How To Treat Eczema On A 4 Year Old

How Is Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosed In A Child

The healthcare provider will ask about your childs symptoms and health history. He or she may also ask if you or other family members have atopic dermatitis, asthma, or nasal allergies such as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. He or she will also ask about allergy symptoms in your child. The healthcare provider will examine your child, looking for signs of atopic dermatitis. There is no specific test for atopic dermatitis. Testing is usually not needed, but it may be done. Tests may include:

• Blood tests. Your childs blood may be checked for levels of immunoglobulin E . IgE is released by the bodys immune system. Its high in most children with allergies and with atopic dermatitis. Other blood tests may also be done.

• Skin tests. Skin tests may be done to check for allergies or other skin conditions.

Are There Likely To Be Any Complications Of Eczema

It’s important to control your child’s eczema – uncontrolled eczema can lead to poor sleep which can have long-term effects on learning and behaviour.

Children with eczema are more likely to get skin infections.

Eczema makes the skin dry and cracked and increases the chance of infection by bacteria and viruses . Infected eczema may be wet, crusted or painful. See your doctor for treatment.

If your child’s eczema gets worse or becomes infected, you will need to take them to your doctor. Sometimes, a hospital stay may be necessary.

It’s important to control your child’s eczema. Uncontrolled eczema can lead to poor sleep which can have long-term effects on learning and behaviour.

What Are Natural Remedies For My Babys Dry Skin

Massaging sunflower oil, coconut oil, or mineral oil into the skin may protect babies from dermatitis. For skin thats already irritated, try non-chemical treatments such as oatmeal extracts. If you want to avoid using any moisturizer on your babys dry skin, focus on keeping your baby well hydrated, and use a humidifier to prevent the air in your home from getting too dry.

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Symptoms Of Discoid Eczema

Discoid eczema causes distinctive circular or oval patches of eczema. It can affect any part of the body, although it does not usually affect the face or scalp.

The first sign of discoid eczema is usually a group of small spots or bumps on the skin. These then quickly join up to form larger patches that can range from a few millimetres to several centimetres in size.

On lighter skin these patches will be pink or red. On darker skin these patches can be a dark brown or they can be paler than the skin around them.

Initially, these patches are often swollen, blistered and ooze fluid. They also tend to be very itchy, particularly at night.

Over time, the patches may become dry, crusty, cracked and flaky. The centre of the patch also sometimes clears, leaving a ring of discoloured skin that can be mistaken for ringworm.

You may just have 1 patch of discoid eczema, but most people get several patches. The skin between the patches is often dry.

Patches of discoid eczema can sometimes become infected. Signs of an infection can include:

• the patches oozing a lot of fluid
• a yellow crust developing over the patches
• the skin around the patches becoming hot, swollen and tender or painful
• feeling sick
• feeling unwell

Identify Your Babys Triggers

One of the most important things you can do for your babys eczema is to look for things in your environment that seem to trigger your babys flare-ups or make them worse. Products in your home could be causing or contributing to the problem.

In babies, the most common triggers are things that touch their skin. Rarely, environmental allergens like mold or pollen might be a trigger. Other known triggers that are rare in babies are infections and stress. Common triggers for babies are:

• harsh soaps and detergents
• rough or nonbreathable clothing fabrics
• sweat

If your baby is having a particularly severe eczema flare-up, ask your pediatrician about doing a wet dressing, or wet wrap therapy. This treatment is sometimes used with prescription steroid cream under close medical supervision.

The wrap helps ensure that topical treatments stay moist and get better absorbed into the skin.

How to apply a wet dressing:

You can continue applying the wet dressing for 24 to 72 hours or overnight. Continue for a maximum of one week.

Before using wet wrap therapy, always discuss it with your pediatrician.

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How To Prevent Baby Eczema Breakout

• Avoid bathing your baby too often this can strip your babys skin of protective oils and dry it out further.

• Be careful when towel-drying the skin as this can dry the skin out further. Pat your babys skin dry rather than rubbing it.

• Use bath oil to keep your babys skin moisturised.

• Make sure the water is lukewarm rather than hot.

• Use a baby eczema prevention cream to keep the skin moisturised and hydrated.

• Avoid wool or synthetic clothing if these irritate your babys skin. Cotton is always a good choice as it allows the skin to breathe.

• Keep your babys nails short so they do less damage if they do scratch at their skin.

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Why Did My Child Develop Eczema

The exact cause of eczema is unknown. Researchers do know that children who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When something outside the body switches on the immune system, skin cells dont behave as they should causing flare ups.

We also know that children who come from families with a history of atopic dermatitis, asthma, or hay fever are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis.

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Could That Rash Be Eczema

Here are some of the ways eczema can look different in infants, babies, and toddlers.

