How to Relieve Your Child’s Eczema Symptoms

Eczema — also commonly referred to as atopic dermatitis — is a condition that causes skin to become irritated, red, dry, bumpy, and itchy. While many adults live with this condition, it also affects about 15% of children, and many parents find that eczema can really negatively impact their child’s quality of life.

There’s no cure for eczema, but there are plenty of ways to manage it and keep severe symptoms at bay. 

Because eczema can be a difficult condition to live with — especially for children, our team led by Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, at the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, wants to provide some tips for how you can get relief for your child living with eczema. 

Focus on keeping their skin barrier healthy

Those living with eczema tend to have skin that doesn’t hold water well, leaving it dry and itchy. Performing some gentle skin care on your child can help repair their skin barrier and provide the moisture it needs. 

These are some ways to keep their skin moisturized and itch-free:

• Give your child a lukewarm (not hot) bath or shower every day for 5-10 minutes
• Avoid soaps or bubble baths with fragrances
• Apply fragrance-free moisturizers often, especially during cold months
• Dress your child in soft clothing that won’t irritate their sensitive skin

If you notice that any skin care products make your child's eczema worse, stop using them and discard them immediately. 

Keep them from itching

While skin care can help reduce dry skin and subsequent itchiness, your child might still have a hard time resisting the urge to scratch their skin, which can lead to open sores and even infection. 

Remember to remind your child often not to scratch their skin and keep their fingernails short in case they have a difficult time remembering. Having them wear gloves to bed or take an antihistamine at night may also be helpful if they scratch in their sleep. 

Adding a very small amount of bleach to their bath once or twice a week may also help reduce itching and keep potential infections at bay. 

Understand their triggers

It’s fairly common for kids with eczema to also have some type of allergy. Allergic reactions can make eczema worse, so helping them avoid their allergens can help reduce the risk of eczema flare-ups as well. 

Common eczema triggers for kids include food allergies, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and insect bites. In addition, high levels of stress or getting overheated may also cause their eczema to worsen. 

To learn more about how to help your child with their eczema symptoms, schedule an appointment with our team by calling our office or booking online today.