How To Treat Eczema In Kids

Diagnosing Food Allergy And Eczema Flare

• Your child’s doctor may suggest the steps listed below:
• Remove the suspected food or foods from your child’s diet for 2 weeks. The eczema should greatly improve.
• Then give your child that food when the eczema is under good control. This is called a “challenge.”
• If the food is causing flare-ups, the eczema should become itchy and red. The flare-up should occur quickly within 2 hours of eating the food.
• If this occurs, avoid giving this food to your child. Talk to your child’s doctor about the need for any food substitutes.
• If the eczema does not flare-up, your child isn’t allergic to that food.

Options For Recalcitrant Eczema

If your child’s eczema doesn’t respond to any of the above-listed treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend more aggressive therapies, including oral steroids, ultraviolet light therapy, and immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporine. To prevent secondary infections, your child may also be provided an oral or topical antibiotic.

Dupixent is an injectable biologic drug used to treat moderate to severe eczema in adults and children over 12. Due to its immunosuppressant effects, it is not used in younger children whose immune systems are still developing.

Never use an eczema treatment prescribed for an adult or teen on a child or baby.

How Can You Help A Toddler With Their Eczema

Helping your toddler deal with the itch can go a long way in helping them manage their eczema. When you notice your toddler scratching, distract them with another activity, particularly one that keeps their hands busy, like coloring.

You can also try wet wrapping the affected skin to help alleviate the itch and keep little hands from getting at the rash.

Wet wrapping involves wrapping the skin with a cloth or bandage dressing thats first moistened with warm water. When the wrap is in place, apply a dry cloth or dressing over the wet one.

Clothing can act as another barrier between your child and their eczema. If your child has eczema around their elbows, dress them in long sleeves when possible. If its on their legs, try long pants.

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Prevent Skin Damage Caused By Scratching

Constant scratching can break the skin. To prevent bleeding and an infection, dermatologists recommend the following:

Eczema mittens can be effective when eczema flares on your baby’s face. Your baby may still scratch, but the scratching will cause less damage because the fingernails cannot dig into the skin.

Itch relief can be fickle

You may find that a technique works one day and not the next. If one technique fails, try another.

Related AAD resources

ReferencesEichenfield, LF, Tom WL, et al. Part 2: Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Jul 71:116-32.

Sidbury R, Tom WL, et al. Part 4: Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Part 4: Prevention of disease flares and use of adjunctive therapies and approaches. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014: 71 1218-33.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

What The Doctor May Order

Your doctor may prescribe a cream or ointment with a corticosteroid in it. These should only be used with a prescription because the dosage is specific to your child. Dont use this for more than the prescribed amount of time. It can make the skin thin if its used for too long. Only put the ointment on areas of skin that have eczema.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

See a GP if you have symptoms of atopic eczema. They’ll usually be able to diagnose atopic eczema by looking at your skin and asking questions, such as:

• whether the rash is itchy and where it appears
• when the symptoms first began
• whether it comes and goes over time
• whether there’s a history of atopic eczema in your family
• whether you have any other conditions, such as allergies or asthma
• whether something in your diet or lifestyle may be contributing to your symptoms

Typically, to be diagnosed with atopic eczema you should have had an itchy skin condition in the last 12 months and 3 or more of the following:

• visibly irritated red skin in the creases of your skin such as the insides of your elbows or behind your knees at the time of examination by a health professional
• a history of skin irritation occurring in the same areas mentioned above
• generally dry skin in the last 12 months
• a history of asthma or hay fever children under 4 must have an immediate relative, such as a parent, brother or sister, who has 1 of these conditions
• the condition started before the age of 2

How Is Eczema Treated

There is no cure for eczema. But treatments can help with symptoms. The doctor will recommend different treatments based on how severe the symptoms are, the child’s age, and where the rash is. Some are “topical” and applied to the skin. Others are taken by mouth.

Topical moisturizers. Skin should be moisturized often . The best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower, with the skin patted dry gently. Ointments and creams are best because they contain a lot of oil. Lotions have too much water to be helpful.

