Vocabulary
Eczema 湿疹: A skin condition that makes the skin red and itchy.
Rash 皮疹: A change in the skin that causes redness or bumps.
Triggers 诱因: Things that can cause a problem or make a condition worse.
Allergies 过敏: Reactions of the body to certain foods or substances that can cause discomfort.
Moisturizer 保湿霜: A cream or lotion that helps keep the skin soft and hydrated.
Steroid cream 类固醇霜: A type of cream that reduces inflammation and itching.
Inflamed 发炎的: Swollen and red, often due to irritation or infection.
Infected 感染的: When bacteria or germs enter the body and cause illness in a part of the body.
Antibiotics 抗生素: Medicines that help treat infections caused by bacteria.
Manage 管理: To take care of or control something.
Cool 凉爽的: A lower temperature; not warm, which helps reduce itching.
Fingernails 指甲: The hard protective coverings on the tips of fingers.
Itchy 痒的: A feeling that makes you want to scratch your skin.
Listening
Reading
Parent: Can you tell me when your daughter started to get eczema?
Nurse: It started when she was about 6 months old.Parent: Where does she have the rash?
Nurse: It's mainly behind her knees. She also has a rash on the inside of her elbows.Parent: Is there anything that triggers the eczema? Anything that starts it off?
Nurse: Drinking milk gives her a rash. I think orange juice makes it worse too.
Nurse: Yes, both milk and juice are common triggers.Parent: Can you explain about eczema? I don't know much about it at all.
Nurse: It's a skin condition which seems to be linked to allergies, particularly food allergies like dairy products and citrus fruits.Parent: Oh, I see.
Nurse: Many people with eczema are sensitive to wool and should only wear cotton clothes. They are often allergic to pets too.Parent: I see.
Nurse: How do you manage your daughter's eczema?
Parent: The doctor gave me some cream to use every day; it's like a moisturizer.
Nurse: That's good. When do you use the cream?
Parent: I put the cream on after she has a bath in the morning and last thing at night before she goes to bed.Nurse: Okay. Can you tell me how often you give your daughter a bath?
Parent: She has a bath every morning. I use special soap—unperfumed soap.
Nurse: Unperfumed soap is a good idea, but it would be better if your daughter didn't have a bath every day. What about a quick shower instead?
Parent: I suppose so.Nurse: Do you use any other creams on the rash?
Parent: Well, I'm supposed to use a steroid cream if her skin gets very red and inflamed, but I don't like to use it because I don't think it's safe.
Nurse: I can appreciate your concerns; however, the cream has a very small amount of steroid medication in it.
Parent: Oh, how often should I use it?
Nurse: It's a short-term treatment. Just use the steroid cream whenever her eczema flares up. It will stop your daughter itching so much that her skin bleeds.
Parent: Oh dear, that's what happened. Her skin was so itchy that she scratched it until it started to bleed. Now it looks infected.
Nurse: Yes, she may need some antibiotics to clear the infection.Parent: I see.
Nurse: There are some things you can do at home to make your daughter's eczema easier to manage. One thing which helps is to keep your daughter cool, especially at night. It makes it easier to sleep.
Parent: Okay.
Nurse: It would also be better if your daughter had fewer baths. A quick shower dries the skin less.
Parent: Oh, okay.
Nurse: Finally, it's a good idea to keep your daughter's fingernails short so she can't break the skin if she scratches.
Parent: Thanks, that's very helpful! I'll try those hints at home.
Quiz
