With the cooler months upon us, the ravages of dry skin start to come forward. Dry air, whether indoors or outdoors, can strip moisture from anyone’s skin. For some children, this means outbreaks of atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema.
Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD of Fountain Valley, California wants to remind parents of the risk of eczema now that winter is upon us. To help you out, we’ve prepared a guide to managing eczema flare-ups. It could save your child from the discomfort and itchiness of this common skin condition.
An inflammatory skin condition, eczema isn’t contagious, caused instead by a number of factors including genetically inherited traits and skin irritants. Environmental conditions, notably air with a low relative humidity value, may be the most common causes of eczema.
Signs and symptoms of the condition include:
The appearance of eczema outbreaks varies between patients, and may depend on skin type and tone. Some children are more prone to bumps that leak fluid before becoming crusty.
Children younger than 12 months typically show eczema flare-ups on their cheeks, forehead, and scalp, as well as sometimes on the elbows, knees, and abdomen. Eczema usually doesn’t affect the area covered by diapers.
Older kids usually experience eczema inside the bends of their elbows and knees, the ankles, insides of the wrists and the neck.
There’s no cure for eczema, so treatment takes the form of prevention and symptom management.
The best way to keep eczema from flaring up is through boosting the natural skin barrier with moisturizers and mild cleansing products. Choose fragrance-free products and cleansers that contain no soap, which can strip natural skin oils.
Use petroleum jelly or moisturizers with petrolatum as the first ingredient in any moisturizer used to prevent eczema flare-ups for younger children. The texture of petrolatum is less likely to bother them.
School-age children may protest to the greasy feel of petroleum jelly, so cream-based moisturizers may be a better choice, unless skin is irritated or inflamed. Petrolatum products don’t create unpleasant sensations on damaged skin.
Treating eczema symptoms is often delegated to over-the-counter hydrocortisone topical ointments to minimize the itch. Infants and younger children can use these medications for up to a week. If symptoms persist, contact Dr. Tandon’s office for an appointment, in person or telehealth.
Older children can tolerate hydrocortisone for longer durations, but if their eczema flare-up lasts longer than a week to 10 days, we recommend having their skin medically assessed.
Since scratching may lead to complications, take steps to prevent damage from itch-related abrasion. Young children may need mittens to keep their hands away from the skin, while older children may find relief in more frequent applications of moisturizer. Use hydrocortisone products only as directed by Dr. Tandon, or by the manufacturer’s instructions.
Contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD when eczema flare-ups persist or become more frequent. Call or click to book your child’s visit today.
