Wow, came across this story today in the BBC:

The incidence of eczema is increasing dramatically in England, data suggests.

…

It showed that by 2005, one in nine of the population had, at some point, been affected by eczema.

The highest rate was in boys aged between five and nine.

Prescriptions increased by 57% over the five-year study period and in 2005, GPs issued 13.7m scripts.

…

He added that it is likely that a proportion of individuals have a genetic predisposition to develop eczema but that environmental factors also play a large part, and it is these which are likely to be causing the increase.

“The environmental factors are frequency of bathing and use of soaps and detergents.”

“We do know there has been a huge rise in allergic disease of all sorts and what I would like to think is we’re seeing some small signs of people concentrating their minds on eczema.”

“Water use dries up the skin and soaps and detergents degrease the skin”

Source of this story is BBC News/ Health – Eczema on the Rise.