Parents: Issues You May Face When Your Child Has Eczema [ March 3rd, 2010 ] Posted in » Uncategorized

Eczema Free Forever

If your child was recently diagnosed with eczema, also commonly known as atopic dermatitis, you have a long road ahead. Although eczema is easily treated at home, there are many hard issues that you, as a parent, will face.

Nighttime Itching

You might assume that nighttime itching is the same as daytime itching for children with eczema, but it can be very different, especially in small children. Although they do not fully understand the complications that can arise from constant scratching, children are aware of their actions during the day. On the other hand, many small children continue to scratch in the middle of the night, without even being aware of their actions. This type of eczema is difficult to treat, as you cannot spend every night grabbing your child’s arm before they itch.

To combat the nighttime itching that is common among children with eczema, look for doable alternatives. If dust is a trigger factor, keep your child’s room clean and dust-free. If sweat is a trigger factor, dress them in light clothes and keep their room a cool temperature. If you don’t know the cause, try to keep areas susceptible to itching, such as the arms and legs, covered.

Pain

An eczema outbreak starts out relatively pain free. It typically begins with a simple itch that can’t stop. Soon, your child may find themselves literally digging at their skin. They mistakenly believe this will make the itch go away, but it doesn’t and it only gets worse. Severe rashes and the open wounds caused by constant scratching can lead to pain and discomfort. No parent wants to see their child in pain. That is why you must stop it at the source. Work with your child and his or her doctor to determine your child’s trigger factors. These are what cause the uncontrollable urge to itch. In the meantime, keep your child’s skin well moisturized.

Concern from Other Parents

Although eczema and atopic dermatitis are common among small children, you are likely to get many stares on the playground. This is most common if your child’s eczema rashes can be seen by other parents. Although you should keep your child’s open wounds covered to prevent infection, don’t just cover them to please others.

“Is eczema contagious?” That is a common question that many parents may ask. Unfortunately, some parents don’t even ask, they may automatically assume it is. You and your child owe no one an explication, as eczema is nothing but an inflammation of the skin. However, you may want to spread the word. As heartbreaking as it is to see other parents and kids point out your child’s eczema rash, it is a normal reaction that most don’t know how to avoid.

These are just a few of the issues you may face as the parent of a child with eczema. Since your child is young and does not fully understand their skin condition, you must work with them to seek relief.

Eczema: Common Trigger Factors to Avoid

Eczema Free Forever

Eczema flare-ups are caused by several factors. Until sufferers are able to determine and avoid their trigger factors, itching and painful rashes will always be an issue. Luckily, medical professionals have developed a list of common trigger factors. These factors, a few of which are outlined below, may be the cause of your uncontrollable scratching.

Eczema Trigger Factor #1 – Skin Irritants

The phrase “skin irritants,” cover a wide range of items. Basically, anything unnatural that comes in close contact to the skin has the potential to be a skin irritant. Common examples include laundry detergent, scented lotions, makeup, perfume, and wool clothes. If you feel the urge to itch not long after putting on your clothes or undergoing your daily routine, skin irritants may be your eczema cause. To determine if so, make the switch. If you itch while wearing wool, opt for cotton clothes instead. If your hands and face itch after applying makeup, go without for a few days to look for an improvement. If you suspect your laundry detergent is to blame, opt for a low or free chemical detergent instead.

If you make the necessary changes and no longer feel the need to itch, you have not only determined your eczema trigger factor, but learned how to successful avoid another outbreak.

Eczema Trigger Factor #2 – Food

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine if food is the cause of your eczema outbreaks. Most experts turn to food when no other cause is found. Although any food in your diet can lead to the uncontrollable urge to itch, there are some common food trigger factors. Milk, wheat, seafood, eggs, and peanuts are usually to blame. If you notice an itching outbreak following the consumption of these foods, begin eliminating them from your diet.

If you believe a certain food causes your eczema outbreaks, eliminate it from your diet. This can be difficult if it is a favorite of yours, but think of the long term benefits. No more uncontrollable itching that leads to open wounds, decreasing the risk of skin infections.

