Eczema in Kids: 4 Ways to Deal With It Aside from Not Scratching

Anything that’s unusual, recurring, and brings discomfort to our child is a cause for alarm, no matter how harmless it may seem. Just like dry, red, itchy, or inflamed parts of their skin.

These days, it’s quite common to hear of children dealing with eczema or atopic dermatitis. It often appears in the first six months of life to five years, while other individuals can also develop it much later in life. Some kids might outgrow eczema, but dealing with the redness and the itchiness could affect their quality of life – such as causing sleep disturbance or even affect their concentration in school. Hence, if properly untreated, it could affect a child’s mood, quality of life, and maybe even self-esteem.

Is your child diagnosed with eczema? Then aside from begging them not to scratch, here are some tips you can try to help soothe the uneasiness brought about by eczema:

 1. Moisturize regularly.

People dealing with eczema have a damaged skin barrier, which is the outermost part of our skin. This means that their skin cannot retain moisture properly nor keep skin irritants and allergens out. This then leads to skin dryness and increased sensitivity to irritants.

To manage this, it’s best to ensure that your child maintains cleanliness and practice good hygiene. Opt for lukewarm water, and mild, fragrance-free, and soapless cleansers to avoid further skin irritation. At the same time, moisturizers or lotions can help keep the itch at bay as it helps protect the skin barrier. Using it after a shower can help protect and lock moisture in your child’s skin. Try to look for and use ones that are fragrance and dye-free to again, minimize irritants that come in contact with the skin.

 2. Watch out for eczema triggers.

Your child’s clothes can cause eczema flare-ups. Try to stay away from clothes that are too warm or heavy and clothes that use fabrics that are rough, too tight, or itchy. Instead, opt for soft clothes that are gentle and cool or “presko” on the skin. At the same time, you can also consult your dermatologist or look for recommended laundry soaps that are gentle and do not make use of harsh fragrances.

 3. Seek trusted support groups.

Managing your child’s eczema can be hard work and even stressful for us moms. So the best thing to manage this is for us “Eczemoms” to support one another through Facebook Support Groups such as the Eczemom Community (can we get the link to the community? I can’t seem to find it in their page). Through the community, moms can get useful eczema information from webisodes, articles, and even other moms who are also dealing with eczema in their kids.

 4. Apply topical treatments.

If your child’s eczema involves red, dry, itchy and inflamed rashes that come and go, consult your pediatric dermatologist for topical treatments that can relieve the symptoms, such as Elica. Elica comes in either cream or ointment form and can help reduce inflammation, itching, and redness caused by mild to moderate eczema. It can be applied once a day to affected areas or as prescribed by your doctor.

If you’re just itching to manage your child’s eczema, then it’s best to do your research, and work with your doctor and even other moms in coming up with the best possible solution that can provide your child with long-term, scratch-free comfort!

*All content in this article should be taken as for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice.

Use with caution on children and pregnant women. Do not use for more than 2 weeks. Mometasone furoate is the generic name of Elica.  If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

ASC Ref. B011P041719E