Eczema in children, also known as atopic dermatitis, is frequently associated with allergies and other immune system hyperactive diseases. Some children will outgrow atopic dermatitis; however, having eczema as a child increases the risk for allergies and other skin conditions throughout life. Eczema can be controlled and even improved with thorough and careful treatment regimens.
Moisturizer Routine
The basis of eczema is dry, itchy skin, so moisturizer is key to any treatment regimen. Thick petrolatum products like Vaseline, Eucerin and Aquaphor are the best methods of locking moisture into the skin and making a barrier to keep irritants out. Unlike for treatment of regular dry skin, petrolatum products for eczema must be reapplied frequently, without limit, each day and night, for consistent results.
Eczema Medications
Topical creams for eczema include corticosteroids, like hydrocortisone and prescription-strength desonide, immune-modulating drugs, like Elidel, and even topical antibiotics, like mupirocin. Steroids provide the basis of eczema treatment by reducing swelling, redness, itch and irritation at the site. Steroids are available in a wide range of concentrations and can be applied twice daily for many weeks or months to break the eczema flare-up cycle. When rashes do not resolve with steroids, drugs like Elidel can block the immune system reaction at the site, or topical antibiotics can treat any skin infections that develop in the irritated tissue.
Cleansing
Although basic cleansing is often overlooked when treating eczema in children, it is an important cornerstone to controlling the flare-up cycle. Because most soaps are too strong for damaged and sensitive skin, non-soap cleansers like Cetaphil are important to cleaning the rash gently. Warm bathing often soothes eczema but has been controversial because of potential drying effects. In 2009, a report was published in Pediatrics on the success of eczema control with bleach bathing in 22 children with atopic dermatitis and staph infection. When mild, diluted bleach was used in bath water, eczema improved with 3 months of treatment compared with no improvement with 3 months of control (nonbleach baths), possibly because of the reduced level of staph bacteria in the affected skin. The bleach bath method, when diluted (e.g., 1/2 cup bleach in 40 gallons of water), is considered safe up to twice a week for adults and children.
