program :
By email:
__________________________________________
(please provide a valid email address)
By regular mail:
Full
name:
__________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________
City/Town:
__________________________________________
Province:
__________________________________________
Postal
Code:
__________________________________________
Telephone:
__________________________________________
Fax:
__________________________________________
I would like to receive:
Eczema: It’s time to take control –
a comprehensive booklet on all aspects of eczema
But it itches so much! – a brochure intended for
parents of children with eczema
The Eczaminer – a newsletter providing current
news and tips
Other, specify:
__________________________________________
I heard about the EASE Program from:
This pamphlet
My dermatologist
My family doctor
My pharmacist
www.eczemacanada.ca
News media
General internet search
Friend/relative
Consumer show/health exhibit:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Other, specify:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Tell us more:
I have been diagnosed with eczema
My child has been diagnosed with eczema
I think I have eczema
I think my child has eczema
I am a dermatologist
I am a GP/FP
I am a nurse
I am a pharmacist
Other, specify:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
The information that I have given can be
provided to Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. to assist
with the development of the EASE Program (Please
refer to the privacy statement outlined on the
EASE Program website at www.eczemacanada.ca).
Please allow several weeks to receive the information
you requested.
PRT0208062EN