INFANTS

• Youll most likely see eczema on the face, cheeks, chin, forehead, and scalp, but it is generally not as common in the diaper area
• Features red or discolored skin with weepy- looking sores

BABIES

• At 6 months, you may still see eczema on your babys face and neck
• Eczema commonly shows up on elbows and kneesthe places that are easy to rub or irritate as babies crawl

TODDLERS

• Youre likely to notice eczema in the creases of their elbows and knees, or on their wrists and hands
• You might also see eczema near your little ones mouth or eyelids

Tips to help manage your babys eczema

• Use clothing and shade to protect your childs skin from the sun, especially if under 6 months
• Wash stuffed animals oftensoft toys attract dust which can trigger eczema
• Right after bath time, use a fragrance-free moisturizer
• Keep in mind that ointments are good barriers that help retain moisture in your skin

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Avoid Triggers And Treat Infection

Stay cool

Getting too hot from clothing or heating can make eczema worse stay cool.

Avoid soap and fragrances

Soap and fragrances are the most common triggers of eczema. Only use skin care products designed for eczema. Many are available on prescription from your doctor or nurse prescriber.

Prevent skin infections

Eczema is made worse by infection such as from:

• school sores
• the cold sore virus which can cause severe painful infection of eczema

Avoid contact with cold sores. See your family doctor urgently if your child gets an infection from cold sores.

Removing foods from your childs diet does not usually help eczema

Removing foods from your childs diet does not usually help eczema and can be dangerous, leading to anaphylaxis.

Please talk with your doctor about this.

Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin.

Other types of eczema include:

• discoid eczema a type of eczema that occurs in circular or oval patches on the skin
• contact dermatitis a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance
• varicose eczema a type of eczema that most often affects the lower legs and is caused by problems with the flow of blood through the leg veins
• seborrhoeic eczema a type of eczema where red, scaly patches develop on the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and scalp
• dyshidrotic eczema a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to erupt across the palms of the hands

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How Can I Help My Child Live With Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis has no cure. But it will usually get better or go away as your child gets older. There may be times when your child has few or no symptoms. And he or she may have times when symptoms get worse. This is called a flare-up. To help prevent flare-ups, make sure your child:

• Stays away from triggers. Common triggers include irritants such as wool, soap, or chemicals. Other triggers include allergens such as eggs, dust mites, or pet dander. Stress is also a trigger.

• Doesnt scratch the skin. Try to keep your child from scratching. It can cause symptoms to get worse. It can also cause infection.

• Always has short fingernails. Trim or file your childs nails to keep them short and prevent scratching.

• Takes baths or showers with warm, not hot, water. Air dry or gently dry the skin afterward.

• Uses moisturizers. Put creams or ointments on after bathing.

• Wears soft clothing. Dont dress your child in wool or other rough fabric.

• Keeps cool. Try to keep your child as cool as possible. Getting hot and sweating can make him or her more uncomfortable.

• Doesnt get the smallpox vaccine. Its not a common vaccine, but people with atopic dermatitis should not get the smallpox vaccine.

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about other ways to help your childs skin condition.

Baby Eczema Risk Factors And The Environment

While baby eczema is the result of immune-system dysfunction, likely from a genetic predisposition, studies have found a number of risk factors.

For example, a study published in February 2018 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggested that children have a higher risk of developing eczema if their mothers experienced high-stress situations during pregnancy.

In a study published in May 2018 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers in the United Kingdom analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics of about 675,000 children in a primary-care database. They found that the children were more likely to be diagnosed with eczema if they fit one of the following descriptions:

• Male
• Black Caribbean
• Of high socioeconomic status

Another study, published in May 2018 in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, looked at how the outdoor environment specifically air pollutants and meteorological conditions affected eczema risk in children of both sexes. The researchers concluded that high levels of carbon monoxide, ammonia, formaldehyde, lead, particulate matter, and ozone levels may all influence the development of infantile eczema.

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Heat Rash

The rash is made up of tiny red bumps. Weinstein says many parents confuse heat rash with heat- and sweat-induced eczema. If the rash appears on an area thats been covered up, its likely heat rash. But when a parent tells her, Whenever my child gets overheated, she seems to get heat rash, thats likely an eczema flare-up.

What Causes Eczema In Infants And Children

Eczema is brought about by the complex interplay of a genetic predisposition and the childs environment. Many things from the climate to possible allergens can cause eczema to flare. We know that eczema tends to run in the families with a predisposition to other atopic diseases, such as food allergies, asthma and hay fever. Individuals with atopic dermatitis may lack certain proteins in the skin, which leads to greater sensitivity. Parents with eczema are more likely to have children with eczema. However, the exact way it passes from parents to children is still not known. Most children who have eczema will show signs of the condition in the first year of life. It tends to wax and wane in severity.

