What Can Cause Eczema? How to Treat Eczema in Toddlers?

Parents are really cautious about their children and any kind of infection or virus affecting their child brings them a lot of concern. Any sort of illness makes us vigilant about our child’s health and their recovery becomes a priority for us. But whatever we do, children are always prone to some or other illness as their immune system is yet at a developing stage. Eczema is one such condition that your child may be susceptible to. So read on this blog further to know more about this skin condition, including the causes and treatment for the same.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition, characterized by rash, which is red, dry, itchy, flaky or irritated. This condition can be found in both, adults as well as children. People suffering from eczema complain about burning or itching skin, which is caused due to inflammation.

What Can Cause Eczema in Children?

The following are the causes, which can cause eczema in children-

• Genetics
• Allergens
• Infections
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
• Stress
• Heat

Eczema flare-ups can sometimes be triggered by skin irritation caused by chemicals, such as the detergents in bubble baths, shampoos, washing powders, and fabric softeners. Eczema is also referred to as atopic eczema, which means that your child has the tendency to inherit this skin condition. As mentioned above, eczema can be characterized by dry, red, itchy and cracked skin, which can also ooze out fluid and lead to bleeding. The most affected areas are hands, face, neck, elbows, and back of the knees. Eczema can be very distressing if your child finds it difficult to scratch as it can lead to infections.

Eczema Treatment Advice 

If your toddler has eczema, you need not worry as it can be treated by taking care of your child’s skin. Some of the skin care tips are mentioned below-

1. Moisturize: Adverse weather conditions and even baths can make the skin dry as they remove all the natural oils that mainly moisturizes the skin. To combat the skin’s dryness, make sure to moisturize your child’s skin on a regular basis, especially after a shower. Hot showers should be avoided as they can strip the skin’s natural oil, leaving the skin dry and flaky. Applying lotion to your child’s skin immediately after a shower will help combat this condition to a great extent.
2. Hydration: Apart from moisturizing, keeping the skin hydrated is also a good way to deal with this skin condition. Lotions will only moisturize the skin from outside while remaining hydrated will keep your child’s system moisturized from the inside. For this, you need to make sure your child drinks enough water every day and this should not be compromised. Fresh fruit juices without additives, salad, and plain water is the key to remain hydrated all the time.
3. Products: Products such as shampoo, soaps, powder, which have fragrance in them might trigger this skin condition. Thus, you can consult your doctor and opt for natural products that do not contain any harmful substances that will lead to a reaction. Mild cleansers and detergents are the perfect products that you can choose.
4. Air: Toddlers are active, which can cause an accumulation of sweat and moisture on the skin, leading to rashes. Thus, tight clothing should be avoided and loose cotton clothing should be preferred for your child, which will allow passage of air.
5. No scratching: Scratching can arise from dry and flaky skin, which is why moisturizing is mandatory. But scratching can make the skin sore, which can aggravate the condition even more. So use soft sheets on your child’s bed, which will avoid any discomfort and soothe the itchy spots from time to time by applying moisturizer frequently.

Despite trying out all of these tips, if the rashes still persist, you need to consult a dermatologist immediately. Certain allergens can lead to this skin condition, which is why you must avoid feeding your child certain foods, which consists of these allergens. Application of sunscreen on your child’s exposed body parts before he/she steps out of the house is necessary as heat can aggravate the rashes. Follow these steps in eradicating eczema quickly.