The 6 golden tips to reduce eczema in your baby
"Eczema can have a significant impact on children and the whole family. Careful guidance and education can prevent and reduce so much suffering."
- Thomas Rustemeyer, Professor and dermatologist.
1. Stop Scratching
Eczema and itching often go hand in hand. Avoid scratching. Stopping scratching can help reduce both eczema and itching.
- Trim your little one's nails frequently. When your baby continues to scratch, it perpetuates the condition and further damages the already compromised skin.
- You can put socks or mittens on your baby's hands. This helps prevent further damage to the skin.
- Distract your child when they start scratching. For example, reading a story or playing a game. This can also help to distract from the itch and thus reduce damage to the skin.
- Gently pat the skin, this prevents damage to the skin.
2. Prevent Skin Dryness
A dry skin is even more sensitive and itches even more. The following tips help prevent skin dryness:
- Try to avoid or reduce the use of shampoo, soap, and bath foam.
- During freezing temperatures, the skin should be extra protected, as the cold dries out the skin and causes itching.
- Apply a fatty cream or cetomacrogol ointment to the skin after showering.
- Adding oatmeal to the bath can help reduce itching and redness while restoring moisture balance.
Use as little water as possible to prevent skin dryness:
- Do not shower or bathe more than 2 or 3 times a week. When showering, make sure the water is not hotter than 37 degrees Celsius and do not stay in the bath or shower for longer than 5 minutes.
- Wash your hands as little as possible.
3. Utilize the Cold
Cold can actually reduce itching and can be applied in multiple ways. However, it's important to monitor your little one for rapid temperature drops:
- Use a cream with a cooling base. This will have a soothing effect.
- Wrap a cold object (cool pack, ice cube, frozen peas bag) in a tea towel and place it on the itchy areas to reduce itching attacks.
4. Clothing Choice
Your clothing is in contact with your skin for a large part of the day. This can also exacerbate itching.
- Therefore, opt for clothing made of soft and natural fabrics such as cotton and silk.
- Abrasive clothing such as wool and non-breathable fabrics like nylon should be avoided. Loose-fitting clothing is a better choice.
- There is also eczema clothing available, made from 100% natural materials: Lyocell and Zinc, which nourish and repair the skin.
5. Sunlight
In most cases, eczema responds well to sunlight. This means that most people experience fewer symptoms of the skin condition in the summer.
- While the sun is beneficial, sweating is not. New eczema can develop in areas where the skin becomes damp.
6. Additional Tips
In addition to the above tips, here are some other tips that may help reduce eczema in your baby:
- Avoid using fabric softeners, as they often remain in clothing and can cause itching.
- While stress and infections are not direct causes, they can exacerbate symptoms by agitating the immune system.
- A cool bedroom with good ventilation works better. Sleep under one or more sheets instead of a duvet.
- Ensure overall good ventilation in the home. Dry air can worsen eczema and itching.
- Consult a dermatologist for personalized advice and a treatment plan that suits your baby's needs. Eczema can have a very big impact on children and the whole family. Careful guidance and education can prevent and reduce a lot of suffering.
Concluding words
Having eczema can be a frustrating condition, both for you and your little one. Fortunately, there are various tips and strategies that can help alleviate symptoms and soothe the skin. Hydrating the skin is crucial and preventing dehydration is essential. Avoiding irritating substances such as perfume, soap, and shampoo is also important to protect the skin. As a final tip, seeking advice from a dermatologist for a personalized treatment plan is wise to address severe symptoms. With the right approach and care, eczema can be well managed and symptoms can be reduced.
Sources:
Arts en Zorg
De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Dermatologie en Venereologie
Eucerin
Isala
UMCG