Conditions
Eczema
Eczema, also referred to as dermatitis, is one of the commonest skin complaints in kids and adults, and it can range from a mild irritation to a chronic affliction. There are several different types of the disease but atopic eczema is the strain most likely to effect children – one in five suffer to some degree. It can develop in babies before they reach their first birthday and though in 65 per cent of cases it has cleared up by 16, for others it remains an issue into adulthood.
Though doctors are still uncertain about the precise cause of atopic eczema, it’s associated with allergies and diet. Children with hay fever and asthma may also be at a higher risk, and the condition can be passed genetically from parents to their kids. Eczema is not contagious, however. The condition takes the form of patches of dry, cracked, flaky and inflamed skin. This can be itchy, and if scratched may bleed and become infected. Any area where the skin is under stress can be affected – joints, the backs of knees and elbows, and the face. Stress and heat can also make the condition worse.
There is no cure for eczema, and if your child suffers you’ll need to visit your GP, but there are lots of things you can do to manage the condition. Scratching makes the discomfort worse, so discourage this and keep your kids’ fingernails cut short. It’s also very important to keep the skin properly hydrated, so avoid conventional soap, which dries the skin out. Your doctor will prescribe emollients – intensive moisturising creams which can be applied all over the body. Mild steroid creams can also be prescribed by your doctor. In some cases certain foods, such as dairy products, exacerbate eczema. You should talk to your doctor and a dietician about keeping a food diary and, if necessary, cutting out certain kinds of foods.
The physical discomfort of eczema can be hard for kids to deal with, but there are psychological issues too, both personal and as a result of teasing. The important thing to remember is that millions of people do live with the condition, that it may get better as your child grows up, and that with the right treatment it isn’t hard to control.
For more information, see:
National Eczema Society and Eczema Voice
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VCO is the way to go. I have been using only coconut oil( virgin, organic0 for 2 weeks..............my facial eczema is looking good. I also apply it very very sparingly to red patches before bed. Also no dairy, wheat or sugar. Sounds tough but it's a joy to have soft clear skin, so I find it worth the effort.
Thanks for the advice - he's practically given up suger, wheat and dairy (very hard at first but he's getting used to it) and his skin has calmed down a lot! He has also been having accupuncture - amazing results and they tell me they can do a pressure point version on small children which does not involve needles. It's not cheap £42 for the first session - but once you have been seen they can often offer cheaper rates for different kinds of consultations. If anyonw lives within driving distance of East Grinstead in W Sussex they have an amazing centre there and the staff are great. Tel: 01342 313106 for details. Also in Forrest Rowe W Sussex there is a tiny shop called Ghiai (I think that's how it's spelt). I went in there after being recommended by a friend and spoke to a herbalist. She recommended a tea made from Borrage and Chickweed. Wow! within half an hour my son had almost stopped scratching and the burning sensation had really decreased. He was told to have 3-5 cups a day to start with and then reduce that number if he found he didn't need as much. Now he has a cup at bedtime (and has been sleeping much better) and usually takes the equivalent to a large mug to work cold to drink through the day. It only costs about £2 for enough for just over a week at the full dose. Brilliant stuff I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks for everyone's ideas and hope all the suffers out there find some relief. X
My 19 year old son has had eczema all his life. Over the past 3 years it has become much worse. He is covered from under his chin, down his neck and arms and all over his chest and back. Every gream, steriod etc we've been given just seems to aggravate it. We've tried the sea salt (this sometimes helps but not always!) will try coconut oil - will get some today). His skin looks like red wrinkly paper and is forever splitting. He barely goes out, is struggling with work and has lost his girlfriend. He's angry al the time and in so much pain. Even when he's asleep (he usually has to ake very stronge anti histermeines to help with this) he's crying out in his sleep as he's scratching. We are both exhaused ad desperate - I'm also getting scared as he has recently said he'd be better off dead. What do I do to help him???
My daughter (4)has eczema which only flares up in the summer months for the rest of the year she is clear. So at the moment I am also having to listen to her cry out mummy help in the middle of the night and it is heart breaking so I can only imagine what your going through. However my cousin (now in her 40s) had eczema most of her life. I remember spending summers with her when we was little and having to listen to her cry every night from the itching and then in the morning her bed would be covered in spots of blood and skin from where she would be scratching all night. Two years ago her sister took her to a hypnotherapist 3 months and 3 sessions later her eczema had gone and has not come back. Im not saying this will work for you son but it might be worth researching.
