Eczema is incredibly common in children, and in all honesty, there is not really one right treatment for it. What works for one child’s eczema might not for another. It is totally normal to have to go through several treatment options before you find the right one. Try to be consistent in your efforts, and don’t get discouraged. Let’s explore your options.
Common Causes
There are several causes of childhood eczema. Often it can be hereditary, meaning if a parent or grandparent suffered or suffers from eczema, then the likelihood increases. It can also result from an allergy to a dietary or environmental trigger. Identifying the triggers can go a long way in helping to treat eczema, so bear that in mind. Patient has a wealth of information on skin conditions like eczema, including causes, symptoms and treatments.
Bathe & Moisturise
Bathing and moisturising should form the basis of your child’s eczema care routine. Properly hydrated skin is less likely to experience flare-ups. It also helps to protect it against allergens and irritants too. You can find a lot of products that are designed to help the body absorb the moisture from bathing; they can be prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter. That being said, it is always worth doing a patch test first to make sure the product doesn’t irritate your child’s skin further. The same can be said for moisturisers.
Bleach Baths
Bleach baths can be an invaluable tool when it comes to dealing with your child’s eczema. It can reduce inflammation and kill bacteria on the surface of the skin that’s been irritating it. A bleach bath might sound extreme, but the concentration is very low; it is similar to that of chlorine in pools. Too much bleach can aggravate the skin further, so be precise. It should be around 150 ml of bleach for a whole bath. Allow the child to sit in it for no more than ten minutes. If you feel a little apprehensive, then make sure that you consult with your child’s GP first.
Doctor Prescribed Treatments
Realistically it is going to be all but impossible to deal with your child’s eczema without medical help; it isn’t something that at-home remedies can treat. When it comes to doctor-prescribed medications, you have a few options at your disposal. Firstly, topical medications. There are many different forms of creams and ointments that your doctor might decide to prescribe for your child; they vary in potency, so read the instructions for usage.
They might also be prescribed antibiotics – if the eczema is the result of an infection. Or oral steroids. Steroids are some of the strongest forms of eczema treatments, and they can be ingested in tablet form or applied to the skin topically. However, some doctors are reluctant to prescribe steroids to children because a dependency can develop.
Phototherapy, or light therapy, is another option, although it is not often prescribed for children because it can have long term health effects. Phototherapy involves exposing the skin to UV rays, which in excess has been known to cause skin cancer.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with your child’s eczema is not always easy, especially if it is on the more serious side. However, more often than not, they do tend to grow out of it. Until that happens, the best thing that you can do is to keep your child’s skin hydrated and moisturised. Take care of the flare-ups as they occur.
