For most of the children eczema doesn’t have clear cause such as an allergy.
- Most eczema will improve with good skin care
- Bath your child in warm water not in hot water and limit your child’s bath time to 5-10 minutes
- Use a mild and fragrance free cleanser only when needed
- If your child’s skin is frequently infected, twice weekly bleach both may be beneficial. Discuss this option with your child’s dermatologist
- After bathing gently pat your child’s skin partially dry
- If the child has medicine that you apply to the skin, use the medicine as directed and apply when your child’s skin is almost dry
- Then apply moisturiser on top of the medicine and rest of the child’s skin
- Some children do better with fragrance free products
- Petroleum jelly is inexpensive, fragrance free product that works well with many children
- If your child has severe itching or scratching ask your child’s dermatologist about wet wrap therapy. This will reduce the skin swelling and lessen desire to scratch
- Keep your child’s fingernail short & smooth
- This decreases the likelihood that scratching will puncture the skin
- Use laundry products made for sensitive skin. Sented fabric softener or dryer tribute to skin irritation
- Use enough water for adequate cleansing the clothes and use recommended amount of detergent
- Buy clothes without tags since tags can rub against the skin causing irritation
- Wash your child’s new clothes before wearing this will remove excess dyes & fabric which irritate the skin
