How To Cure Toddler Eczema

How To Treat Eczema In Toddlers

Does your toddler continually have dry, red patches on their skin that continue to fade away and reappear over and over? Chances are, your toddler has eczema. And, while eczema is common in adults, it tends to be the worst in children. But, your toddler doesnt have to suffer for long, as youre about to find out how to treat eczema in toddlers with 2 low cost, all natural methods.

You may already be treating your childs eczema with either conventional treatments or other over the counter medicines. These usually work well in treating the symptoms, but they dont prevent the condition from coming back.

If you want to prevent eczema from coming back in your child, your best bet is to use a variety of natural eczema treatments. Various natural eczema remedies have been proven to eliminate eczema not only in adults, but children as well.

With that said, here are two all natural, safe treatments you can begin using on your child today:

Vitamin D Oil

Vitamin D oil has been an effective treatment for eczema for many years. It helps restore moisture in the skin and works to eliminate the itchiness associated with eczema, soothing the skin with every application. You can find this at most grocery stores or supermarkets in the vitamin section. Apply it to your toddlers skin as needed.

Oatmeal Treatments

Natural Oils For Eczema: Which Ones Are Safe And Effective

Natural oil has been used in skin care for centuries. A good number of natural oils have beneficial fatty acids that help to repair the skins natural barrier, which is defective in patients with eczema.

But not all natural oils are good for our skin. Some can be irritating and may even worsen eczema. The plant source, composition and the ways that natural oils are extracted determine their benefit and harm.

Cold-pressed fixed oils are made by extracting oil from seeds or nuts without adding chemicals or heat, and therefore tend to be safer for skin use.

On the other hand, essential oils are extracted through steam-distillation of aromatic flowers or leaves. Heat and chemicals added during essential oil extraction can produce irritating compounds, and therefore should be avoided for skin use.

Several natural oils have been found to be safe and beneficial alternative moisturizers. Virgin coconut oil contains monolaurin, a fatty acid that mitigates Staphylococcus aureus colonization that can typically develop in eczema patients.

Virgin coconut oil is also superior in improving eczema compared to mineral oil . Virgin sunflower seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe itchy and inflamed eczema skin, and can improve skin hydration and preserve the integrity of the skins natural barrier.

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The Skin Condition Eczema Is Pretty Common In Little Ones Which Is Why Weve Compiled A Parents Guide To Help You Find The Best Treatment For Your Childs Symptoms

What is eczema?

Eczema is a condition which makes skin red, dry and itchy. The most common form of eczema is atopic eczema . This type of eczema can affect people of any age, but it tends to be more common in children. Atopic conditions often run in families and can also include hayfever, food allergies and asthma. Your child is more likely to have eczema if you have any of these conditions, however not all children whose parents have atopic conditions have eczema.

Likewise, many children who have eczema do not have parents with atopic conditions. Sixty percent of children with atopic eczema have completely grown out of it by their teens.

Symptoms of eczema

Eczema can make the skin dry, cracked, sore, red and itchy. While it can affect any part of the body, in babies and children it’s usually found on the hands, the inside of joints that bend , and the face and scalp.

Scratching affected areas often makes them inflamed, and they can occasionally bleed. If eczema is well controlled, children can have periods where the condition is barely noticeable. Flare-ups of eczema are periods where certain areas of affected skin worsen, and symptoms are more noticeable and bothersome.

Eczema can be diagnosed by your GP. Possible signs include:

Visibly irritated, dry, itchy, red skin in the areas described above, or a history of irritation in these areas Generally dry skin over the last 12 months A history of asthma or hayfever, or a sibling or parent with eczema, asthma or hayfever

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Treating Baby Eczema With Emollients

Emollients keep the skin moist by creating an oily film over it. They help to break the cycle of continuous itching and scratching that damages the skin. By applying emollients, you will keep the skin supple and less likely to crack.

Once you restore the skin barrier, it will prevent the penetration of irritants, allergens, and bacteria. This will help reduce the use of topical steroids and the number of eczema outbreaks.

You can never use too many emollients so you can apply them liberally to the affected skin. Emollients or moisturizers are available in thin lotions, creams, to thick ointments.

