Eczema in childhood

by The National Eczema Society

Identifying and controlling this common skin problem in children – guidelines from the National Eczema Society

‘Eczema’ comes from the ancient Greek, meaning ‘to boil over’ - a good way to describe how children feel when they have this skin condition. Commonly known as dermatitis, eczema in its mildest form produces itchy dry skin. In severe cases, it affects the whole body, causing irritation, inflammation, flaking and sometimes blisters, which weep and form a crust. Children want to scratch the hot, itchy areas of skin and if it is broken there’s a risk of infection, although eczema itself is not infectious or contagious.

It’s an increasing problem affecting 1 in 8 children. The good news is that most children have mild forms of eczema which can be treated and it often clears as they grow older: 60-70% of children are clear of skin inflammation by their mid-teens.

Types of eczema.

There are many distinct types of eczema. The most common include:

Atopic eczema: It first appears in infancy and is largely confined to childhood. Atopic eczema is inherited and strongly linked with asthma and hayfever.
Allergic contact dermatitis: caused when the skin comes into contact with a substance which causes an allergic reaction. Common allergens include nickel, chromate, rubber, glues, resins, preservatives in ointments and cosmetics or even plants.
Seborrhoeic eczema: often starts with an itchy, scaly scalp and severe dandruff and spreads into a facial rash. Infantile seborrhoeic eczema or cradle cap usually develops during the first year of a baby's life. It takes the form of a greasy, scaly scalp. Although it looks unpleasant, this type of eczema does not appear to trouble the baby and often clears up on its own.

Treatments

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for most forms of eczema. There are various treatments and some have risks or disadvantages associated with them.

Emollients

Using emollients regularly is the most important factor in preventing eczema. Emollients are mixtures of oils, fats and water which help to restore the oil and moisture content of the skin. They are available from pharmacists or on prescription, in the form of creams, ointments, soap substitutes, lotions and medicinal bath oils.
Risks:take care when bathing. The creams and oils make the bath and the child slippery.

Bathing

Frequent bathing is essential. Add special emulsifying oils to counteract the drying effects and have the water warm, not too hot.

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Eczema in childhood