Eczema in Children: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that affects both adults and children.
Why Eczema Gets Worse in Cold Weather
It typically tends to get worse in the colder months of the year once we turn on the heat. This takes humidity out of the air and makes our skin drier. This can lead to a vicious cycle where the dry skin causes itching, which then triggers inflammation (redness on the skin) which then causes more itching.
Who Is More Likely to Develop Eczema
Children with eczema may also have other inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. The condition can also run in families, so there is sometimes a genetic component to it.
Signs and Symptoms of Eczema
The signs and symptoms of eczema can include dry and scaly skin, itching, redness to the skin with small, raised bumps, and sensitivity to the touch. When the condition becomes chronic and not well treated, or difficult to treat, the skin can become thickened. Sometimes, from the scratching, the skin can break open and become infected. Then, the skin will develop crusting and oozing lesions.
How Eczema Is Treated
The mainstay for treatment is keeping the skin moist.
Daily Moisturizing Is Key
Use a moisturizer every day, especially after a bath or shower is best, helping trap moisture in the skin.
Steroid Creams and Ointments
When the skin becomes inflamed or irritated, a steroid cream or ointment can calm it down.
When to See a Dermatologist
For some babies and children, the condition becomes difficult enough to treat that we use the help from skin specialists (dermatologists) because we have to use stronger medicines.
