It’s the skin condition that affects thousands of Australians on a daily basis. Experts are calling for more awareness about a rising epidemic.

Brittany Butler reports.

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Winter’s called ‘the scratching season’.

Eczema, the culprit, is most recognisable by red, inflamed skin and bad itching.

Sufferers struggle to manage it.

Cheryl Talent, Eczema Assoc. of Australasia: “Yelling at someone not to scratch, you may as well say don’t breathe. So, what we need to do is get on top of that itch.”

Certain foods, like dairy, citrus, wheat products or eggs can set off Eczema outbreaks.

And, the skin of toddlers is most prone to external triggers.

Cheryl Talent, Eczema Assoc. of Australasia: “Don’t feel stressed because your child has eczema, just deal with it and try to treat them as a normal kid on a day-to-day basis.”

Australia has one of the highest incidences of Eczema in the world.

One in three Australians will suffer from eczema, and winter is one of the worst times for flare-ups with changing temperatures and dry winds.

Current treatment options, include creams and antibiotics.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, a new injectable treatment will be on the market by the end of the year.

Cheryl Talent, Eczema Assoc. of Australasia: “Just go about your daily life and not let eczema run you.”

Brittany Butler, QUT News.