One of the most common skin conditions to affect children under the age of 5 is eczema. Childhood eczema is itchy, irritating issue can flare up in children who are just days old, or become an issue as kids start to get older. When eczema happens to a child it can cause a great deal of stress and frustration both for the child and their parents. In this article we’re going to look at how eczema shows up in children, what may be its cause, and most importantly what you can do to help provide relief, protection, and healing to your child if they are dealing with it.

How eczema starts

In most childhood eczema cases, babies experience dry, rash-like patches of itchy skin on the face and scalp. In many cases this ‘baby eczema’ heals itself as the child grows, but in some cases it sticks around. As the baby grows, the patches of eczema flare ups can move to areas like the elbows and knees as crawling happens, or legs, arms, and feet as they start to walk and become more mobile.

For most cases of childhood eczema there are times when flare ups get worse and when the whole issue seems to be a thing of the past. It’s not uncommon for parents to notice several months without a flare up only to see it creep back up again at the worst possible time. While many cases of childhood eczema go away as the child grows, some cases persist into adulthood. Learning how to identify and treat eczema issues early on can help prevent them from being a long-term issue.

What causes childhood eczema?

While there are lots of theories about what the true cause of eczema in children may be, nothing is certain just yet. The best research shows that kids who have eczema tend to be part of families where eczema has been an issue with their parents or grandparents. Eczema also seems to show up more in kids who have family members with severe allergies, food sensitivities, asthma, or inflammatory conditions. The underlying reason for this cause may be that eczema stems from the same part of the immune system where allergies, inflammation, and other sensitivities come from. In fact, many kids who have long term childhood eczema often develop asthma or other related allergies as they grow.

It’s important for parents and family members not to blame themselves when eczema shows up. No matter what the cause is, there are some effective and hassle-free things that can be done to help heal and protect itchy kids, so that they can live a happy and irritation-free life.

Treatment for eczema in babies and children

There are probably as many treatments for eczema in babies and children as there are kids who deal with it, but there are also some tried-and-true methods that many parents find helpful. Over time, you’ll find unique combinations of treatments that seem to work best for your child’s individual needs, and that’s where the real solutions begin. Here are just a few of the best known treatments that can help relieve itching and irritation while also helping the skin repair and heal itself.

Wet wrapping

This technique involves slathering specialized moisturizers on the skin and then wrapping the skin with layers of wet bandages covered by dry layers. This method helps offer super hydration to the skin that penetrates to deep levels. The more hydrated the skin is, the less likely small irritations will cause an eczema flare up

Diet journaling

Many parents find that certain foods, usually those with inflammatory qualities, cause eczema flare ups. Keeping a journal about what your child eats and when eczema flare ups happen can help you find the triggers and eliminate them without the hassle.

Dry brushing

Many parents swear by this simple method and find that it helps the skin clean, heal, strengthen, and detoxify which can prevent future flare ups. Dry brushing is done by making gentle brushes along the skin with a specialized fiber bristle brush.

Natural remedies

Coconut oil (when nut allergies aren’t present), herbal washes, homeopathic remedies, anti-inflammatory foods, and other natural remedies are gaining popularity in many homes where a child deals with eczema. These methods can be a great addition to the advice given by your child’s health specialist.

Eczema clothing for children

Most of the intense damage kids do to eczema flare ups happen at night or during times of rest. Even newly trimmed fingernails can cut skin leading to staph infections or other issues. The use of sleepers or mittens like those from Bamboo Bubby, help you target the specific scratching that kids with eczema are prone to so that further issues can be avoided.

If your family is dealing with eczema, now is the perfect time to start taking action. Learn the signs and symptoms of your child’s specific case, work with experts when possible, and start learning how to best handle flare ups.