You’re invited to a talk organised by the West Surrey and North East Hants Support Group of National Eczema Society at 2pm on Saturday 24 February 2024.
Our speaker, Dr Alpa Kanji, will be explaining how habit reversal therapy combined with topical treatments can help people with eczema break the habitual itch-scratch cycle. Dr Kanji is a dermatologist working at St John’s Institute of Dermatology in London and she teaches habit reversal therapy.
The event is being held at The Pavilion Woodbridge Road, (next to the cricket ground) in Guildford GU1 4RP. Entry is free but donations are very welcome. National Eczema Society literature will be available.
The talk is also being filmed and can be viewed online live and later on National Eczema Society’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/eczemasociety. You don’t need a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
Dr Alpa Kanji MA PhD (Cantab) MRCP CCT (Derm) is a scientist by background, having researched bacterial genetics for which she was awarded a PhD at the University of Cambridge. She completed her medical and dermatology training in London and is currently undertaking a fellowship in paediatric dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology. Dr Kanji is particularly interested in atopic eczema, including the mind and skin connection, and is passionate about empowering patients to manage their skin condition as well as possible. She teaches habit reversal therapy, which encourages patients to change longstanding habits of scratching and picking their skin.
Wednesday 6 March, 6-7pm
Register for the webinar here.
Partnering with St John’s DermAcademy, we’re excited to bring you a webinar on all things eczema itch! This webinar will cover the reasons behind eczema itch, exciting research developments and the most effective ways to manage this challenging eczema symptom.
The webinar will be livestreamed via Facebook and the recording will remain available to watch afterwards. To be able to participate in the webinar, however (for example, by asking questions), you would need to register in advance and join on Zoom.
Programme
6.00 Welcome and overview of the evening by Dr Satveer Mahil
6.05 ‘Why does eczema itch?’ by Dr Sarah Drummond, Senior Clinical Fellow
Dr Sarah Drummond explains why eczema is itchy, highlights exciting research developments in eczema itch and looks at new treatments that are in the pipeline.
6.20 ‘Top tips for managing eczema itch’ by Julie Van Onselen, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
Julie Van Onselen provides expert advice on how to manage itch, the best way to use creams and ointments, and how changes to your lifestyle and environment can help.
6.35 Panel discussion/Q&A
7.00 Close
Webinar speakers and chair
Dr Sarah Drummond
Senior Clinical Fellow in Medical Dermatology and Medical Education, St John’s Institute of Dermatology
Dr Sarah Drummond graduated from the University of Edinburgh and completed her training in dermatology within the West of Scotland. Her areas of interest include medical dermatology, in particular, immune mediated inflammatory diseases. She also has an interest in medical education and is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow. Currently, Sarah is the Senior Clinical Fellow in Medical Education and Medical Dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology.
Dr Satveer Mahil
Consultant Dermatologist
St John’s Institute of Dermatology
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Satveer Mahil is a Consultant Dermatologist at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Reader at King’s College London. She graduated from the University of Cambridge and completed integrated academic training (NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship and NIHR Clinical Lectureship) in Dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology. During her MRC-funded PhD, she used genetic information to gain novel insights into the mechanistic basis of different forms of psoriasis and define new therapeutic targets. After her PhD, she was awarded an MRC Clinical Academic Research Partnership Award and she currently holds an NIHR Advanced Fellowship. Her translational research seeks to optimise outcomes for individuals with inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis and eczema. She is director of St John’s DermAcademy (dermatology education academy).
Julie Van Onselen
Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
Julie is a Dermatology Lecturer Practitioner with 30 years’ experience in clinical dermatology, education and training. Julie works with many patient support groups, including National Eczema Society (NES), PAPAA and Ichthyosis Support Group. Julie is a clinical nurse adviser for NES and medical advisory board members. Julie is a health care writer and PCDS executive committee member. She is passionate about improving care in dermatology through educational initiatives for patients and health care professionals.
