What are the symptoms of eczema?
Eczema is a chronic condition that’s very common among babies and young children. During an eczema flare-up, your little one may develop patches of red skin that becomes very itchy. Their skin may be:
- Overly dry and scaly
- Very raw and sensitive (from scratching)
- Covered in small, raised bumps that may ooze
Eczema can lead to poor sleep quality, too. In most cases, eczema develops before your child’s fifth birthday. It can persist well into adolescence and even adulthood. But once you learn about your child’s eczema causes and triggers, you can learn to manage it and lower the risk of ongoing painful flare-ups.
What causes eczema?
Your skin retains moisture naturally. This layer of moisture protects your skin and lowers the chances of harmful bacterial invaders from getting inside.
When you have eczema though, you have a gene abnormality that limits your skin’s ability to retain moisture. This leads to seriously dry skin. As a result, seemingly harmless environmental elements can dramatically irritate and inflame your skin.
If your child has eczema, any of the following factors may be to blame:
- Family history of eczema
- Skin infections
- Contact dermatitis
- Hay fever
- Allergies
- Asthma
Neurodermatitis, a condition that leads to persistent itchy, scaly skin, also increases your child’s risk of eczema. No matter the cause though, Dr. Johnson at Camp Creek Pediatrics can improve your child’s skin health.
How does a pediatrician treat eczema?
Eczema can be stubborn to manage, but with Dr. Johnson’s help, you can help minimize the frequency and severity of your child’s eczema flare-ups. Some of the most effective treatments for eczema include:
- Itch-relieving creams
- Anti-inflammatory drugs, like corticosteroids
- Infection-fighting medications (oral or topical)
Dr. Johnson also teaches you about skin care products and laundry detergents you can use that won’t irritate your child’s delicate skin. She may recommend applying wet dressings during those times when eczema is causing your child pain and discomfort.
Before your child struggles with painful eczema flare-ups another day, see how Camp Creek Pediatrics can help. Book your child’s eczema evaluation online or over the phone today.
