Atopic dermatitis or eczema, is a common problem in infants and children. Both my boys have it when they were younger and I would apply certain kinds of gels and lotions to help with the dryness. Eczema, per definition from medical websites, usually begins between two and six months of age with very dry and sensitive skin that will then become red and extremely itchy. I remember that my youngest had some on the forehead, cheeks and scalp and a few on his trunk, creases of the elbows, knees, and wrists.
Some of the more common household name for the Lotions and Gels are Eucerin, Nivea, Cethaphil Moisturizing Cream, or Lubriderm, should be used every day.
I’m pretty sure there are other kinds of eczema relief out there, I’m just glad that the boys’ skin got better.
Allergies
To help prevent kids having eczema, it is vital for them to undergo an allergy test. By avoiding things that are known to trigger your child’s eczema, it will be easier. These may include certain foods (cow’s milk, eggs, peanut butter, fish), wool fibers and clothes, rough or tight fitting clothing, dry air, sweating, getting too hot or too cold (avoid hot or cold water), harsh soaps or chemicals, and stress. For my older boy, he has allergy with cat hair, soja, birch tree and dust…which is not particularly easy as dust is all around, reason why he is the thinnest among the three. The little boy on the other hand has allergies with egg whites so he stopped drinking milk since age 2 and he switched to soja milk. (Ironic, how one can have soja and the other cannot.)
Bathing
Bathing and eczema seem to contradict each other 🙂 , but many people think the practice of limiting baths is old school or old fashioned. Many experts now recommend a daily bath for kids with eczema with the use of special oil that helps moisturize the skin.
Swimming is allowed too, but to prevent your child’s skin from drying out immediately, shower or bathe to wash off chlorine and other chemicals and apply a moisturizer to help prevent .
Just remember to be patient. This is a chronic disease that usually improves and then comes back, but with therapy you can prevent it from happening again.