Other panellists
Dr Alpa Kanji, MA PhD (Cantab) MRCP CCT (Derm)
Dr Alpa Kanji is a scientist by background, having completed research in bacterial genetics for which she was awarded a PhD at the University of Cambridge. She completed her medical and dermatology training in London and is currently undertaking a fellowship in paediatric dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology. She has a particular interest in atopic dermatitis, including the mind and skin connection, and is passionate about empowering patients to manage their skin condition optimally. She also teaches Habit Reversal, which encourages patients to eradicate longstanding habits of scratching and picking their skin.
Arlene McGuire
Mpharm, PGDip CPP, Independent Prescriber
Specialist Pharmacist Dermatology & Allergy Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Arlene has been practicing hospital pharmacy for 13 years, and became a Specialist Dermatology & Allergy Pharmacist in 2013. Arlene has a special interest in psoriasis and immunotherapy, qualifying as an Independent Prescriber in this field. Arlene is a member of the BAD clinical guideline group and was involved in the update of the Guidelines for Biologic therapy in Psoriasis 2020. Arlene started a national network for pharmacists working within dermatology across the UK in the hope that this can be a platform to share expertise and best practice.
Andrew Proctor
Chief Executive of National Eczema Society
Andrew Proctor leads National Eczema Society as its Chief Executive. The charity provides information and advice for people with eczema and their families, raises awareness of the condition, supports research and campaigns for better care. Andrew contributes patient experience for a number of research projects, including the BEACON and BEACON-omics trials.
Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar on 14 September! We hope you found it helpful. If you didn’t attend, you can watch a recording of the webinar here.
Here is a list of the resources that were referred to in Dr Rukshana Ali’s talk:
Resources for children and adolescents:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- School Counsellors
- Young Minds
- The Mix (for under 25s)
- Papyrus UK (suicide prevention)
- Childline
- Headspace app
- Calm app
- Ninja Focus app
- Smiling Mind app
Resources for adults:
- NHS Talking Therapies
- Mind
- Samaritans
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Headspace app
- Calm app
- Smiling Mind app
More information on habit reversal can be found on this page. The book that was mentioned was The Eczema Solution by Sue Armstrong-Brown.
If you are interested in taking part in the Mind and Skin Project, please contact Dr Shona Cameron: Shona.Cameron@gstt.nhs.uk
Link to the Eczema SLEEP questionnaire for parents
Link to the Eczema SLEEP questionnaire for children and adolescents
Eczema and the mind-skin connection webinar
We’re delighted to be joining forces once again with St John’s DermAcademy to bring you a webinar during National Eczema Week 2023 with a focus on mental health and eczema. This webinar will cover the interface between mental health and eczema, how living with eczema can affect mood and how and where to access support. You will also hear an overview of the Mind-Skin project and the results of National Eczema Society’s Impact of Eczema survey – plus have the opportunity to ask questions!
The webinar will be livestreamed via Facebook and the recording will remain available to watch afterwards. To able to participate in the webinar, however, you would need to register in advance and join on Zoom.
Programme
6.00 Welcome and overview of the evening by Professor Carsten Flohr
6.05 ‘How eczema affects our emotional well-being’ by Dr Rukshana Ali
It is well known that eczema can impact on depression and anxiety. This talk will focus on the interface between mental health and eczema, how living with eczema can affect mood and how and where to access support.
6.25 ‘The Mind-Skin Project’ by Professor Carsten Flohr
The King’s College London ‘Mind & Skin’ programme led by Prof. Carsten Flohr examines the links between skin inflammation, itching, sleep and body clock disruption and potential inflammation in the brain. This includes detailed sleep studies and functional brain MRI testing, bringing together a team of dermatologists, sleep medicine, body clock and brain imaging experts as well as psychiatrists who specialise in the links between body and brain inflammation.
Professor Flohr talking about eczema and its impact on mental health and sleep disturbance in children.
6.30 Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive of National Eczema Society, will present the results of National Eczema Society’s Impact of Eczema survey.
