Disclosure: “I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for WaterWipes. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”
Does your child have eczema? One summer when my oldest son was 2 years old, I noticed that he was having some problems with his skin. He had a rash on the back of his legs, along the rolls on his arms and legs, and in the folds of his arms. I had no clue what was causing this rash so I took him to the doctor. His pediatrician diagnosed him with eczema.
The symptoms of eczema vary from person to person. It may even look different too. Your child’s symptoms can range from mild, moderate, and extreme. Over the past several years, I have learned to manage my son’s eczema and wanted to share these tips with you.
Eczema Symptoms
If your child has any of the following symptoms, you should have your child seen by a doctor to rule out other medical conditions.
- dry, sensitive skin
- intense itching
- red, inflamed skin
- frequent, recurring rash
- skin that looks scaly
- rough patches of skin that resembles leather
- oozing or crusting
- swollen skin
- dark colored patches of skin
Talk to your Child’s Doctor
When I noticed the rash on my son, I decided to take him to the doctor because lotion wasn’t clearing it up. His skin was red and it looked irritated. I didn’t want to mess around since I wasn’t sure what was going on. His doctor told me that he had eczema and they prescribed him medication to help treat the symptoms. Don’t get discouraged if it takes several trips to the doctor to figure out the best way to treat your child’s eczema.
Use a Good Moisturizer Often
In addition to any prescription medications, you should keep the skin moisturized. This will help reduce the redness and itching. I always used Moisturel or Eucerin. It is super thick lotion but it is made especially for dry skin. Apply a thin layer several times a day. Make sure that you thoroughly apply moisturizers after you get out of the bath or shower. If your child is having a flare up, you can even add moisturizer before they get into the bathtub to help prevent the soap from drying it out too much.
Use a Gentle Soap
Stay away from harsh chemicals that is found in many of the soaps on the market. I liked using Dove for Sensitive Skin for my son. I also switched to dye free laundry soap and use dyer balls instead of using fabric softener. I also searched for products that were made specifically for sensitive skin.
Learn What Triggers Flare Ups
My son seems to have more issues during the summer time especially if he goes swimming or spends a ton of time outside. The summer time heat causes him to sweat more and it makes his skin flare up. If you notice that your child’s skin flares up after eating certain foods, you can avoid those triggers. I always tell my son during the summer time to make sure that he treats his problem areas before they become an issue.
Use WaterWipes™
If your infant has sensitive skin, Babies “R” Us now carries WaterWipes™ that are made for babies who have skin sensitives or parents who want to reduce the number of chemicals their child is exposed too. WaterWipes™ contain no additives, perfumes, or dyes that can irritate your child’s skin. These wipes are made up of 99.9% water and 0.1% fruit extract. You can find these wipes at Babies “R” Us on the isle with the diapers and wipes. When I was in Babies “R” Us a few weeks ago, I found WaterWipes on sale for 2 for $6. They are usually $3.99 each. Make sure that you call Babies “R” Us before heading to the store to pick up the wipes. Only a select handful of stores are carrying them at this time.
Learn more about WaterWipes™ by visiting their website. You can also find Waterwipes™ on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I love that these baby wipes are chemical free. I really expected these baby wipes to be rigid since they only contained water. When I opened the package, I was amazed at how soft they were. It was almost as if I was using a wash cloth instead of a baby wipe. I love them because they don’t irritate my son’s sensitive skin. I wish I had these when my youngest was born. He didn’t have sensitive skin but I don’t like using all of the harmful chemicals on him. I do still use wipes on occasion; for example, if my son needs additional cleaning after using the restroom or for cleaning up his face. Don’t forget to pick the wipes up at Babies “R” Us!
Try Cold Compresses
If you notice a flare up, you can use cold compresses to help keep it from itching. Also once you have a flare up, you can also use this to help reduce the redness. Use a cold wet wash cloth or even an ice pack on your problem areas. Don’t forget to wrap the ice pack in a thin towel or use a cover to help prevent frostbite.
Apply Thin Layer Hydro-Cortisone
When my son had a flare up and we didn’t have a prescription, I would go to the store and buy some 1% hydro-cortisone. The cortisone would help keep my son from itching his problem spots. It is a steroid so you want to use caution when using it. After I would apply a thin layer of the cortisone, I would then add a moisturizer on top of it. Doing this would often times clear up his eczema without having to see a doctor. I would use this technique 3 or 4 times a day. However, if it wasn’t healed after 7 days I would schedule an appointment with my son’s doctor. Depending on the severity of his flare-up, sometimes they would tell me to keep with this treatment or they would prescribe something a bit stronger to take care of it.
Take an Oatmeal Bath
Pick up some of the Aveno Oatmeal bath or make your own oatmeal bath solution. During the summer, I would grab a package of oatmeal and add it to my son’s bath water. It would help reduce the itching and it was soothing to the skin.
Use Luke Warm Bath Water
Hot water zaps the skin of moisture. Instead of taking super hot baths or showers, you should use warm water instead. This will help reduce dry skin and help prevent flare ups.
Cover Up
My son often complains that his problem spots are super itchy. He is older now and knows better to scratch his eczema. When he was younger, I had to cover up his problem spots either with bandages or clothes. Remember to wear light colored clothing during the summer time and choose fabrics that are breathable.
Get Tested for Allergens
If your child is constantly getting flare ups, you should meet with your doctor to determine if they would be a good candidate for allergy testing. Allergy testing is a great way to determine if your child is allergic to common allergens. Once the allergens are determined, you can help your child avoid the triggers and even possibly get allergy shots which would help prevent flare ups.
Eczema flare-ups can be painful and troublesome for your child. I hope that these tips are helpful. I often found that it is so much easier to try and prevent flare-ups before they even happen. Always monitor your child’s problems spots.
My youngest son was also impressed with the snack isle at Babies “R” Us. They had a huge collection of healthy snacks to choose from too!
Photo Credit: Pixabay
