September is here, which means it’s Eczema Awareness Month—a crucial time to shed light on the challenges of eczema in kids.
If your child is one of the millions affected by this common skin condition, you know that managing eczema can be a full-time job.
But you’re not alone. In the post below, we seek to give you a better understanding of what eczema is, how it impacts kids, and what steps you can take to make your child’s daily life feel more comfortable.
What is Eczema in Kids?
Atopic eczema—or atopic dermatitis—is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. It’s the most common form of eczema in children, often appearing before the age of five.
For infants, eczema typically shows up on the scalp, face, and especially the cheeks. Skin is dry and might have a scaly rash. Baby eczema can also appear on the elbows and knees. The skin may be itchy and in severe cases it might be raw or weep fluid. The symptoms may come and go.
When eczema develops in children between 2 years and puberty, it typically starts as dry scaly, itchy patches. Common areas include the creases of knees and elbows, in belly buttons, and on the legs, neck, wrists and ankles. Over time, the skin may become thick and discolored, resulting in the skin becoming chronically itchy.
What causes eczema is not well understood, but scientists know that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved. The Mount Sinai Health System states that certain genetic factors weaken the skin barrier—the outermost layer of skin—allowing moisture to escape and bacteria and viruses to enter more easily.
Environmental factors can then trigger eczema symptoms. Dust mites, for example, can prompt the immune system to overreact, attacking skin cells and causing dryness and flaking. Allergens can also trigger the immune system in the same way. These may include certain food ingredients, pollen, fragrances in personal and laundry care products, and more.
Indeed, eczema often accompanies other allergic conditions like asthma, hay fever, and seasonal allergies. Many children with eczema also have food allergies.
HealthyChildren.org adds that many children with eczema don’t have enough of a protein known as “filaggrin” in the outer layer. Filaggrin helps skin form that strong barrier between the body and the environment. Without enough of it, the outer barrier is weak and has a hard time holding onto moisture or keeping irritants out.
What Does Eczema in Kids Look Like?
Children living with eczema suffer from several symptoms, including the following, that negatively affect their daily lives:
Discomfort
The persistent itching and irritation can be very uncomfortable, affecting a child’s mood, sleep, and overall quality of life.
Sleep Disturbances
When eczema flares up, it can keep kids awake with nighttime itching. This can lead to daytime sleepiness and behavioral problems.
Activity Restrictions
Some activities, like swimming or playing certain sports, may exacerbate eczema symptoms, making a child less likely to take part.
Daily Vigilance
If exposure to certain foods, allergens, or product ingredients causes eczema flare-ups in your child, you may find that you’re adopting a vigilant attitude toward what he or she eats, does, or uses. This can create a stressful lifestyle for you both.
Social Impact
Kids with eczema may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their skin, leading to social withdrawal. This can affect their self-esteem and make them less likely to risk social interactions.
Managing Eczema in Kids: Practical Tips
While there is no cure for eczema, some children will naturally grow out of it. Others will continue to have dry, sensitive skin as they grow up.
Either way, you can help your child by teaching them how to prevent and manage symptoms. We recommend the following steps.
Identify and Avoid Triggers
Your child’s eczema likely flares up in response to certain triggers. It may help to keep a diary for a couple of weeks. Track potential triggers like certain foods, environmental factors, or stress. Gradually narrow down your findings until you have a good grasp of those things that seriously affect your child’s skin, and then try to avoid those things as much as you can.
Bathe Gently
Every time you wash the skin, you risk stripping it of its natural moisturizing oils. A kid with eczema already has dry skin, so you want to carefully protect the moisture they have.
Use gentle cleansers that are pH-balanced, fragrance-free, and moisturizing.
Limit time in the bath or shower to 5 to 10 minutes or less.
Avoid using hot water—lukewarm is less likely to strip the skin.
Pat the skin dry with a towel—don’t rub.
Always apply moisturizer immediately after washing and bathing.
Establish a Consistent Skincare Routine
It’s essential to keep skin moisturized. Use gentle, fragrance-free emollient skincare products and use them often.
CV Skinlabs products were formulated to help relieve symptoms of eczema like dryness and itching, as well as red, irritated skin. All of our ingredients are thoroughly tested for both safety and efficacy and are dermatologist recommended. The formulas are always chemical and steroid free and help reduce inflammation.
That means parents can feel good about using these products, as they are safe for babies and children.
Teaching your child a healthy skincare routine is always helpful, as it allows them to learn good habits from a young age. But if your child has eczema, this is even more critical. Starting from the age of four or five, take your child through a morning and night skincare routine. Explain why it is important, and describe the basic three steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
Cleansing: Always use a gentle, creamy cleanser with lukewarm water. Consistently emphasize these important aspects of cleansing. Shop for products with your child. Explain which products are best for their skin and why.
Toning: This is a critical step for kids with eczema. Always avoid alcohol toners, as they will further dry out your child’s skin. Use our Rescue + Relief Spray as it not only helps balance the skin’s pH level, it moisturizes and reduces inflammation preparing your child’s skin to accept moisturizer.
Moisturizer: Your child’s skin is drier than it should be, which means the outer barrier is compromised. Moisturization is extremely important in managing eczema symptoms. Teach your child to always moisturize immediately after washing, bathing, and showering.
We recommend our fragrance-free Calming Moisture and Body Repair Lotion. They both have anti-inflammatory ingredients and (gluten-free) oats that help calm inflamed skin, along with ceramides, emollients like natural shea butter, and oils that replenish moisture and help rebuild the outer barrier.
Avoid Harsh Products
Think of your child’s skin as sensitive skin and treat it accordingly. That means always purchasing gentle skin care products, cleansing products, laundry products, and clothing. Use hypoallergenic laundry detergents and always avoid harsh soaps. Choose soft, breathable fabrics like cotton, and avoid rough or scratchy materials that can irritate the skin.
Create a Skin-Friendly Home Environment
Place a humidifier in your child’s bedroom to add moisture to the air, particularly during the winter and year-round if you live in a dry climate. Do your best to keep your home cool, as heat and sweating can trigger flare-ups.
Manage Itching
Regularly trim your child’s fingernails to minimize damage or infections caused by scratching. Use our Rescue + Relief Spray to provide instant relief from itching and inflammation. It has natural cooling ingredients that remove heat while moisturizing on contact.
Treat Sore Areas Immediately
If your child suffers from wounds because of itching and scratching, treat these immediately. Cleanse gently, then apply our Restorative Skin Balm. It will create a safeguarding barrier that traps moisture. It is a steroid-free reparative solution that will instantly soothe and moisturize while encouraging faster healing and skin regeneration.
Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle
Your child’s skin condition depends not only on how you treat the skin on the outside, but also on how you nourish it from the inside. Teach your child about how nutrition feeds the skin, and promote a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables. Always have water to offer to your child, and avoid sugary drinks that sap moisture from the skin.
Support Emotional Well-Being
Encourage your child to talk to you regularly about how they feel. This will allow them to open up about any negative experiences they may have related to their eczema. If your child’s condition is significantly affecting his or her life, consider joining support groups or connecting with other families dealing with the same eczema symptoms.
Determine What’s Best for Your Child
Eczema acts differently in some children than others. Be patient and willing to try different approaches so you can find what works best for your child. If you have further questions, consult with your local dermatologist for help.
How do you manage eczema in kids?
Featured image by Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels.