Help: My child suffers from atopic eczema!
Atopic eczema in young children can improve significantly, or even clear completely, as your child grows older.
If your child’s skin is itchy, dry, and cracked, they could be suffering from atopic eczema. Atopic eczema is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday.
Atopic eczema and my child’s skin
Atopic eczema can affect any part of the skin, including the face, but the areas most commonly affected are the bends of the elbows, around the knees, and around the wrists and neck. These are known as “flexural” areas. It affects both sexes equally and usually starts in the first weeks or months of life. It is most common in children, affecting at least 10% of infants, although it can carry on into adult life or come back in the teenage or early adult years.
What causes atopic eczema in children?
This is still not fully understood. Atopy runs in families and is part of your genetic make-up. Atopic people have an overactive immune system and their skin easily becomes inflamed. Their skin “barrier” does not work well, so that their skin may become dry and prone to infection. Atopic eczema is not contagious.
A word on flare-ups
Many external factors can aggravate eczema. These include heat, dust, and contact with irritants such as soaps and detergents. Being unwell, for example, having a cold, can make eczema flare-up, and infections with bacteria or viruses can make eczema worse. Bacterial infections make the skin yellow, crusty, and inflamed and may need treatment with antibiotics. Dryness of skin and even, sometimes, stress can cause eczema to flare up.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptom is itching. Scratching in response to this may be responsible for many of the changes seen on the skin. Itching can sometimes interfere with sleep if it’s very bad.
Can atopic eczema be cured?
The bad news is that atopic eczema cannot be cured but there are many ways of controlling it. Most children with atopic eczema improve as they get older (75% clear by their teens). However, many of those who have had eczema continue to have dry skin and need to avoid irritants such as soaps or bubble baths. Eczema may persist in adults but it should be controllable with the right treatment.
How can atopic eczema be treated?
You will need to visit a dermatologist who will advise on the best treatment and the duration thereof. The treatments used most often are moisturisers and topical steroid creams or ointments.
