Eczema
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a common skin condition.
The skin usually looks dry or red and is itchy. Sometimes the areas of affected
skin can become cracked and weeping.
Eczema usually begins early in childhood. Babies are usually affected with
a rash on the face. Toddlers and older children may have a rash on the skin
creases around the knees, wrists, elbows and ankles. In some children, the
rash can cover most of the body.
● The severity of the rash varies from day to day.
● Some days will be worse than others.
● This is part of the condition and is not caused
by bad care.
● Most children grow out of eczema by six years
of age.
● A small number of children have severe eczema
which continues into adulthood. Eczema is not contagious.
What Causes Eczema?
The cause is not known, but if
members of your family have eczema, asthma or hay fever, it is more likely
that your child will have eczema. Some children with eczema also develop
asthma or hayfever.
Eczema can be brought on by a variety of factors such as mites in house
dust, plant pollens, pets, foods, chemicals and clothing materials.
Some children only get eczema when they travel to other climates or countries.
Other Infections and Eczema
Sometimes patches of eczema will
get infected and your child may need antibiotics. A person with a cold sore
on their lip should never kiss a child with eczema.
What You Can Do
● Avoid Things That Irritate the Skin
Your child's eczema may react to different things that irritate the skin,
such as:
● Dribbling, or food around the mouth.
● Prickly materials, such as woollen or acrylic
jumpers or car seat covers.
● Detergents, soaps, bubble baths or antiseptics.
● Contact with pets.
Keep the Skin Moisturised
A moisturiser can be used as
often as necessary. Moisturiser will be needed for some children once a
day, for others several times a day. A mild moisturiser or bath oil can
be used instead of soap in the bath.
Medicine, Creams and Ointments
Sometimes the itch and redness
are still there even after avoiding things that irritate the skin and using
regular moisturiser. Your doctor may prescribe one ointment for the most
irritated areas of the body, and a weaker ointment for the milder patches
or delicate areas, like the face.
What Can I Do about My Child's Itch?
Try to control itching, because scratching makes the eczema worse and can cause infection. Avoid saying ‘stop’ to your child when they are scratching. Instead, try:
● Distracting your child when they are scratching.
● Avoiding overheating your child, particularly
in bed or on long car trips.
● Using moisturising cream (which is kept cool in
the fridge) before going to bed.
● Using cotton one-piece pyjamas and mittens.
● Using clothes with smooth, natural fibres next
to the skin, such as cotton.
● Rinsing clothes well after washing to reduce possible
chemical irritation, and using pure soap rather than detergents and fabric
softeners.
● Using medicines prescribed by your doctor to relieve
the itching.
Common Questions about Eczema
● Will
the treatments cure eczema?
No. Eczema can be well controlled in most children by looking after the
skin as suggested. This does not mean the eczema is cured. For many children,
good skin care and some cortisone treatment will need to be continued for
many years.
● Will
changing my child's diet help?
Some children get red rashes quickly after eating a particular food. If
you notice this in your child, remove that food from your child's diet.
However, particular foods do not seem to make a difference to the rash for
most children.
●
Can my child have all the usual vaccinations?
Virtually all children with eczema, even those who have allergies, may have
all their vaccinations in the normal way (including measles immunisation).
● Can
my child go swimming?
Yes. Your child should shower soon after swimming if the chlorine or the
swimming seems to worsen the eczema. If needed, you can apply moisturiser
before and after swimming.
● For further information
Your doctor / A skin specialist referred by your doctor.
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