The NHS has approved a new eczema pill that has been found to clear people's skin in a week.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending the pill to help those who have previously had difficulty finding an effective eczema treatment.

Doctors will be able to prescribe the new treatment to people over 12 with a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema), meaning the condition affects at least 10 per cent of the body.

Consultant dermatologist at Barts Health NHS Trust, Dr Padma Mohandas has praised the new treatment.

She told the Daily Mail: “Eczema is a common problem but in some cases it’s not easy to treat. In the worst cases it’s a debilitating disease that leaves patients feeling embarrassed, socially isolated and, in extreme circumstances, suicidal,”

“With these new drugs we can offer them hope that their skin will get better, which is life-changing.”

According to the NHS, eczema is a “condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked”. The most common form of eczema, known as atopic eczema, is more often found in children, usually developing before they turn one. However it can also develop in adults. Eczema can affect any part of the body, most commonly hands, backs of knees and the insides of elbows.

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