How to treat eczema in kids?

How to treat eczema in kids?

The new age moms are aware, fussy, worried and want the best for their child. Their heightened sense of awareness about their child’s discomfort and picking on the early signs of an infection or disease helps the paediatric dermatologist in treating the child immediately.  This blog of mine is an attempt to help parents understand that while it is normal to feel guilty and overwhelmed at your child’s itchiness and scratching, understanding the causes of it and how to care for these inflammation will help you make your baby feel better. 

What is eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition in which one tends to feel the need to itch and scratch the skin,  turning it red, dry, bumpy, and irritated in the process. Eczema are of several types however the most common is atopic dermatitis and is often interchangeable for many people. Contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis are the most common types of eczema that affect children. Eczema affects kids between the ages of six months to five years old and it is not contagious.
 

What causes eczema?

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason that causes eczema. However, researchers believe that children develop eczema because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. Flare ups or inflammation of eczema are caused by the external factors that triggers the immune system skin cells to react in an untoward manner. Children with a family history of atopic dermatitis, asthma, or hay fever (known as the atopic triad) are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis.

What are the symptoms of eczema?

The symptoms of eczema are prominent and visible. A child who develops eczema will have red, weepy, dry rashes on the face. It usually starts on the face and then progresses to other parts of the body like the scalp, arms, legs and behind the ears. In children eczema is most commonly noticed in creases around the knees, wrists, elbows and ankles. 

Eczema rashes are extremely itchy to the point that it might not help your child bat an eyelid and get rest. However, the severity of the symptoms in eczema do not stay the same throughout. Parents may notice that the child’s condition is mild on one day and flares up the other.  Therefore, it is important to know how to control the flare ups and what causes them in the first place to keep things under control.

What triggers eczema in kids?

Look out for these common things to ensure your child does not have an inflammation that puts him at a point of discomfort. 

• Wash your child’s skin softly with water. 

• Avoid harsh soaps and chemicals that can flare the condition. Use mild cleanser preferably fragrant free.

• Dab a towel lightly to pat dry and apply moisturizer immediately to avoid drying up of skinn

• Avoid prickly materials and try loose clothing that does not stick to the body to avoid excessive sweating 

• Allergens should be kept at bay. Make sure to take your child to a nearby skin doctor to know the things your child is allergic to.

What are the treatments for eczema? 

There is no cookie cut approach to treat eczema in kids because there is not a permanent treatment for it. However, it is important to visit a skin doctor near you for your child to control the severity of eczema and avoid triggers that cause discomfort. With sustainable efforts from parents and the dermatologist, it has been noticed that an effective treatment plan can be worked which will help the child to live comfortably.