Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition among children. Children with eczema will present with dry, scaly, itchy skin. Occasionally, as affected areas of skin become more irritated, red, raised, oozing patches of skin may be noted. According to AskDrSears.com, eczema is a genetic condition caused by a predisposition to dry skin and allergies. Treatment of eczema is based on the identification and avoidance of the specific allergens that cause a child to have flare-ups and avoiding dry skin. Topical creams are typically prescribed to treat flare-ups and moisturize the skin.
Moisturizers
Children with eczema need to moisturize their skin on a daily basis. According to Healthy Children, an American Academy of Pediatrics website, children with eczema should use skin creams such as Eucerin, Nivea, Cetaphil, Aquaphor or Lubriderm frequently throughout the day. In addition, moisturizers should be applied within three minutes of bathing to seal in moisture. If your child is using a steroid cream in addition to moisturizers, the steroid cream should be applied first.
Topical Steroids
Topical steroids are commonly prescribed to treat eczema. There are several different types of steroid creams available ranging from mild, over-the-counter treatments to stronger prescription preparations. Your pediatrician will examine your child and decide which treatment is appropriate.
According to AskDrSears.com, most mild flare-ups can be treated with over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, applied twice daily. Moderate and severe rashes may require stronger prescription creams, such as Cutivate or Elocon. Some children may require daily low-dose steroidal cream treatment to keep severe cases of eczema under control; however, most will only need to use these creams during flare-ups. When using prescription-strength steroid creams with children, it is important to follow your pediatrician's instructions carefully as side effects, such as thinning of the skin, stretch marks and infection can occur.
Immunosuppressant Creams
In addition to steroid creams, there are immunosuppressant eczema treatments available, such as Elidel and Protopic. These creams work by depressing the immune system, thereby slowing down the growth of eczema on the skin. Both creams have been found to aid in the treatment of severe eczema when other creams have failed. Unfortunately, while these creams can prove extremely useful in the treatment of severe eczema, several patients have developed skin cancer after treatment. Because of this, the FDA recommends that these drugs not be used with children under age two years and that they only be used with older children only after other treatments have failed.
