How to deal with eczema in young children
Eczema is dry, scaly, and itchy skin that affects babies all the way up to adults. Eczema is normally caused from a hereditary, an allergic reaction to something in the person's diet, or a reaction to something that the person touches.
Diagnosing eczema or signs of the disease include:
• Itching
• Dryness of the skin
• Skin Inflammation
• Secondary infection of the skin
• Frequent flare-ups of eczema activity
• Family history of eczema, hay fever, or asthma
However, to be sure that the condition is from eczema three or more of these conditions must also be present
• the itchy dry patches involve the skin in from the elbows, behind the knees, and the side of the neck or cheeks on children,
• A history of hay fever or asthma
• A history of atopic disease in patients under the age of 14
• dry skin in earlier years
• Eczema present in the folds of the skin around the elbows, knees or on the face and limbs of children under 4.
• Eczema beginning before the age of 2
• Involvement of skin in front of the elbows, behind the knees, the side of the neck or on the cheeks of children
• Personal history of asthma or hay fever, a history of atopic disease in first degree relatives in those under the age of 4 years
• General dry skin in the previous year
• Eczema present in the folds of skin in front or the elbows or behind the knees of on the face or outer aspects of the limbs in the under 4 year olds
• Eczema starting before the age of 2 years
Treatment for eczema includes:
• Adding more omega 3's to the diet, which is found in coldwater fish like salmon.
• drink plenty of water (1 ounce of water for each pound of body weight per day)
• after a bath do not dry completely (pat dry)
• use a moisturizing lotion
• Avoid foods such as dairy products, citrus fruits, egg whites, wheat, nuts, tomatoes, shellfish, and soy
• Keep fingernails short
• If breastfeeding, avoid foods that are considered allergens
In many cases, children can outgrow eczema if the above measures are taken.
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