Atopic dermatitis, also known as Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, believed to be caused by the body’s autoimmune response leading to uncontrolled scratching and eventually, the development of infection in the affected areas.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema and is currently an incurable chronic immune-mediated systemic disease with a debilitating effect on 2 - 10% of adults, and 20% of children worldwide.

Caring for children affected by atopic eczema can be all-encompassing; it affects individuals, personal relationships, decreases psychosocial functioning, brings sleep loss for victims and family members. The condition engenders grief and a feeling of helplessness in dealing with the patient’s physical pain and suffering. Not to mention the cost implication in managing flare ups and other related factors emanating from this chronic condition.

In adults, atopic eczema may result in work absence or decreased work productivity for patients.

Family members of affected children find their lives disrupted and affected–often profoundly.

In young school-going children and adults, Eczema can lead to serious psychological effects leading to low self-esteem affecting their overall performance and functioning in school and society. 

Being a hereditary condition, more than one family member may be affected by Eczema making it very costly to manage.

Dry dehydrated skin flakes and opens up allowing dirty and other allergens from the environment into the outer layer of the skin causing irritation and resulting in a rash.

Eczema management’s goal is to ensure that the skin is not dry as this may lead to irritation and itching that can result in infection. Besides emollients as moisturizers, other categories of medication are also required to treat inflammation, secondary infections, irritations, etc.

For those whose triggers are diet-related, families are forced to find special diets for the affected excluding commonly available foodstuffs hence increasing the cost of living for many households.

Effective management of atopic Eczema is very expensive and way out of reach for most Kenyan families. 

Eczema treatment and management medical products may not be covered by health insurance leaving the victims and their families struggling to meet the costs of special bed linen, clothes, and foodstuff. 

A regular cream/emollient for eczema management costs are ranging from Ksh.1800.00 to Ksh.3500.00 depending on the brand and pack size.

Emollients are non-cosmetic moisturizers that form an occlusive oily film on the skin helping the skin hydrate and prevent water loss. Unlike cosmetic moisturizers, they are not perfumed and have no anti-aging or skin color-changing ingredients.

It is for this reason that Eczema Society of Kenya, a member support organization for persons living with Eczema, together with its partners, members, and friends seek to petition the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health, to lift the taxes on skin emollients, creams/ointments that are used in the management of eczema and other dry skin conditions.

It is unfortunate that these emollients that Eczema patients have to use for a long duration of time if not for life are classified by KRA as Cosmetics and therefore attract high taxes on importation pushing the price beyond the reach of many. This leads to patients seeking ineffective but affordable preparations that worsen and damage their already sensitive skin.  

It will help many Eczema patients and their families access the right emollients for their conditions if the government would zero rates these creams as is with other medicines. 

This will, in the end, help children and adults living with Eczema live better and more productive lives since emollients have to be applied frequently on daily basis to prevent flare-ups.

As is with other chronic diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Renal disease, etc. whose medications are not taxed, Atopic dermatitis medications should not be an exception.