Eczema In Children | Causes | Symptoms | Child Specialist In Vijayawada

Eczema in children is one of the most common problems. It is manageable in many cases. And, a clinical visit is a must for some of the cases. 

So, today let us know the complete information about Eczema in babies, it’s causes, symptoms, treatments, etc. through this article. 

Blog Contents 

1. What Is Eczema?
2. What Are The Causes Of Eczema?
3. Symptoms Of Eczema In Children
4. Treatments To Manage Eczema
5. When To Call A Doctor?
6. Best Child Specialist In Vijayawada

You can find these blog contents in this article. Read the complete article without any skip to know the proper information. 

What Is Eczema? 

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. The most common form of eczema is called atopic dermatitis. It is characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. It’s called the “itch that rashes” because the condition can lead to itching & scratching, which results in the release of inflammatory mediators. And, this leads to the development of eczema and more dry skin and subsequently more itching and scratching.

We can find Eczema in 15-20% of children. This begins during infancy and most children will outgrow eczema by adolescence. But sometimes, eczema will continue to grow even in adulthood and it is difficult to predict. Here family history may play a role. 

What Are The Causes Of Eczema?

We have to consider both genetic and environmental factors when it comes to causes of eczema. Having a strong family history of atopic conditions is one of the biggest risk factors for causing eczema. 

Skin barrier dysfunction, environmental triggers, genetic predisposition, and immune dysfunction are all the possible reasons. 

Children with eczema will have sensitive skin. Therefore, this may be more easily irritated by sweating, heat, rough clothing and some detergents, soaps and cleansers. 

Children with atopic dermatitis may have allergies to foods, pets or other animals. Although it is not clear that these allergies actually “cause” eczema in children. Because, the environmental triggers vary from person to person. 

Symptoms Of Eczema In Children 

Here are the few clear symptoms of eczema in both infants & children

Children with eczema develop red, dry, itchy patches on the skin that result from inflammation. Itching may be severe and constant. Therefore, with frequent scratching, the skin may develop blisters, oozing, crusting, or sores from infection. 

Sometimes, if the child scratches for a long time period such as weeks and months, the skin may start to become very rough, leathery and darker in color.

In infants, eczema commonly affects the face, scalp, arms and legs.

In older children, eczema may be involved in the skin folds like insides of the elbows and backs of the knees.

Treatments To Manage Eczema 

Fortunately eczema will cure by its own in most of the cases. There are few skin care steps to manage eczema. Let’s have a look 

* Maintaining basic skin care

For children suffering with eczema, there should be a basic skin care routine with consistency. It is very important to hydrate the skin by applying moisturizer. This step must be continued even if symptoms are controlled. 

Moreover, hydrating skin helps prevent dryness and reduces the medication. Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and anti-itch are good options for moisturizing the skin.

* Noticing and eliminating triggers

As we have already shared the symptoms of eczema, we suggest the parents notice the triggers of eczema for your child. This will help to treat eczema in the best way. 

Avoiding triggers, such as harsh soaps, allergens, and extreme temperatures, is important. Additionally you can check on a few other things like clothes, fragrances, scented lotions, etc. 

If any of these are a trigger for eczema in children, try to avoid it completely. 

* Topical ointments, wraps, and medication

Usually, ointments are ideal which are thick and these work by locking moisture in the skin. But some parents or children complain about the ointment oiliness. In this case, thick creams are a good alternative. You can use the Cerave moisturizing cream, Cetaphil moisturizing cream, or Vanicream. Sometimes it’s helpful to mix a cream with an ointment in your hands and lather this on the dry skin. 

My suggestion is to do a patch test in a small area for your children while using any new ointment or cream. If you notice a reaction or discomfort it’s best to avoid using the product in the future. 

Unfortunately, what works great for one child may not work well for another. Therefore, you will likely have to try a few before you find the one for your child.

Generally, wet wraps can be used for more severe cases. To make a wet wrap, you first apply a moisturizer or healing ointment, then apply a dampened cotton wrap to the affected skin. Now cover it with a dry wrap and then pajamas on top. The wet layer should not be allowed to dry out and can be replaced if needed. This helps reduce itchiness and limits access to the skin to scratch it.

* Managing and monitoring infections triggers and secondary infections

Parents must remember that  children with eczema are at higher risk for skin infections. This is due to the disruption in their skin barrier and scratching. Generally, these skin infections can be mild, such as impetigo, which presents with itchy, fluid-filled blisters and crusting. Rarely, these skin infections are more serious, such as eczema herpeticum, which is the spread of herpes simplex virus to the skin.

Know More

When To Call A Doctor?

Even though eczema will be treated on its own, there are few conditions where you need a doctor visit. Let us see those conditions 

• You’re unsure of the diagnosis and need a proper action plan
• The eczema action plan is not working effectively
• Difficult to manage even after trying the moisturizers
• You’re using topical steroids for more than 2 weeks/month (you may need a different medication or to see a specialist like a dermatologist)
• Need to see an allergist if you feel there is a connection between certain foods
• If your child is feeling ill with a unique rash, it’s important to make sure it’s not a super-infection

Know More

Final Conclusion 

So, this is all the information that I want to share about eczema in children. And, I hope this article is helpful to you. Still if you have any kind of doubts on eczema like foods to avoid, etc. please post them in the comment box. 

And, follow this blog tiny2teens health for more useful blogs . You can also follow me on Instagram & YouTube. Thank you.