Eczema

An unfortunate common childhood disorder is eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. No parent or guardian feels at ease when their child is constantly red or itchy. Moreover, this is a chronic condition with consistent flare ups. Eczema is accompanied by asthma or hay fever making it a very uncomfortable for the child and for the parent to manage. Symptoms include:

  • Itching, especially at night
  • Red to brownish-gray patches
    • On ankles, hands, feet, wrists, neck, upper chest, elbows, knees, eyelids
    • Infants: face and scalp
  • Raised, small bumps à leak fluid and crust when they are scratched
  • Thickened, cracked, dry or scaly skin
  • Raw, sensitive, swollen or enflamed skin, possibly from scratching.

Furthermore, these signs and symptoms may be worsened by:

  • Dry skin à moisturize skin regularly
  • Scratching à skin damage
  • Bacterial infections
  • Viral infections
  • Stress à emotional, mental, social, psychological
  • Heat or humidity à changes in climate
  • Solvents
  • Cleaners
  • Soaps
  • Detergents
  • Clothing that is allergenic (pure cotton is preferred)
    • Wool, nylon, silk
  • Dust and pollen
  • Tobacco smoke and air pollution
  • Food allergies
    • Eggs
    • Milk
    • Peanuts
    • Soy products
    • Fish
    • Wheat – celiac disease

It is recommended to seek medical attention at the earliest of the signs and symptoms because if caught early the disease can be easily managed and further complications can be avoided. These complications include:

  • Asthma
  • Hay fever
  • Chronic itchy and scaly skin
  • Skin infection s à open sores, cracks
  • Eye à blepharitis, conjunctivitis
  • Irritant hand dermatitis ß harsh soaps, detergents, disinfectants
  • Allergic contact dermatitis à treat with corticosteroids
  • Sleep apnea due to irritation
  • Behavioral issues
    • Linked to atopic dermatitis, ADHD.

All in all, there is no conclusive test to determine if a child has eczema, but it is a clinical diagnosis. Treatment options are vast, and will be applied accordingly to the child’s individual needs and disease progression.

  • Medications
    • Creams to decrease itching and inflammation
    • Creams to help repair skin
      • Tacrolimus
      • Pimecrolimus
    • Drugs to fight infection
    • Oral anti-itch drugs
      • Antihistamines
      • Diphenhydramine
    • Control inflammation
      • Corticosteroids
        • Prednisone
      • Therapies
        • Wet dressing
          • Wrapping affected area with topical corticosteroids and wet bandages
        • Light therapy
          • Phototherapy – UVA, UVB
        • Treat the underlying causes
          • Stress
          • Allergies
          • Irritants
        • Relaxation à behavior modification à biofeedback
      • Infantile Eczema
        • Avoid irritants
        • Avoid extreme temperatures
        • Lubricate and moisturize baby’s skin with oils, lotions and ointments
      • Alternative Medication
        • Dietary
          • Vitamin D
          • Vitamin E
          • Zinc
          • Selenium
          • Oils
        • John’s Wart
        • Acupuncture
        • Aromatherapy
        • Bioresonance
        • Chromotherapy
        • Homeopathy
        • Massage.

Those who reside in Denver should visit the Denver Holistic Center for more information. Eczema is a disease process which can be very difficult to cope with because many times it becomes necessary to cover the baby’s hands and feet to prevent them from itching themselves. Parents and guardians find this hard to do on their children because it is a difficult site. In addition, infants are particularly irritated with some of these remedies, so the parents and guardians should be fully trained beforehand by the physician. Support should be offered to families with children severely affected by eczema and things which exacerbate the condition should be avoided.