 The nightmare of sore, itchy skin and sleepless nights that come with eczema can leave the whole family anxious and exhausted. Although most infants and young children will grow out of this awful condition, some will have eczema all their lives. Learning what triggers a flare-up and how to avoid those irritants is the key to managing eczema.
Keep watch on the reaction of your child’s skin to soap and detergents, wool and synthetic fibres, chemicals in toiletries and pets. These can all cause irritant contact dermatitis.
Dustmite allergen in bedding is bad news for anyone with eczema or asthma as nighttime flare-ups are particularly distressing. Dustmites thrive in warm, dark, humid conditions, so your child’s bedding provides the ideal environment for them. You can’t see dustmites, they’re microscopic and the allergen is actually found in their droppings which are smaller still. You can get rid of dustmite allergen in bedding by washing it at temperatures of 60°C and above. Below this the allergen will remain, even though the mites themselves will die. Your doctor will probably advise you to cover your child’s mattress and pillow with dustmite-proof covers to protect your child.
Your doctor may prescribe steroid ointments and emollients to keep the skin moisturised and to try to stop it from cracking and bleeding and wet wrapping the child may be recommended if the eczema is severe. Wet wrapping is a technique that involves wrapping the child in wet bandages after applying emollient followed by a dry layer in order to keep the skin moist overnight. Dermatology nurses are all trained in the wet wrapping technique and will show you how to do it at home.
One of the best sources of products to help you cope with your child’s eczema can be found at www.allergybestbuys.co.uk. These are mail order specialists who will ship worldwide. You can find specially made tiny gloves to help your child stop scratching at night or to allow him to touch animals, glue, paints or other irritants. There are all-in-one sleepsuits with mittens and grown-on feet for nighttime, cool silk and cotton duvets, dustmite proof covers for mattresses and pillows and a cotton Dreambag, excellent for sleepovers and vacations when your child is in an unfamiliar bed. TriCeram Repair Emollient, declorinators for the bath, seaweed treatment, baby wipes for sensitive skin and Eco-Balls for detergent-free laundry are among the many aids to living with eczema that can make a real difference. Click on www.allergybestbuys.co.uk to see the full range.
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Best buys for eczema