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How Do I Treat Eczema

Eczema is very uncomfortable, and the itch can keep a kid up at night. Its important to get a diagnosis, but even then it can be hard to control. Managing it is an art as much as it is a science, says Weinstein.

Eczema might first look like a patch of dry skin, but it can quickly worsen as your kid scratches. Keeping the skin well-moisturized is your first line of defence . Bathe him, pat his skin and then liberally apply moisturizer while its still damp. On days when he doesnt bathe, keep moisturizing. There are dozens of products formulated for eczemawhether its a thin lotion or thick ointment, choose one thats affordable and works for your kid, because youll be applying it often and liberally, says Weinstein.

Focus on moisturizing instead of driving yourself crazy trying to figure out whats triggering flares, Weinstein says. People will turn their lives upside down, searching for that one thing that if they could only eliminate it, the eczema would go away. That tends to send them down an unhelpful path.

Cold Pressed Sunflower Oil

Another effective natural moisturiser, sunflower oil is rich in essential fatty acids which are readily absorbed through the skin. It is thought that a lack of essential fatty acids can contribute to some cases of baby eczema. There is evidence that sunflower oil helps to improve the barrier function of the skin and is anti-inflammatory great when you are looking for a natural moisturiser to help your eczema baby get some relief.If your baby suffers from colic as well as baby eczema, try massaging their tummy using coconut oil or sunflower oil . Moisturised skin and a more comfortable belly all in a go! Its common sense, but worth repeating using oil on your baby may relieve their itching but will turn them into slippery little bundles please take extra care when picking up your baby after applying any oil to their skin!

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Symptoms Of Varicose Eczema

Like all types of eczema, the affected skin becomes:

• itchy and swollen
• dry and flaky
• scaly or crusty

On lighter skin it looks red or brown. On darker skin it tends to look dark brown, purple or grey and can be more difficult to see.

There may be periods when these symptoms improve and periods when they are more severe.

Your legs may become swollen, especially at the end of the day or after long periods of standing. Varicose veins are often visible on the legs.

Some people also have other symptoms, such as:

• discolouration of the skin
• tender and tight skin that can eventually become hardened
• small, white scars
• pain
• eczema affecting other parts of the body

If varicose eczema is not treated, leg ulcers can develop. These are long-lasting wounds that form where the skin has become damaged.

How Reducing Indoor Allergens Can Ease Your Eczema Symptoms

Eczema usually isnt a persistent condition, but rather one marked by long symptom-free periods followed by flare-ups.

Various environmental factors may cause the immune system to respond as if the body has encountered a harmful substance, resulting in inflammation and worsening eczema symptoms.

These triggers may include a variety of allergens and irritants, such as:

• Pet dander, pollen, mold, and dust mites
• Allergenic foods
• Clothing made of wool or synthetic fibers
• Cigarette smoke

Theres no cure for baby eczema, but the condition usually becomes less severe over time.

Treatment focuses on managing skin dryness to prevent flare-ups and on reducing skin inflammation.

Doctors recommend the following strategies to parents whose babies have eczema:

Your doctor may also recommend other eczema treatments for your child, including:

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Are Topical Steroids Safe

Topical steroids, used appropriately and under supervision, are a safe and effective treatment for eczema. The likelihood of side effects occurring is directly related to the potency of the preparation, where it is being used, the condition of the skin on which it is used and the age of the person concerned. Pregnant women should consult a healthcare professional regarding the advisability of continued use of their usual topical steroid preparation. All these factors will be taken into consideration when a prescription is given to treat eczema.

If used over long periods of time, topical steroids can thin the skin, making it appear transparent, fragile and susceptible to bruising blood vessels may become more prominent, and the skin can lose its elasticity, developing stretch marks. Other possible side effects include increased hair growth of very fine hair and perioral dermatitis . However, it should be stressed that these effects usually only occur when potent steroids have been applied for a long period of time, either to the face or to covered parts of the body such as the flexures.

Skin thinning can also occur when steroids have been applied under occlusion . For these reasons, topical steroid use is limited to short periods of time under the supervision of a doctor or nurse.

For more information on topical steroids, please see our Topical steroids factsheet and an article from our magazine, Exchange, How safe are topical corticosteroids?

Key Points About Atopic Dermatitis In Children

• Atopic dermatitis is a long-term skin condition. It’s common in babies and children.

• A child with allergies or family members with atopic dermatitis has a higher chance of having atopic dermatitis.

• Itching, dryness, and redness are common symptoms.

• The goals of treatment are to ease itching and inflammation of the skin, increase moisture, and prevent infection.

• Staying away from triggers is important to manage the condition.

• It usually gets better or goes away as a child gets older.

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