ACCEPT:

• If the area affected is small AND the venepuncture site is not affected AND the area is not infected AND the donor is using topical treatment only (not teratogenic)
• If on Phototheray/Light therapy with no side effects and no oral medication prescribed in conjunction with the treatment

DEFER:

• If the venepuncture site is affected
• If large areas of skin are affected
• If donor is taking steroid tablets, injections or applying steroid creams over large areas
• If donor has needed long term (six months or more) steroid treatment within the last 12 months
• If the affected areas are infected
• If the donor is taking immunosuppressive treatment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Eczema (also known as contact dermatitis) is a skin reaction due to sensitivity to substances that come into contact with the skin. It may involve both allergic and non-allergic processes. Because of damage to the skin, local infection is a common problem. For this reason the place where the needle goes in must not be affected.Steroid therapy in high doses causes immunosuppression. This may mask infective and inflammatory conditions that would otherwise prevent donation. Long term steroid therapy may also cause temporary adrenal dysfunction. A waiting period of 12 months from the last dose allows time for the adrenal glands to recover.Some of the treatments used to treat eczema can affect the immune system (e.g. azathioprine (Imuran®), ciclosporin, hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea, Hydrea®), mycophenolate (CellCept®)) and so can mask signs of infection. This is why systemic treatments (taken by mouth or injection and so affecting the whole body) requires a 12 month deferral period from the time the treatment stops. Under normal circumstances the use of topical treatment with steroid, tacrolimus (Protopic®) or pimecrolimus (Elide® ) will not result in blood levels which cause systemic suppression of the immune response. Systemic suppression is more likely if there is a skin barrier defect or high doses are used over large areas for extended periods. A large area of skin is defined as >9% (Wallace Rule of Nines). 1% is equal to the area of the closed digits and palm of the donor's hand