As a rule, the thicker and higher in lipids the emollients, the better and longer they work. Unfortunately, they are a lot messier as well.

What kind of emollient is best for your baby depends on how severe the eczema is. Usually, for mild baby eczema, lotion, or cream will do the job. But for wet or weeping eczema, you will get better results using thicker ointments that have a longer-lasting effect because of their higher oil content.

For babies suffering from eczema-prone skin, we recommend the following products to help moisture, soothe and relieve minor irritations.

What Causes Baby Eczema

A combination of genetic and environmental factors causes baby eczema. These factors include:

• Skin irritants and allergens: Several things in your babys environment can bother your childs skin. If your child has an allergy, symptoms of eczema can flare up on their skin. Common environmental irritants and allergens include fabrics, soaps and certain foods.
• Immune system reaction: Your babys immune system defends against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses that can make your child sick. If your baby has eczema, their immune system can overreact and confuse healthy skin cells and small irritants in your babys environment as a foreign invader. As a result, your babys immune system will attack your babys skin cells which can cause symptoms of eczema.
• Genetics: During conception, the egg and sperm cells meet to give your child the building blocks of their body, which are their genes. Sometimes, changes to your babys DNA happen , which can affect how your babys body functions and develops. An eczema diagnosis could cause a lack of proteins in your babys body that are responsible for maintaining their skins protective barrier. If your childs protective barrier in their skin isnt working as expected, they could experience symptoms of eczema.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Eczema

Eczema can affect any area of the skin.

The severity of symptoms and areas affected can vary.

Itching is the most significant symptom of eczema, and scratching makes it worse. The itching is often bad enough to disturb sleep. Sometimes the scratching can be so severe that areas of skin start to bleed. They may also become infected so that the skin oozes and crusts. If inadequately treated patches of eczema may become thickened and discoloured.

How To Treat Infant Eczema

Infant eczema is one of the most common conditions in babies. It does have a cause though an allergic reaction. You can tell if your child has infant eczema from the dry, cracked, inflamed skin that appears on their body. It can also be extremely itchy. While this very common ailment is not infectious, it can create lots of parent stress, not to mentions discomfort for the infant.

You may notice some eczema symptoms such as itchy skin, redness and irritation. The reddening and cracking can be scaly and itchy. Infant eczema may appear at any age but the most common symptoms are found during the first two months of life. At this age, the skin has not yet formed the protective covering of the epidermis, which causes itchy, irritated skin.

Infant eczema symptoms may also include irritability, difficulty sleeping, poor feeding and constant diaper rash. While allergies may not be the main cause of infant eczema, studies have shown it is possible allergies to certain foods, environmental factors, or even certain fabrics. Babies who are exposed to certain allergens and environmental toxins develop atopic eczema more than babies who are not exposed. There is no definite way to prevent allergies but avoiding substances that may cause irritability or allergies can significantly reduce the chances of eczema affecting your child.

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Evening Primrose Oil For Atopic Dermatitis

Evening primrose oil can also be taken as a supplement or applied topically as an effective natural treatment for eczema. Oil extracts from evening primrose contain essential fatty acids that have a beneficial effect on the skin.

The University of Maryland reports that the most scientifically proven medical use for evening primrose oil is to treat the painful symptoms of eczema. A study into the effectiveness of evening primrose oil in reducing scaling and redness found that over 1,000 people found relief from eczema. Evening primrose oil also helped to reduce itching, swelling, and crusting in both adults and children with atopic dermatitis.20

Although some reports say that evening primrose doesnt help with eczema symptoms, many people have found it to be effective in completely relieving their itchy skin.

You can make a topical application to nourish dry and flaky skin by adding a few drops of chamomile oil to a tablespoon of evening primrose oil. Apply the remedy to the affected area 2-3 times a day to get relief from red, itchy skin caused by eczema.

You may find that taking evening primrose oil as a supplement could help alleviate the irritation caused by eczema.

What Are The Symptoms Of Atopic Dermatitis In A Child

Symptoms may come and go, or occur most or all of the time. Any area of the body may be affected. In babies, symptoms usually affect the face, neck, scalp, elbows, and knees. In children, symptoms usually affect the skin inside the elbows, on the back of the knees, the sides of the neck, around the mouth, and on the wrists, ankles, and hands.

