Atopic eczema affects 2.3% of the U.K. population.

We have carried out a community study in a semi-rural area to assess its economic impact.

One hundred and fifty-five patients with atopic eczema were identified and expenditure was assessed over a 2-month period.

The mean personal cost to the patient was £25.90, while the mean cost to the health service was £16.20.

There were 58 lost working days and 17 lost school days.

A cohort of 10 severely affected patients attending the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh were studied ; each patient spent, on average, £325 in 2 months, and lead to a mean health service expenditure per patient of £415, in 2 months.

If these results were extrapolated to the U.K. population, the annual personal cost to patients with atopic eczema would be £297m, the cost to the health service would be £125m, and the annual cost to society of lost working days would be £43m, making the total expenditure on atopic eczema £465m.