Eczema In Children

Causes Of Eczema

Hey parents, please do not get freaked out if your child has eczema. Many babies, children and even teenagers get it too. This means they have dry, sensitive skin and get itchy, red, scaly patches on their skin. Guess what, most children will grow out of eczema by their teenage years.

Eczema tends to run in families and it has a genetic basis. It might even flare up if your child came in contact with viral or bacterial infections. It also can be caused by irritating chemicals in soaps (choose your skin care products wisely). It can be worse too when your child is stressed or gets too hot. Do not let them exposed to animal fur and dust mites as well.

Spot These Symptoms On Your Children

It’s very easy to spot eczema on kids, it has a very red, scaly and looks like red patches on skin. It is visible on their elbows, behind the knees, cheeks, necks, bodies, hands and feet.

It’s not really a persistent condition but it can flare up anytime even after a long symptom-free episode. Several environment factors can lead to this if the body has encountered a harmful substance, resulting in inflammation and worsening eczema symptoms.

Eczema Management On Children

Remember, eczema gets worse when the skin is dry. Applying suitable moisturizer on skin can stop it from drying out. Do not bath your child more than once in a day. Avoid giving your baby long hot baths. Use simple, fragrance-free moisturising bath products such as the one from Kath+Belle which are suitable for young children. Soaps is a big no. They’re too young to be using soaps because  it dries out the skin and can make the eczema worse.

Keep your kid’s fingernails short to prevent scratching, which can damage the skin and lead to further inflammation and infections. Always keep them cool. No excessive sweating by wearing too much clothes but do not let them get exposed in an air conditioned environment too.

When To See Doctor About It?

If the rashes did not get better talk to a pediatric immediately.  If the rash doesn’t get better after following the suggestions above, the doctor might suggest you to try some mild topical medical steroids. Be sure to give the doctor a call if your child has a fever or other signs of an infection or when you think your child’s eczema is caused by a food allergy, but you can’t find out which food is the problem.