Eczema can be an uncomfortable skin condition for your child so it's best to know how you can treat and manage it.
While eczema affects people of all ages, it can be particularly distressing
when the condition affects a younger member of the family. In the
Philippines, eczema is a common issue among infants and children below 5
years of age. In fact, 2 to 3 of every 10 children suffer from it. And
despite this being a common skin condition, parents and guardians should
still take
eczema
seriously, as it can worsen without proper treatment.
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10 Skincare Tips On How To Treat Your Child's Eczema
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a non-infectious inflammatory skin condition that is characterized
by a red, flakey appearance and intense itch. The itchy sensation can make it
difficult to prevent children from scratching the affected site, and this can
lead to further irritation and skin infection.
The condition can be chronic and may flare up from time to time, and it can
sometimes be accompanied by hay fever or asthma. In addition to dealing with
discomfort, a child with eczema may also experience social difficulties and
feel limited when participating in school or community activities.
How to manage eczema
While there is no cure for eczema, the condition can be managed well to
prevent future outbreaks. Here are some skin care tips that parents and
guardians should take note of to avoid and control flare-ups:
1. Know the condition’s triggers
Preventing flare-ups is much easier and more comfortable for children than
managing itchiness and inflammation. As such, it’s always a good thing to be
aware of what causes eczema flare-ups.
While triggers can vary from one person to another, some of the most common
ones include sudden temperature and humidity changes, food allergies, heat,
stress, or chemicals in clothes and detergents.
2. Choose skincare products carefully
To keep eczema at bay, parents and children often need to use skincare
products to keep their skin properly moisturized. However, not just any lotion
or moisturizer will do.
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| Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels |
As much as possible, they should steer clear of skin products with strong
fragrances, as these can trigger eczema. And when choosing lotions, parents
should go for formulations that have an oilier texture and can maintain
moisture for a longer period of time.
3. Moisturize regularly
Protect the skin from sudden changes in heat and humidity by making a habit of
using moisturizing products regularly. Apply lotions and moisturizers after
bathing, and generously slather on these products in the heat of summer or
during the colder months of the year.
4. Prevent scratching
In case flare-ups do occur, make it a point to prevent your child from
scratching the affected area, as this can worsen the condition. Frequent
scratching not only stresses out the skin, but can also introduce germs
that can lead to infections and worse symptoms.
Carefully trim the child’s nails and remind them not to scratch, or make them
wear mittens if they’re still quite little.
5. Inspect the fabrics you use
Rough fabrics with wiry fibers may also cause irritations and lead to a
flare-up. When choosing clothes, bedsheets, towels, or other items made of
fabric for your little one, check the consistency and texture of the material
first.
6. Avoid overheating
Heat can be a major trigger for eczema. Avoid hot showers and baths, and
during the summer months in the Philippines, make an effort to keep your child
cool despite the oppressive tropical heat.
7. Soak and seal
In case of a flare-up, there are several techniques that you can use to help
address eczema. One of these is using a technique called soak and seal. When a
flare-up takes place, place the child in a lukewarm bath and use a mild,
unscented cleanser.
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Don’t scrub the skin, as this can cause further agitation. Once done rinsing,
leave the skin slightly damp and apply medication. After a few minutes, you
can then apply moisturizer so that the child won’t feel too itchy due to dry
skin.
8. Bleach bath
An alternative to soak and seal is a bleach bath, where the child is soaked in
a pool that has the same level of bleach concentration as a chlorinated pool.
Parents should consult with their child’s dermatologist to know how to
properly carry out this therapy for their children.
9. Wet wrap therapy
During particularly severe flare-ups, parents can use wet wrap therapy to ease
the discomfort of their child and address the symptoms of eczema. Wet wrap
therapy involves wrapping the skin in a wet cloth to rehydrate it and reduce
the itch. This technique is often done after a bath and applying moisturizer.
10. Teach your child skin- and self-care techniques
The key to managing eczema flare-ups is to prevent them from occurring in the
first place. To do this, you and your child need to adopt skin- and self-care
habits that will minimize the occurrence of the condition.
Learning together might be challenging at first, but introducing skincare tips
early on to your child will empower them to care for themselves better and to
deal with eczema in the future without feeling overwhelmed or limited by their
condition.
Epilogue
Eczema can be uncomfortable and even painful at times. It affects people of
all ages but it can be an even more unpleasant experience for infants who
might not yet fully understand the condition.
As parents, what we can do is to avoid eczema triggers as much as we can. In
case there is a flare-up though, it’s best to know how we can treat and manage
it to make sure that our baby is as comfortable as possible.
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Thank you for sharing 10 Skincare Tips. I heard this eczema before but not totally sure about it, that's why I'm glad that your share it at least now I'm aware. It's really important to keep our children skin moisturized, too, so we always have a supply of products that is mild and safe to use. Very informartive!
ReplyDeleteI will keep these in mind. My daughter does have eczema, plus psorasis. Sometimes she can have flare ups that aren't fun.
ReplyDeleteUncomfortable po talaga ang eczema, I have some at sobrang hapdi po pag may flare up. I like your lists, these will really help, try ko na din po sa kin yung tips na to.
ReplyDeleteI have eczema so I try to avoid my triggers. My biggest trigger is shaking hands with people so I stopped doing that and I no longer have skin issues.
ReplyDeleteMy gram has bad eczema I imagine this information would help her too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing dadi iv. i like your content po very informative and big help po sa mga mommies na meron ezcema ang baby nila para maiwasan ma trigger ang ezcema ng kids.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these tips, I have to share this to my friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm sharing this to my social media, I know somebody will benefit from this post, great tips!
ReplyDeleteThese are useful tips. It's important for parents especially new parents to be aware of aggravating and alleviating factors.
ReplyDeleteso lucky we dont have this problem. eczema can be so difficult!
ReplyDeleteDone reading this blog po. Talagang very helpful po itong 10 Skince tips on how to treat your childs eczema. Napakahalaga po talaga na malaman natin to as a parents para alam natin ang gagawin natin kapag may eczema ang kids natin. Thanks for this daddy Ivan 🥰
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing this daddy ivan. Very informative po ! Very helpful po itong shinare nyong 10 Skincare Tips. Honestly hndi po familiar sa akin itong eczema , ngayon lang din po ako nakarinig nito. Pero atleast ngayon alam ko napo ang about Dito at para maging aware narin po talaga ako.. Ishare ko din po ito sa mga friend kopo. ❤️
ReplyDeleteEczema can be awful can't it? These sound like some really good tips to help try and treat your childs eczema.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. Helpful and informative.
ReplyDelete