Hi, just wondered if he has explored with his Gp or dermatologist whether there are ingredients in the creams he is allergic to, patch testing can be done to clarify this. Some people have problems with steroids, with red skin as a result, there is a support group which helps with this.
I've had eczema for 13 years and here are some tips: KEEP SHEETS, TOWELS, PJ'S, AND YOUR BODY/ HOME CLEAN! at all times. Never put oils on especially baby oil. When you go to the mail salon,don't let them put lotions or oils on you. When your breaking out try putting your arm(etc.) In the freezer and makes the burning and itchy sensation go away. When you have your heater on keep a humidifier, fans on, or keep it on low and just bundle up in a clean blanket. When you touch something dirty or go outside or pet a a pet wash your hands(ALOT) Take a nice shower after breaking and try relaxing. And go to sleep.
my grandson has bad eczema behind his knees and on his arms have tried everything the doctor gives us,steroid cream is the best but cant use it all the time,i think the next step will be a dermatoligist and hopefully he can help him.He is 3 yrs old he has had it since he was 1.
I have eczema and i have discovered a miracle. I been cooking using vco in most of my meals and drinking coconut oil. My eczema reduces tremendously. Less redness and weeping . Try this out and hope this will help all of us in leading a normal and happy life.
Do you know Top 3 Natural Eczema Treatments That Work ?
my 4 year old has eczema on her elbows and it now seems to b spearding down her arms! ne cream leaves her cryin in agony as she says they burn her skin! has ne1 else suffered this n know a way i can help her?? thanks
There are creams that may state for children but still contain ingredients that irritate her skin. Everyone, & every child's skin is different. You can do an allergy test to find out what's triggering the eczema, or a patch test to see what ingredients in moisturizer she's allergic to. Burning skin is not that common, so may have to see specialist (PD in child dermatology) if condition persist. Meantime, a hypoallergenics authority has answered some of my questions on sensitive skin product on eczemablues.com, some of the answers should help.
When you put the cream on try opening up your freezer and letting her sit in front of it.(I know it sounds crazy but when I had to do that when I was little I did the same thing so my dad would make it better by having the freezer cool it down and it really did help a lot)
My 5 year daughter has suffered with eczema since birth. It recently got so bad that her skin started cracking & bleeding & her skin is flaking all over her bedsheets. I've been to the doctors countless of times, getting bath/shower ointments, steroid creams and even medication at one point. I found none of this have worked more better than 100% natural sea salt, which I put in her bath & use nothing else. After I apply 100% pure coconut oil then natural aloe. I notice within a week, her skin has softened, less flaking and she is happy. I have not been back to the doctors since using these and it's been two weeks already. I highly recommend researching natural redemdies.
Virgin coconut oil has anti-viral properties and not likely to trigger any adverse reaction. VMV a hypoallergenics company will answer my question on coconut oil as part of my 13-part series with them on sensitive skin on http://eczemablues.com. Note that not all coconut oil guaranteed not to trigger reaction because the processing of some may lead to allergy.
Coconut oil has anti-viral properties but not all coconut oil will not trigger allergy because the processing of it affects its allergenicity. VMV, a leading hypoallergenics co, will answer my question on eczemablues.com on coconut oil. Reminder that natural does not equal not allergenic. Do get patch test for your child when she's old enough.
Hi i am 27 years old and have suffered with eczema on my upper eye lids on and off thoughout my life. it has now left me with sagging eye lids and the skin is thin and wrinkly and it has left me looking at least 10 years older than i am... it is really upsetting and is really knocking my self esteem..is there anything that can be done to help tighten up the skin ??
My 5 year old has developed eczma on her face ever since suffering she had impitigo as a toddler. It constantly flares up an despite going to the doctors they tell me there's nothing I can do other than keeping on top of creaming her face. It doesn't seem to do anything though and I can see it causing her problems as she gets older. She has been referred to hospital specialist an it just doesn't get better until I use steroid cream an doctors don't want to give me it because she's so young. I don't think it would be as bad if you could hide it. Just wondering if there was anyone else that could help an if it could be related to the impitigo?
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