Eczema is an itchy, noncontagious inflammation of the skin. In most cases, eczema begins as intense itching, followed by a patchy skin rash that is red, inflamed, dry and scaly. Eczema is often hereditary and may be found in other family members. People who suffer from severe eczema often also have hay fever or asthma, or have family members who do.

Several different triggers for eczema have been identified including cold weather. Research conducted by scientists at the University of Oslo suggests children with eczema living in a subarctic/temperate climate may benefit from spending time in warmer conditions.

During the study, a group of children (aged 4 to 13) with severe eczema were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group, composed of 30 children, spent four weeks on the island of Grand Canary (a subtropical climate), while the other group of 26 control subjects remained in Norway (a subarctic/temperate climate). The researchers then evaluated the children for three months after the trip to assess the severity of symptoms.

After reviewing the data, the researchers found that symptoms improved significantly at one month and three months in the children who went to Grand Canary, while the children who remained in Norway experienced much less improvement.

These findings suggest that children with eczema may benefit from exposure to subtropical climates.

This study appears in the December 2006 issue of Allergy.

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