A new study conducted by Edinburgh University has discovered that 5.8 million people in England were suffering with eczema in 2005 – a 42% increase since 2001.

Researchers involved in the study have warned this figure is set to rise further. Eczema is now one of the most common skin conditions with environmental factors such as detergents and bathing lotions seen as a contributory factor.

Eczema is also a condition that can typically be an indicator of the development of other allergic reactions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the study also discovered that one in nine people had in some point of the lives been affected by eczema with the highest rates among children aged 5-9.

The five-year study found that 13.7 million prescriptions for the condition had been written by GPs – a 57% increase. Researchers said that the findings of the study could be attributed to better diagnosis and awareness of the eczema but more plausibly could be down to genuine increases due to health implications.

Learn more about eczema and the natural therapies that can help this skin condition here

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