Eczema

Laramie Pediatrics, pc

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A Guide to Eczema

Eczema is a dry skin condition common in dry areas like Laramie. It affects any age, but is most common to infants and toddlers. Dry skin starts to react to whatever touches it, which in turn causes redness and inflammation and itching. Scratching leads to more inflammation and therefore the cycle keeps getting worse.

Symptoms:

Most infants get “patches” of dry skin on their chest and abdomen, toddlers get the patches on arms and legs. The patches are dry scaly tough skin that itches and becomes raw and irritated. Eczema is almost never caused by allergies or medicines and is not contagious to others. It gets milder as children and their skin mature. Usually late toddlers have fewer difficulties with their eczema.

Treatment:

All soap dries skin, so use as little and as mild a soap as possible (dove, tone caress or baby soaps). Try to clean the skin without soap, and don’t use bubble baths. Soaking in a tub and washing without soap works well for many younger children.

Moisturizing lotions (like Keri, Lubriderm, Aveeno) help replace the moisture the skin needs. Especially after baths, using a moisturizer to seal in the moisture is a good idea.

Aveeno bath powder is a great moisturizer. It helps push moisture deep into the skin. (use daily till the eczema clears, then weekly from that point on). Hydrocortisone Creams (prescription or non-prescription) decrease the inflammation in the reddened skin. For very mild eczema, the over the counter 1% works well, but for moderate or severe forms a prescription strength will be needed.

Elidel cream is a new non-steroid cream that works like a steroid but id not a steroid.

Benadryl ( as an oral liquid or lotion) helps reduce the itching.

Remember that eczema is a chronic, recurring skin problem that comes and goes throughout the drier parts of the year. Treating it now may not mean it can’t come back later in the year. Keeping the skin well moisturized is the best way to help prevent it. If how you’re treating it now isn’t working to clear it or it keeps getting worse, call the office for stronger medications.

If you have further questions about eczema, you can contact our office at:

Info@LaramieKids.com

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