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can include:

• Dry, scaly skin

• Pale skin on the face

• Small, raised bumps that may become crusty and leak fluid if scratched

• Rough bumps on the face, upper arms, and thighs

• Darkened skin of eyelids or around the eyes

• Skin changes around the mouth, eyes, or ears

• Raised, red areas

The symptoms of atopic dermatitis can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

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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Prevention Of Toddler Eczema

If your child is genetically predisposed to eczema, theres not a lot you can do to prevent it from occurring. But you can try to minimize flare-ups when you can with these actions:

• Get to know your childs triggerswhether its cigarette smoke or scented detergentand avoid them when possible.
• Moisturize your childs skin regularly. One study conducted on babies found that those who were moisturized daily were less likely to develop eczema than those whose skin was not moisturized.
• Keep your childs fingernails short to reduce injury if they scratch their skin.
• Dress your child in soft, nonirritating clothing.
• Keep your child coolheat and sweat can cause eczema to flare.
• Get a dog. Research shows that children who have a dog in their household before they turn 1 have a lower risk of developing eczema by age 4 than those living in households without a dog.

Which Are The Good Essential Oils For Baby Eczema

Essential oils are known for their healing properties. These are a wonderful baby eczema natural remedies for their soothing nature. Some of the essential oils that you can use for treating eczema in babies are:

• Lavender Essential Oil
• Turmeric Essential Oil
• Citrus Oils

Use these essential oils in the bath or blend them with a base oil and gently massage on the affected region. These are quite potent hence should be used in minimal amount.

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Evening Primrose Oil And Borage Oil

For a while, taking supplements of these oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids, was thought to help reduce eczema symptoms. But recent studies have cast doubt on their effectiveness. Although there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they can make a difference, the practicalities of giving these supplements to babies and children coupled with inconclusive evidence suggests that its probably best to stick with a good, varied diet.

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What Triggers My Childs Eczema Or Causes It To Get Worse

Some of the most common eczema triggers include:

Even your babys stuffed animals may be a trigger for eczema

• Allergens such as pet dander, pollen or dust

Your childs eczema may be worse in the winter when the air is dry. Saliva from drooling can also cause irritation on your babys cheeks, chin and neck.

The best way to manage your childs eczema is by getting to know their symptoms and triggers so that you can help keep it under control.

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Eczema Treatment For Children

With a good regimen of bathing, moisturizing and prescription medications , you can help your child be more comfortable

There is no one right treatment for eczema in children. What works for another child may not work for yours. You may have to go through several treatments or combinations of treatments in partnership with your doctor before you find one that helps manage your childs symptoms. Be persistent and patient as treating eczema can take several weeks or longer before you see real progress.

How To Treat Your Baby’s Eczema

This article was co-authored by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO. Dr. Lydia Shedlofsky is a Resident Dermatologist who joined Affiliated Dermatology in July of 2019 after completing a traditional rotating internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, and worked as a research assistant and intern at a free clinic. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate program and subsequently earned a Master’s Degree in Medical Education and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. This article has been viewed 5,979 times.

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a frustrating skin condition. If your baby frequently has dry, scaly, itchy, cracked and red skin, they may have eczema. You should monitor your babys skin in your health journal, including any irritants, new symptoms, or allergens. You may want to put together an action plan with your doctor, which should address the amount and type of bathing, moisturizers and topical treatments.

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Ways To Relieve Itchy Eczema At Home

Telling your child to stop scratching itchy skin rarely works.

Eczema is just too itchy, and telling your child to stop scratching can feel stressful. Stress often makes eczema worse.

Safety tips

• Dont let your child eat the finely ground oatmeal.

• Colloidal oatmeal makes the bath very slippery, so take care to prevent a slip or fall.

When Should I Take My Child To See A Doctor For Eczema

If you think your child may have eczema, make an appointment with your pediatrician. A trained eye can distinguish eczema from other skin conditions.

Contact your childs doctor right away if the skin becomes infected , if the eczema looks painful and blistered, or if it prevents your child from sleeping or generally makes them miserable .

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