Diagnosing eczema is not easy. Although itching is the most common symptom, there is no specific test for detecting eczema. Instead, a combination of recent medical history, family history and physical examination is needed to determine if you have eczema, so it's important to report any symptoms to your doctor.
How Common Is Eczema?
Eczema is primarily a childhood disease. In fact, up to 1 in 5 school-age children in Singapore has atopic eczema.* It is also more common among the Chinese and Malays as compared to other races. The good news is that many children with eczema eventually grow out of it, though they may always have sensitive, dry skin.
* Source: Epidemiology / Health Services Research 2001