Eczema Trigger Factor #3 – Allergens

Whether indoor or outdoors, air-borne allergens are present. They are a common cause of eczema outbreaks. A patient who finds themselves scratching away at their skin may have just dusted or vacuumed their home. The itching is due to the skin contact made by the dust. Mold and dander from pets are other common causes too. If you suspect these cause your eczema flare-ups, eliminate them as an issue. If dust is the problem, don’t avoid dusting or vacuuming your home. Instead, wear long clothing and protective gear when doing so. Overcoming eczema means addressing the causes and working around them.

The above mentioned eczema trigger factors are some of the most common reasons for the uncontrollable urge to itch.

December 7th, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Easy Ways to Beat Eczema

Eczema Free Forever

If you suffer from eczema, you want to seek relief. You may search high and low for the perfect treatment or cure, but come up empty handed. Although you want to stop eczema at the source, work on getting relief in the meantime. Outlined below are a few steps that you can take.

Find the perfect temperature for your home. Some sufferers have eczema flare-ups caused by the weather and temperatures. If it is too hot, you may sweat too much, which could lead to an outbreak. Cold weather can have a similar impact. Since you spend most of your time inside your home, work on achieving the perfect temperature. If warm temperatures cause an outbreak, keep your home moist and cool. If cold temperatures are the cause, keep your home’s temperature at a comfortable level. This may take some trial and error, but you should see relief.

Apply moisturizer throughout the day. In most cases, moisturizer does not cure eczema, but it does provide the skin with much needed relief. Dry skin can lead to itching, which can later lead to a painful flare-up. Reduce the risk by always keeping your skin moisturized. You should apply lotion and cream throughout the day, but get started in the morning. After a shower or bath, apply lotion or cream to help lock in the moisture.

Try using all-natural health and beauty products. Many products come into contact with our skin, but health and beauty products come in very close contact. After all, you spray perfume on your body and apply makeup to the skin. This is one of the leading causes of eczema. If you suspect it may be the cause of yours or to just promote healthy skincare, opt for all-natural healthy and beauty products instead. Not only may all-natural health and beauty products stop the itching and the scratching, you improve the overall health of your skin by opting for all-natural.

Add supplement and skin-healthy foods to your diet. When suffering from eczema, it is best to not only opt for natural skincare products, but natural altogether. In some patients, eczema episodes are caused by processed foods. Adding natural and organic foods to your diet, as well as taking natural supplements has proven effective for many sufferers. There are many vitamin and supplements that work. Just a few of them include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Fish Oil.

November 23rd, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Dealing with Eczema: Your Treatment Options Reviewed

Eczema Free Forever

If you suffer from eczema, you want relief. In fact, you wanted it yesterday. Eczema has many different causes and, for that reason, you will find many treatment options. Although some treatments may prove unsuccessful for you, others are likely to work. So, when it comes to seeking relief, what are your options?

Eczema Treatments to Stop the Itch

Moisturizers. There are many trigger factors that bring on the itching that results in an eczema rash; however, dry skin is a common cause. We automatically want to touch and itch dry skin to provide relief, only some individuals can’t stop. The more moisturized your skin is, the less likely you are to scratch it. Keep the body moisturized throughout the day. Get started by locking in the moisture with lotions or creams immediately following a shower or bath.

Antihistamines. Antihistamines are used to treat allergy symptoms, including rashes, hives, and itching. Since eczema involves constant itching of the skin, itch relief is felt with antihistamines. This type of eczema treatment is effective because, in a way, your skin is having an allergic reaction to something it came into contact to, whether it be makeup, perfume, or laundry detergent.

Eczema Treatment to Protect the Skin from Infection

Skin protectants. Skin protectors are used to describe a number of different products. A few good examples include petroleum jelly. Popular products used by eczema patients are Vaseline and Eucerin Aquaphor. They are healing ointments that protect irritated, cracked, and dry skin.

Eczema Treatments to Stop Skin Infections

Antibiotics. Most individuals can treat their eczema from home. In fact, you are encouraged to do so. However, eczema presents the risk of other complications, including skin infections. When a sufferer continues to itch and scratch, an open wound may form on the skin. If not treated, this sore is at risk for infection. If you suspect you have a skin infection, seek medical attention from a professional. To prevent the infection from getting worse, a medical professional will prescribe antibiotics.

