Child Eczema Problems: Helping Your Loved One With a Rash

If your own child has a rash called eczema or atopic eczema, it's something that can very much pull at your heart. When you see a baby or small child with discomfort due to itching, redness and patchy skin it hurts you as much as them. Sometimes we may see babies or toddlers with small rashes on their face and think nothing of it or that it will go away on it's own. Since eczema only affects around 18 percent of the child population, and there are so many rashes and skin irritations, it isn't always easy to tell if you are dealing with a chronic case or a quick episode. Your child may have eczema if their skin is unusually dry and with an itch, reddened and with selling or has bumps and patches.

Though eczema is not contagious, experts believe that it is a genetic disorder caused by the immune system and can have environmental triggers due to food intolerances including allergies such as dairy products (especially food made from cow’s milk), wheat and peanuts or other nuts Pay special attention to the child’s neck, back, wrists and outside of elbows and knees. Also, consult a pediatrician before making any drastic changes in their diet.

Give your child quick baths or showers and don't use very hot water. Sometimes we think we should try to just heat it off the body, but this is a mistake. Try to not make the skin any drier than it already is. Keep the skin moisturized with fragrance free oils, lotions and creams and limit exposure to synthetic fabrics such as polyester,nylon or any elasticized clothing. Work extra hard on cleaning using natural products to keep the dust out of your home as much as possible and limit exposure to any household pets in case dander and their hair is an irritant.

Finally, discourage scratching as it will only cause the skin the break, bleed and eventually become infected. You can do this by giving them mittens to avoid scratching, using oatmeal baths and administering antihistamines to allow for itch control and good sleep patterns. If a pediatrician or other health professional recommends using a steroid cream to reduce skin flare-ups, use lightly and monitor child carefully as it may cause some thinning of the skin itself.

A large number of kids will have some form of eczema by the time they are three years of age. Many will outgrow it after eleven months. If there is a pattern of recurrence, then consult a health professional and keep a good look at the foods eaten as well as the chemicals they are exposed to at home, through pest control and around their school or day care.