What is Eczema? - Symptoms & Treatments
What is eczema?
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease that is common in infants, children, and adolescents, and is prone to recurrence. Infantile atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, are closely related to individual constitution and family history of special sensitive diseases. Therefore, atopic dermatitis is often associated with asthma or allergic rhinitis, and if a baby has one of these symptoms, the other two may also occur.
Causes of eczema flare-ups:
- Skin contact with certain irritating substances, such as bath soap, fluorescent agents in clothes, laundry detergent, etc.
- Eating certain triggering foods.
- Weather changes, such as dry weather, cold winters, can also trigger this disease.
- Bacterial invasion of the skin epidermis.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
- Dry, cracked skin
- Itching (pruritus)
- Swollen skin with rash (the color varies with your skin color)
- Small raised bumps on brown or black skin
- Oozing and crusting
- Thickened skin
- Darkening of the skin around the eyes
- Skin abrasions and sensitivity after scratching
- What are the symptoms of eczema in children at different stages?
Symptoms in infants:
Itchy rash in infants can lead to oozing and crusting, mainly on the face and scalp. It can also occur on their arms, legs, back, and chest. Symptoms may occur in the first few weeks or months after birth.
Symptoms in children:
Children and adolescents usually have rashes on the back of the elbows, knees, neck, wrists, or ankles, which become scaly.
How Is Eczema Treated?
- Moisturizing: For children with eczema, the skin barrier cannot retain moisture well. As a result, the skin becomes dry and cracked, itchy, and more prone to infection. Therefore, daily moisturizing is important for improving the skin barrier.
- Avoid allergens: Avoid allergenic foods, environments, and contact with dust mites and dust.
- Anti-itch and anti-inflammatory: Use steroid (hormone) creams to relieve skin itching. When you see areas of itching on your child's body, start using the medication, do not wait until it becomes scratched before starting.
- Antibacterial: Use antibiotic ointment: Mupirocin ointment can improve the itching and crusting of the skin. In severe cases, oral antibiotics may be needed.
Eczema is a persistent skin problem, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, your child's eczema may still flare up. It requires patience and continuous skin care.
Reference：WebMD，healthychildren，《Dr. Huang Yingning Helps You With Healthy Parenting》
