True enough, infants and young children are generally affected by eczema or atopic dermatitis. It is characterized by the swelling, itching, and scaling of the skin. Eczema in babies may be hard to manage because they cannot control scratching due to stubborn itching. It affects any parts of the body including the forehead, cheeks, scalp, the creases of the elbows, knees, plus the wrists. The exact cause of the skin condition is still unknown. However, there are factors that can cause the presence of the disorder. It is not infectious but people believe that in run in families with history of asthma and allergies.
Yes. Since there is no solitary treatment for this skin condition, there are various natural treatment for eczema that you can opt to try. These natural ways of healing will discourage and control the inflammation and itching of the skin. Some of the practices are frequent bathing, usage of natural oils and herbs, and application of necessary creams and lotions.
Skin doctors or dermatologists usually prescribe the following creams like Eucerin, Nivea, Cethaphil Moisturizing Cream and lubriderm.These are applied everyday whether you have eczema or not. They are responsible for keeping the skin moisturized throughout the day. Apply these after baths after the steroid creams. If the condition is serious, other would recommend using Aquaphor. These are proven to be effective though some experts advise that we should avoid moisturizing lotions.
In order to prevent atopic dermatitis flare ups, you may ask your skin doctor if steroid creams will benefit you. It is the basic treatment for this kind of skin condition. It is applied right away after bath to trap moisture and keep your skin smooth. On the other hand, if you noticed that the rashes is disappearing after continued use, you may reduce the number of times you apply the creams. On the other hand, it is best to contact your doctor. It is not advisable to use steroid cream on the face unless specified by your doctor. The most common steroid creams are Cutivate, Westcort, Lociod Lipocream, Artistocort, and Elocon. In some cases, people use steroid ointment since they are more effective than steroid creams.
For young children who are suffering from this skin disorder, it is vital that they take a bath, 15 to 20 minutes minimum. This will keep the skin moisturized and bring down the persistent itching. Use soaps for sensitive skins including Dove, Neutrogena, Tone, Caress, Dial, Basis, or Purpose. After bath, do not rub the skin when drying, friction could cause eczema flare ups. Pat the skin with soft towel and apply creams afterwards.
More often than not, due to compulsive scratching, infection may arise in the area. There are medicines which are helpful in reducing the itch such as Benadryl. You can always apply steroid crams on the affected areas to stop the itching.
These are some of the creams and lotions you can use to prevent the symptoms of eczema from occurring. It would be better to see a skin specialist as soon as you notice your child is suffering from eczema symptoms.
Learn and understand more about eczema in babies. We also have other information including symptoms, prevention, and natural cures for eczema on our website.