6.35 Panel discussion/Q&A
7.00 Close
Webinar speakers
Dr Rukshana Ali
Clinical Psychologist, St John’s Institute of Dermatology and Evelina Children’s Hospital
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Rukshana Ali is the Clinical Psychologist within the Paediatric Dermatology team at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology. She is also a lead Clinical Psychologist within the Evelina Children’s Hospital trauma service. Dr Ali has 20 years of clinical experience and qualified with her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) from Royal Holloway, University of London. Dr Ali holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and is trained in several other therapy models.
Dr Ali sits on the Executive Committee for Psychodermatology UK. She is part of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology (BSPAD) Psychology Taskforce, developing guidelines around mental health monitoring and support for children and young people. Dr Ali works jointly with Dr Susannah Baron in leading the award winning Paediatric Psychodermatology service. Dr Ali has contributed to research, publications and conference presentations around the role of psychology and psychological wellbeing in dermatology.
Professor Carsten Flohr
St. John’s Institute of Dermatology
Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London
Professor Flohr holds the Chair in Dermatology and Population Health Science at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London, and is Head of Paediatric and Population-Based Dermatology Research.
Carsten Flohr studied at Cambridge and Oxford Universities and then trained in both paediatrics and dermatology.
He was the first UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinician Scientist in Dermatology (2009-2014) and the first dermatologist to be awarded a Career Development Fellowship from the NIHR (2014-2019).
He has a particular interest in novel methods of atopic dermatitis (AD) prevention (early life risk factors), how AD links in with food allergies and therapeutics, especially in severe AD.
He is Chief Investigator of the UK-Irish TREatment of severe eczema in children Trial (TREAT), which compares cyclosporine with methotrexate in children with recalcitrant atopic eczema. He is also Chief Investigator of the Softened water for eczema prevention trial (SOFTER) and the UK-Irish Atopic Eczema Systemic Therapy Register (A-STAR), as well as the EU-funded BIOMAP and Trans-Foods consortia.
Prof Flohr is a Founding Director of the International Eczema Council and Past President of the British Society of Paediatric Dermatology, as well as an Honorary Member of the Société Française de Dermatologie.
He is Co-Lead of the European (EuroGuiDerm/European Dermatology Forum) management guidelines for atopic dermatitis, Founding Editor of the Evidence-Based Dermatology Section of the British Journal of Dermatology and the Clinical Trials Editor of the F1000 Atopic Dermatitis Section.
Andrew Proctor
Chief Executive of National Eczema Society
Andrew joined National Eczema Society as Chief Executive in March 2018. He has worked in the voluntary sector for over 15 years, including spells with Asthma UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Action Medical Research. He believes passionately in people having the right information and advice to make informed choices about their health, and in supporting people to self-manage their health conditions effectively. Andrew has a particular interest in digital, which he sees as playing an increasingly important role in healthcare and in helping National Eczema Society reach more people affected by eczema. He is inspired by the Society’s many members, donors, partners and other stakeholders who work so hard to improve the quality of life for people with eczema.
Other panellists
The other webinar panellists will be Dr Susannah Baron, Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Naomi Kemp, GP and Dr Mark Turner, Clinical Psychologist.
You’re invited to a talk organised by the West Surrey and North East Hants Support Group of National Eczema Society at 2pm on Saturday 4 March.
This event has now taken place, and you can view the recording on Facebook.
Join the West Surrey and North East Hants Support Group of National Eczema Society for an Information Afternoon, where Professor Sinéad Langan, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will be delivering a talk and answering questions. In a study examining the health records of more than 3 million adults, there is evidence of a strong link between atopic eczema and the risk of bone fractures and cardiovascular disease.
Attend in person at The Pavilion, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
Or join via our Facebook livestream, here. You don’t need a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
Eczema is a common skin condition, affecting 1 in 5 children and up to 1 in 10 adults in the UK, and is becoming more common globally. Symptoms include intense itch, pain, sleeplessness and low self-esteem.
Entry is free but donations are very welcome. National Eczema Society literature will be available.