Eczema and Dermatitis Treatment in Dubai
Eczema is a skin barrier that leaks moisture and lets irritants in, so the skin becomes dry, itchy and inflamed. It runs in families, flares with heat, sweat and harsh products, and is common in Dubai's air-conditioned dry indoor air. At Smart Care Polyclinic in Deira, a specialist dermatologist treats adults and children, with a plan for flares and a plan for in between.
For: dry, itchy, inflamed skin in adults and children
Takes: a 20-30 minute consultation
Price: consultation AED 125
What it is
Atopic eczema is a barrier problem before it is an inflammation problem. The outer layer of skin does not hold water well, so it dries, cracks and lets in irritants and allergens; the immune system responds and the skin itches, reddens and thickens. Scratching makes the barrier worse, which is the cycle treatment has to break.
Contact dermatitis looks similar but has a cause on the outside: an irritant such as detergent or frequent hand-washing, or an allergy to something touching the skin, such as nickel, fragrance or hair dye. Telling the two apart changes the advice, which is what the consultation is for.
The 2023 American Academy of Dermatology guideline strongly recommends moisturisers, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and the newer topical PDE-4 and JAK inhibitors, and recommends against topical antibiotics, antiseptics and antihistamines for routine use.1 In practice that means a plan with two parts: a moisturiser used every day whether or not the skin looks fine, and an anti-inflammatory used at the first sign of a flare.
What makes eczema worse in Dubai
Air conditioning dries the air; heat and sweat irritate the skin; chlorinated pools and hard water strip it. Short lukewarm showers, a fragrance-free wash, moisturiser applied within minutes of drying, and cotton next to the skin do more than most prescriptions. Where a flare will not settle with that and a steroid cream, the dermatologist looks for infection, an allergy that needs patch testing, or a case that needs stronger treatment.
Are steroid creams safe?
Used correctly, yes, and the guideline recommends them. The problems people fear come from using a strong steroid on the face for months, not from a short course of the right strength on the right area. The dermatologist matches the strength to the site, tells you how much and for how long, and moves to a non-steroid alternative for delicate areas or long-term control.
The consultation, and what follows from it
Dermatology consultation
Assessment, examination and a plan with every cost stated before anything further is done.
AED 125
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Questions patients ask
Atopic eczema is controlled rather than cured; many children grow out of it and most adults can keep it quiet with a daily routine and prompt treatment of flares. Contact dermatitis can resolve completely once the cause is identified and avoided.
Yes. Childhood eczema is one of the commonest reasons to see the dermatologist here, and treatment is chosen for the child's age and the area affected.
Only where the pattern suggests contact allergy, for example eczema on the hands, eyelids or under jewellery. Patch testing is arranged by referral where it will change the advice; see the patch-testing guide.
This guide is general information about a condition, not a diagnosis. Skin conditions overlap, and what looks like one thing is often another; the dermatologist's examination is what decides your treatment.
References
- Sidbury R, Alikhan A, Bercovitch L, et al.. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis in adults with topical therapies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2023;89(1):e1-e20. PMID 36641009. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.12.029Strong recommendations for moisturisers, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors and topical PDE-4 and JAK inhibitors; conditional recommendations against topical antimicrobials, antiseptics and antihistamines.
Sources are listed for the specific statements they support. They are published research and guidance, not a substitute for a consultation — what applies to you is decided by a doctor who has assessed you.