The Irish Skin Foundation (ISF) is calling for a reduction on the VAT charged on certain products that are necessary for people affected eczema.

Eczema is a group of skin complaints that can affect all age groups and can occur anywhere on the body. Around one in 20 adults are affected.

The most common type is atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis). This is a chronic and often painful inflammation of the skin. It results in an itchy, scaly, weepy red rash and is very widespread in the Irish population.

According to the ISF, the condition can prove to be a financial burden due to the number and/or volume of products that are needed. For example, medical moisturisers, known as emollients, may have to be applied to large parts of the body as often as six times a day.

However currently, medical cards and the Drug Payment Scheme do not cover the full spectrum of eczema treatments.

Under the Drug Payment Scheme, an individual or family in Ireland pays no more than €144 each month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances.

"While aqueous cream (a soap substitute), emulsifying ointment and Silcock's base (moisturiser), steroid creams and ointments are covered on the medical card, no other products are covered by either a medical card or the Drug Payment Scheme," explained David McMahon of the ISF.

He said that this leaves those affected with a ‘very limited range of products to choose from' and excludes many other products that could help.

He pointed out that the current VAT rate on products such as sun protection creams, wet wraps, dressings and protective clothing is 23%, and the high cost of over-the-counter moisturisers means that some patients can only use them sparingly.

"The high cost of treatments leads to under use as patients and carers use expensive products sparingly. If you don't have a medical card and buy your treatments through the Drug Payment Scheme, some steroids creams and ointments can be extremely expensive and, if you have a bad eczema flare for instance, you may be using quite a lot of cream or ointment on large parts of your body twice a day," Mr McMahon noted.

He said that this is particularly an issue when it comes to emollients that may need to be applied several times a day. Only a limited standard product range is covered by the medical card and Drug Payment Scheme and these may not suit all patients.

If patients give up standard products because they do not work, they often cannot afford to try other branded products. Instead, they may end up using more steroid creams because they are available on the medical card and Drug Payment Scheme, but this can lead to steroid overuse.

"Added to this, neither the medical card nor the Drug Payment Scheme cover the costs of bandages, dressings, wet wraps, special clothing or sun protection creams. All of these are subsidised in the UK and we need a similar measures in Ireland," Ms McMahon insisted.

The ISF is calling on the Government and the HSE to recognise eczema patients' out-of-pocket expenses. It wants the HSE to revise and expand the list of eczema products available under the medical card and Drug Payment Scheme. It is also calling for a reduction in VAT for dressings, ointments, emollients and sun creams.

For more information on the ISF, click here