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If you child has especially dry skin, it can be due to eczema, and it’s advisable to get a suitable treatment plan from you GP or a paediatrician to manage the condition. This may include anti-inflammatory creams to help bring you child’s skin microbiome back into balance. It is also important a medical professional is seen to rule out any other conditions, and to check for signs of an eczema infection.
About eczema
Our skin is covered in trillions of bugs, or micro-organisms, that keep us healthy. When the skin biome is out of balance, bad bacteria can take over, and it can become inflamed leading to common rash conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition. It often affects babies and children and usually disappears by adolescence. Eczema causes discomfort – causing itchy, scaly, red patches of skin which can sometimes become cracked, weepy, and then scab over.
People who suffer from eczema have skin that do not keep moisture in well, and this causes dryness and irritation. Chemicals are then released by the body which make people feel itchy, so they scratch the area which only leads to more itching, causing the problem to worsen.
Unfortunately, there is no cure. It is important to manage the condition though to avoid infection and long-term scarring.
Signs and symptoms
Babies with eczema usually have a red, dry rash on their face, scalp, body, arms, lets or behind their ears. The itchy rash can keep them awake at night.
Often in toddlers and older children, the eczema rash is in skin creases around the knees, wrists, elbows, and ankles. In some children the rash can cover their body.
Managing the condition as soon as there is a flare up is important for avoid a secondary bacterial or viral skin infection. Weepy, crusted, and broken areas of eczema are signs of a secondary infection.
Eczema triggers
The cause of eczema is unknown however it is likely genetics and environmental triggers have a role. The gene filaggrin has been linked to eczema, which is a defect that reduces the skin’s ability to repair itself after injury.
If someone in your family has eczema, asthma, or hay fever, then it is more likely your child will have eczema. They may develop asthma or hay fever too.
Other triggers include:
- Skin dryness
- Becoming overheated with blankets, clothing, heaters
- Irritation from soaps, fabrics, detergents, or other chemicals
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Environmental allergens like dust mites, animal fur or plant pollens
- Viruses (it is important not to let anyone with a cold sore kiss your baby as the eczema can get infected with the cold sore virus).
Managing eczema
The basic principle of eczema is excessive dryness of the skin. Therefore, a primary goal in managing eczema is to keep moisture in the skin.
- Keep skin moisturised: A thick, plain, fragrance-free moisturiser should be used as often as necessary, even when there is no eczema present. Bath oils or soap-free body wash (not plant based) should be used for bathing.
- Avoid things that irritate: Wash the skin with a soft, wet towel and apply thick moisturiser around the mouth after your baby eats or dribbles. Avoid bubble baths and soaps, detergents, etc. If you think your child could be allergic to an environmental allergen like dust mites, pollen or pet fur take them to an allergist.
- Keep your child cool: Heat is a common eczema trigger so keep your child cool by dressing them in cotton clothes, using cotton blankets or sheets instead of doonas and ensure their baths are not overheated.
- Manage itching: Soft, cool, wet towels can be applied to the itchy area for 5-10 minutes and apply a thick layer of moisturiser afterward. Keep your child’s nails short and clean and try to distract them from itching. Mineral salt sprays can also be helpful (available at chemists) for immediate itch relief.
- Diet: Sometimes food allergies and diet can trigger eczema in children. It is important to see a doctor, paediatrician, allergist, or dietician before restricting anything from your child’s diet. For some more great tips on managing eczema, visit the Eczema Awareness Week website.
If home treatments are not effective, steroid creams might be prescribed for short-term reduction of skin inflammation. A cortisone-based cream or ointment may also be recommended. Cortisone is a natural hormone produced by the body. Your health professional will also be able to advise you on how best to manage scabs if they are better removed for ointment penetration.
Children are also sometimes prescribed antibiotics if a child’s eczema has developed a bacterial infection and special bleach baths might be advised.
If you have any questions about your child’s skin health or any concerns, please contact us on (07) 3184 6437 to make an appointment.
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