The probability of children suffering from eczema is about one in five people has eczema. Babies with eczema will have severe itching and redness, swelling and inflammation on the skin. Eczema is a chronic dermatitis, also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a common skin problem that plagues many infants and even adults. It usually starts before the child is two years old and improves after puberty. Although eczema cannot be cured, it can be effectively controlled with the right care.

Causes of Eczema

While it’s still impossible to know exactly what causes eczema, what we do know is that genes may play a role. When eczema flares up, the symptoms show up on the skin. Babies with eczema have very dry skin with itchy spots. Once they encounter an allergen, they will cause the immune system to overreact. The skin condition will suddenly deteriorate and become inflamed. At this time, further treatment is required. The patient’s skin has a sensitive gene, which is also the main cause of eczema. Because the congenital epidermis loses its barrier protection, it is easy to cause allergic symptoms when stimulated by foreign substances such as dust mites, animal hair, pollen, etc. If parents have eczema, genetic factors may increase the chance of their children developing eczema. Children with sensitive constitutions, such as nasal allergies or asthma, are also at high risk of developing eczema. In addition, food allergies can also induce eczema.

Eczema symptoms can also appear in newborn babies, usually in babies aged three to six months. Babies with eczema often have red spots on the scalp, around the mouth or on the cheeks. If the child has skin problems, parents should not make guesses on their own. They should consult the doctor for diagnosis as soon as possible. Improper use of ointments will delay the golden opportunity to see a doctor, and even cause acute eczema due to improper treatment, which may lead to inflammation and erythroderma , bacteria into the blood and other serious symptoms. Exposure to irritating chemical ingredients may trigger skin irritation, such as bubble baths, shampoos, washing powder or fabric softeners all contain chemical ingredients. Therefore, doctors recommend using mild soap or body wash, and you can also try non-biological laundry detergent, which may be able to improve the baby’s eczema. Eczema is very painful for children. It is difficult to control children from scratching. Scratching can easily lead to wound infection. In severe cases, sometimes eczema can make the child itchy enough to sleep well, and even affect the child’s self-confidence in appearance.

Treatment of eczema

The way eczema is treated depends on how severe the eczema is. For mild eczema with only a few erythema and itchiness, lightly applied moisturizer cream or ointment, or combined with short-term low-concentration steroid cream. Eczema makes the skin red and swollen, which not only affects the appearance, but also makes the patient feel itchy and unbearable. It is also necessary to apply moisturizer to moisturize the skin of the baby on weekdays to avoid sudden recurrence of eczema. For children with a history of eczema, apply enough moisturizer every day to keep the skin from drying out, even if there are no signs of flare-ups. Parents can find the most suitable product for their children by trying various brands of moisturizing body lotion, and pay attention to the ingredients in their products.

Eczema makes the skin red and swollen, which not only affects the appearance, but also makes the patient feel itchy. Dr. Chung from Hong Kong Adventist Hospital said that infants and young children will scratch their skin due to itching and cause discomfort, which may affect appetite and sleep. If their eczema worsens rapidly and their sleep quality is not good, it is more likely to affect their daily work and rest, which may affect their growth, and they will lose weight if they do not gain weight. “Parents can use non-alkaline soap with a moderate pH value formula, which will not irritate the child’s skin. At the same time, avoid bathing with overheated water. The water temperature of 38 to 39 degrees Celsius is ideal. Also, apply moisturizer frequently to the child. The doctor will recommend or provide different moisturizers according to the degree of eczema of the patient. For mild cases, you can use commonly available moisturizers. For moderate to severe cases, the doctor may recommend using a higher repairing degree , Moisturizing cream should be applied four to eight times a day, the situation varies from person to person.”

Can it be done without steroids? Steroid Side Effects

Many parents are afraid that it will be bad for their children when they hear the word “steroids”. Do people with eczema necessarily need steroids? Dr. Chung explained: “Some parents are worried that after their children use steroids, their skin will become thinner, capillary blood vessels will appear, or there will be systemic side effects, such as high blood sugar and high blood pressure if the body inhales a large amount of steroids. In fact, parents do not need to overdo it. Worried, there are many kinds of steroids, and the doctor recommends whether to use steroids according to the situation. If a child has a large area of ​​eczema, it is really necessary to use steroids to reduce inflammation and stabilize the skin condition. The doctor prescribes steroids with different concentrations and molecules according to the situation. If it is severe 60% to 70% of the patients have skin problems, such as “erythroderma”, which may cause skin dehydration and allow bacteria to invade. They need to use high-strength steroids, such as oral or injection.” Therefore, parents should pay attention to regular follow-up visits with their children and Follow the doctor’s instructions to use the prescribed medicines. Dr. Chung said that most of the patients experience side effects of steroids because they buy ointments indiscriminately and affect their condition.

Steroid creams or ointments are often prescribed by doctors to treat eczema in babies. These medicines are safe when used in the right way. The main side effect of steroid-containing drugs is thinning of the skin after long-term use, but no studies have yet confirmed that this phenomenon is permanent.
According to the severity of eczema, the doctor will choose the appropriate ointment and recommend the method and dosage of use. For example, a small amount of steroid ointment is applied to the affected area, no more than twice a day, and the dosage is arranged according to the patient’s condition.

other treatments

If the eczema is so itchy that it disrupts your child’s sleep and sleep schedule, your doctor may consider oral antihistamines. This is not part of the regular medication for eczema, most of those given to young children may have a drowsy effect and are best taken at night. Please consult your doctor before taking antihistamines. Further exacerbations may require strong steroid creams or ointments, or referral to a dermatologist may be required if treatment is ineffective.

Maintaining the home environment will also help some patients improve their condition. The bed is changed twice a week, and the sheets, clothes, and towels are washed with hot water to help eliminate dust mites. Plush dolls are also easy to accumulate dust and other allergens. It is advisable to dry clean them regularly, or it is recommended to play with plush dolls as little as possible. It is common for patients to develop or relapse eczema in hot summer and dry season. If a patient with eczema finds that less sweating makes the condition better, they need to reduce exposure to the sun to avoid sweating and irritating the skin.

Finally, parents of severe eczema patients need to go through a long-term treatment plan. Parents should not blame themselves too much or restrict their children’s behavior too much. As long as you deal with it step by step, as the baby grows older and the parents take care of it patiently, there is still a chance for the baby’s skin problems to gradually become healthy.

Source: Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Mommy Baby and Doctor Hello