What is Eczema in Children?

Eczema also known as Atopic Dermatitis is common in as many as 10% of infants and children. Eczema in children can be frustrating for the child and the parents alike. There is no cure for it only treatment options to keep it under control and from being too bothersome though it is difficult to treat since the opinions of treatment vary so radically.

Symptoms and Diagnosing Eczema in Children

Most cases of eczema in children will surface by the age of 5 years old. The most obvious symptom of eczema is an itchy red rash that may also be rough and scaly and sometimes will have a wet appearance depending on severity. It may go away or seem to be under control briefly with treatment but will likely return after treatment stops. The physician will use his knowledge in diagnosis and can usually diagnose eczema based on the appearance of the rash. The rash generally appears in typical locations if it is indeed eczema and these areas include the creases of the elbows knees on the ankles and in younger children typical appearances are found on the forehead cheeks legs or arms. How often the rash occurs will also help the physician in diagnosing the rash.

Often the child will have generally dry skin all over sometimes having a rough texture and on occasion petite white bumps all over that are itchy and can be aggravating to the child who likely scratches often. Eczema is a skin condition where the body does not retain moisture as it should so even if there is not a rash flare up a child with eczema may have scattered white patches anywhere on their body which may be dry and scaly feeling to the touch. A child with the condition will have flare ups meaning certain spots of the skin will become irritated red and bothersome to the child. They are generally raised and when flared will ooze. These irritated spots can occur anywhere on the child’s body but uniquely eczema very rarely affects or occurs in a child’s diapered area.

Treating Eczema in Children

There is an abundance of treatment options as well as opinions for the best way to treat the skin infection. Treatment will likely consist of listening and doing as the doctor requests with consistency playing an important role in keeping the flare ups under control. Some of the main treatments consist of keeping the child’s skin highly moisturized avoiding skin irritants making sure to avoid any allergy triggers keeping the itching under control and very important – using topical steroidal cortisone cream. These steps alone will likely not be enough to keep it under control. There are varying factors that can trigger eczema in a child all which should be discussed with your physician.

Children that have been diagnosed with eczema are more vulnerable than other children are to a bacterial skin infection called impetigo. It is important to keep a close eye on a child who has been diagnosed with the condition as the better you can keep eczema in children under control the less irritating and disruptive it will be to the child therefore it is always best to start treatment as soon as initial irritation is noticed.