Children with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, tend to get extremely dry, itchy skin patches.
The itching part of the skin can irritate and interfere with sleep, making your child uncomfortable.
Furthermore, scratching can cause the rashes to get infected. While no known cure for eczema exists, the condition can be managed so your child feels better. There are also other ways to help your child avoid eczema intensifying.
What Causes Eczema?
How a child’s immune system reacts to things is different. Eczema is common among many kids and can also be because of genes, such as having family members who have it.
Children with eczema may have asthma, and some types of allergies, such as hay fever, animal dander, dust, pollen, or other things, might be the trigger.
They are also called atopic conditions that affect kids who are overly sensitive to environmental allergens.
How To Manage The Symptoms Of Eczema For Kids?
1. Dryness:
Children with eczema have skin damaged due to patchiness, which also means insufficient water in that part. As a result, the skin becomes dry and cracked, is more likely to get infected, and dry skin gets itchy. Hence, gentle skin care daily is important to improve the skin barrier.
Which includes:
- Bathing your child daily for 5-10 minutes in lukewarm water. No soap is needed, but fragrance-free soap in humid climates can be used on the skin.
- While bathing your child, avoid using bubble baths and harsh scrubbing.
- Lightly pat your child’s skin with a hundred percent soft cotton towel, and if your doctor has recommended rash cream, then apply it before using any other cream.
- After the rash cream, apply a moisturizer to the whole body immediately after bathing while your child’s skin is still moist; this helps to lock in the moisture of the water. The creamier the moisturizer, the better it will work. Ointments such as petroleum jelly or fragrance-free moisturizing creams are suitable.
- Lastly, dress your child in soft fabrics in 100% cotton. Use fragrance-free laundry detergents and avoid fabric softeners and other products that contain scents.
2. Reduce The Itch:
Try to stop your child from scratching as much as possible, especially with long nails; that is why it is suggested to keep your child’s nails small since scratching can make the skin feel even more tingling. This could also lead to open sores, leading to skin infections. Making them wear cotton gloves at night can also be helpful.
3. Oral Medication:
These include anti-allergy medicines to prevent itchiness on your child’s skin so they can sleep better at night.
Other Types of Treatment A Doctor Might Recommend Can Include:
- Phototherapy: treatment with ultraviolet light.
- Wet wraps: damp cloths placed on eczema.
- Bleach baths: bathing in a significantly diluted bleach solution called sodium hypochlorite.
Do Children Get Away With Eczema?
For some kids, eczema starts to go away by age 4 to 6, and some children may continue to have dry, sensitive skin as they grow up. However, since eczema is an ongoing skin problem, it is important to continue your regular routine for your child’s gentle skin, using daily moisturizers to minimize unforeseen flares and infections.
Summing Up
Eczema can be annoying for your children, especially when itching, making it difficult for them to sleep. Your pediatrician and dermatologist should help you manage your child’s eczema symptoms with a suitable treatment plan and a supple skin maintenance routine.
For further information, visit our website at Family Diagnostic Clinic or contact us at 281-351-6800.