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Care for Their Eczema
Eczema is very common among young children. As many as 1 in 9 children under the age of 5 get it. Many outgrow it, but in the meantime, eczema in a child calls for some special attention. You can't tell them to stop scratching an itch! But there are some ways you can help.
Easing the emotional stress
Stress can make eczema worse -- and yes, children have stress, too. Keeping to a routine may help your child feel calmer - and it helps you remember the bath/moisturizer/medicine schedule. Other helpful steps:
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Keep a record of flare-ups. Talk to your child about eczema, eczema triggers and how to avoid them. |
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Make sure babysitters and day care providers know about your child's special bathing and moisturizing needs. |
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Help your child handle remarks from other kids and adults about eczema. |
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Tell your child that eczema is not contagious, and will probably diminish as she gets older; she may even outgrow it. |
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Consider a support group, such as the National Eczema Association (NEA). Visit the NEA site to find out more. |
Helpful Tips
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| Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. |
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| Bathe your child in lukewarm water. Five minutes or so is long enough. Use mild soap or nonsoap cleansers recommended by your doctor. |
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| After the bath, pat the skin almost dry, and within 3 minutes apply moisturizing cream or ointment. |
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| Use only soaps, laundry detergents and moisturizers that your doctor has recommended. Avoid anything with perfume. |
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| Keep your child's fingernails short, to help keep the scratching from breaking the skin. Eczema makes the skin more vulnerable to germs, which can easily get into sores or cracks. |
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| For clothes, loose-fitting 100% cotton is best, because it reduces sweating, which can be an irritant. If clothes are new, wash them before putting them on your child to make them softer, and remove tags from clothing so they won't irritate the skin. |
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| Avoid wool and other course or rough-textured material in clothes and blankets, and, if possible, remove wool carpets. If you're wearing wool, put a cotton diaper over your shoulder when you hold your child. |
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| Make sure your child's room is not too warm. |
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| In dry or heated rooms, use a humidifier to keep the air moist. |
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| If your child is allergic to dust or dust mites, use protective coverings for pillows and mattresses, and wash bedclothes frequently in hot water. |
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| Keep pets off beds and other furniture, or outside. |
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| If nighttime itching is a problem, you may be able to soothe your child with a cold, damp washcloth, followed by moisturizer and a sedating antihistamine if your child's doctor recommends it. |
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