Eczema treatments come in many formats, but the treatment options discussed are proven successful among many and are easy to implement. Don’t live with pain, discomfort, or embarrassment any longer. Seek relief today.

November 16th, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Eczema Causes: Frequently Asked Questions

Eczema Free Forever

Those who suspect they have eczema often have many questions. Some of those questions are about the cause. Please continue reading on for a list of frequently asked questions and their answers.

Question: Did I do something wrong?
Answer: Eczema creates the uncontrollable urge to itch and scratch. The skin is irritated. Unfortunately, this can result in a larger red rash. That rash when itched more can turn into a patch of dry scaly skin or a blister-like sore that oozes. At this point in time, you may want to shout out “what did I do to deserve this?” The answer is nothing. Eczema is a common skin condition. Although you did nothing to cause eczema, there are steps you can take to treat it and prevent flare-ups. The easiest being keep your skin well moisturized.

Question: What is the cause of eczema?
Answer: There are many different causes. Eczema outbreaks and flare-ups happen to different people and for different reasons. Although there is no one cause for eczema, those with sensitive skin are prone. As for what can cause trigger a flare-up, it can be certain foods, certain chemicals, the weather, and stress even plays a role.

Question: Can I cure my eczema if I find the cause?
Answer: Not likely. While some individuals have one sole cause for eczema outbreaks and flare-ups, others have many. You may find yourself itching and scratching after sweating from the hot weather, after using scented body wash, or after drinking milk. Determining the cause of your uncontrollable itch and eliminating at a source will help, but you are still and may always be prone to episodes.

Question: Will my children develop eczema too?
Answer: Many adults wonder if they can pass eczema onto their children. Yes, you can. Medical professionals have determined that children with immediate family members who have atopic dermatitis are susceptible to the condition too. On that same note, there are many instances in which it is not passed down. In fact, some children develop and live with eczema, but have no prior family history.

Question: How can I treat eczema?
Answer: As stated above, there isn’t a known cause for eczema, but medical professionals are aware of trigger factors. These make eczema worse or cause a flare-up. In addition to keeping your body well moisturized, you can try to determine your trigger factors and avoid them. Keep a daily journal of your day. Document all the foods you eat, what activities you were doing, what products came into contact with your skin and so forth. Compare your journal to an outbreak.

October 25th, 2009 | Leave a Comment

You Have Eczema: Now What?

Eczema Free Forever

Were you recently diagnosed by a physician or do you have all the classic signs and symptoms of eczema? It is nice to have a name for the skin condition, but what comes next?

Work on determining your eczema cause. Unfortunately, this can be a long and difficult process. It is one that is best done through trial and error. Eczema has many causes. Some individuals experience an outbreak after contact with certain chemicals, like those found in laundry detergent and makeup. Other experience an outbreak after skin contact is made with allergens, such as pet dander, dust, and mold.

One of the best ways to determine your eczema cause is to keep a journal. Log your daily activities and each outbreak. What were you doing right before? Were you dusting or vacuuming your home? During this time, dust, mold, and pet dander can get stirred up, making contact with your skin. If you suspect you found your trigger factor, you must take steps to avoid it.

Seek immediate relief. As previously stated, stopping eczema at the source can take time and lots of trial and error. You don’t want to wait days, weeks, or even months to seek relief; you want it now.

One of the best ways to seek immediate relief from eczema is to moisturize. Dry skin is the leady cause of itching. You can treat dry skin with moisturizer. The format, cream or lotion, should depend on your own personal preference. It is best to apply moisturizer throughout the entire day; however, it is most important immediately following a shower or bath.

Antihistamines and anti-itch creams can also prove effective. Anti-itch creams are topical and should be applied carefully and only to the area you want to treat. Antihistamines are designed to treat allergies, which can actually be a cause of eczema. They help stop the itch, as well as clear up rashes and hives.

Seek support if you need it. Getting an eczema diagnosis has its pros and cons. You now have a name for your condition, but there isn’t an immediate cure. Dealing with eczema can be a long struggle. If you have difficulties and do not have a strong support system at home, it is best to seek the support of other eczema sufferers. You can find many support groups and forums online.

October 11th, 2009 | Leave a Comment

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