Topical corticosteroids, also called cortisone or steroid creams or ointments. These ease skin inflammation. It’s important not to use a topical steroid prescribed for someone else. These creams and ointments vary in strength, and using the wrong strength in sensitive areas can damage the skin, especially in infants.

Other topical anti-inflammatory medicines. These include medicines that change the way the skin’s immune system reacts.

Medicine taken by mouth. These can include antihistamines to help itchy kids sleep better at night, antibiotics if a rash gets infected by bacteria, and corticosteroid pills or other medicines that suppress the immune system.

Other types of treatment can include:

• wet wraps: damp cloths placed on irritated areas of skin
• bleach baths: bathing in very diluted bleach solution

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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.

When Should I Take My Child To The Doctor For Their Eczema

If you think your child might have eczema, make an appointment with your pediatrician. A trained eye can tell the difference between eczema and other skin conditions.

Speak to your childs doctor right away if skin appears infected , if the eczema seems painful and blistered, or if it’s preventing your child from sleeping or is just generally making them miserable.

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What Causes Eczema In Toddlers

Before you panic that your child will have lifelong bouts of itchy rashes, its important to remember that some kids are just prone to eczema because of their unique skin makeup. And even thats not always fixed or permanent.

Theres no way to predict what will happen in the future, but lots of kids outgrow their eczema when they reach their preschool years.

Your child is more likely to have eczema if they also have:

• a family history of eczema
• asthma

Food allergies dont cause eczema, but they are related.

According to a , other conditions that may be related to eczema may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

For the most part, though, environmental triggers are the biggest cause of eczema flares. Common triggers include:

• excessive heat or sweating

Although eczema is bothersome and often hard to treat, you can take some steps to get your toddlers eczema under control.

What Caused My Babys Eczema

There is no single cause of atopic eczema. Eczema is a complex condition it is genetic but also involves an overactive immune response to environmental factors, which cause eczema flares. Because the atopic gene is hereditary, it runs in families, and is responsible for three conditions: eczema, asthma and hay fever.

Fifty per cent of people with eczema have an additional genetic element a difference in a skin protein called filaggrin which leads to further problems in the skin barrier. All atopic conditions can be linked to allergies in some people, but there are also many universal irritants, such as soap and heat.

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How Can I Stop My Baby Itching

Keeping your babys skin well moisturised and controlling any flares are the best ways to reduce the itch.

Try to work out any individual factors that trigger your babys flares and try to avoid exposing them to irritants. Scratching is a response to itch but it can become a habit, too. So, keep your babys nails short and use sleepsuits with built-in mittens. Keep the bedroom cool: around 18°C.

How To Treat Eczema For Kids

Nov 4, 2019 | Blog

Eczema in children can be tricky and hard to teat because each child is different. What may work for your child may not work for another, as each case is unique and personalized. With trying to treat eczema for kids you might have to try a few different techniques or treatments before you find the one that stops the flare-ups and itch. At DCSI, we explore more about childhood eczema and share common treatments for childhood eczema.

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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 body’s 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.

What Is Eczema Treatment For Kids

There is no universal cure for eczema, but there are treatments that will ease the symptoms. When your child goes to a check-up, the doctor will recommend appropriate treatment, based on the severity of the symptoms:

• Topical moisturizers are used to keep skin hydrated. The best time to apply them is after the shower or bath to lock on moisture.
• Topical corticosteroids or ointments may ease inflammation, and only use if the specialist has prescribed them.

Other new treatments that are being considered, such as phototherapy that uses ultraviolet light, wet wraps that are put on an irritated patch of skin and bleach baths.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Eczema

• if your child has eczema, their skin feels dry and rough to touch, and it is itchy
• their skin can become inflamed , and may even get infected , particularly with scratching
• in babies, the rash often involves their face
• in older children, the skin in the creases of their knees and elbows, around their neck and on their hands is often affected
• in some children, the skin over their entire body is affected
• at times your child’s skin will look good and at other times it gets worse – this is part of eczema and not necessarily caused by bad care

Symptoms Of Atopic Eczema

Atopic eczema causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and sore.

Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread inflamed skin all over the body.

Inflamed skin can become red on lighter skin, and darker brown, purple or grey on darker skin. This can also be more difficult to see on darker skin.

Although atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.

People with atopic eczema usually have periods when symptoms are less noticeable, as well as periods when symptoms become more severe .

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Will My Baby Grow Out Of Eczema

Sadly, it is impossible to predict whether your baby will have eczema for life or for just a short time. So far, there is no cure for eczema. Eczema is a chronic condition with periods of flare and periods of remission, and most people with a history of eczema still have problems with dry and itchy skin. If your child has a difference in their filaggrin gene, they will not grow out of it. Even if your baby appears to grow out of their eczema, it may return during the teenage years or in adulthood.

How To Treat Eczema In Children

This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. This article has been viewed 22,904 times.

The red, irritated, itchy skin that often accompanies childhood eczema is a recurring problem for about ten percent of younger children, though it often dies down by the teen years. Some eczema comes about when in contact with allergies, but in some cases it is genetic. XResearch source There are several versions of eczema and several likely causes, many of which are not well-understood, so it is important to involve your child’s pediatrician in the diagnostic and treatment processes. A combination of home skin care remedies and, if needed, medications can make eczema more manageable for most children.

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What Causes It And Who Can Get Eczema

When you understand what causes eczema, it will be easier to explain it to your kids. Let’s put it in simple words healthy skin retains moisture and protects you from irritants, allergens, and bacteria. Having eczema is linked to a gene variation that has an effect on the skin’s capability to provide you with needed defense against environmental factors. Also, some food allergies can play a part in triggering this condition. If that’s the case with your children, you should use a diet to control eczema. Risks of having atopic dermatitis are heightened with children that have a family history of allergies, asthma, eczema, and hay fever.

How To Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Eczema

To avoid going to see a doctor every time your kid has a dry patch of skin, you should learn what the signs and symptoms of eczema are. Signs can vary from dry and itchy skin, redness, bumps, and scales that come and go. Symptoms are noticeable on the cheeks, forehead, or scalp when it comes to infants, while older kids have a rash on their elbows, behind knees, on ankles, and wrists. We recommend, however, working with your pediatrician for a proper diagnosis and medical care.

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Wrap Up In Cold Weather

Cold, harsh winter winds can dry out the skin and cause eczema flares.

Keep the skin covered when temperatures are low. Also, consider covering the face with a scarf if eczema occurs in this body region.

While many home remedies are suitable for babies and children, always speak with a doctor before using them.

The following home remedies and tips may help:

Key Points To Remember About Eczema In Children

• eczema is a dry, itchy skin condition
• you can usually control your child’s eczema by using lots of moisturiser, a bath once a day and using steroids when your child’s skin has active eczema
• avoid things which irritate your child’s skin, especially soap
• go to your family doctor as soon as possible if your child’s eczema doesn’t improve after treatment or becomes infected

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What To Do If Topical Options Arent Working

Unfortunately, if your child has more than a mild case of eczema the topical options may not be effective. In this case more intense treatments may be necessary to see improvements Some options are:

• Systemic therapies
• Nonspecific immunosuppressants such as systemic corticosteroids and other immunosuppressing therapies may be prescribed however, their use may be limited due to side effects, potential for rebound flares, or the need for laboratory work.

• New systemic agents are emerging that target the underlying causes of atopic dermatitis, including the factors that cause itch and inflammation. Currently, one injectable biologic is FDA approved for use in patients aged 6 years and older, and other targeted agents that can be taken orally are currently in development.

• Systemic therapies may also be augmented by topical medications.

• Because atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition, a formal written plan or Eczema Action Plan can help patients follow their recommended management plan.
• Remember if your or your childs symptoms arent improving but youre not following your plan to a T it will be harder fora doctor to determine another treatment option as they cant pinpoint their needs.