Typically, symptoms appear within the first few months of life, and almost always before a child turns 5. But the good news is that more than half of the kids who have eczema today will be over it by the time they're teenagers. Signs and symptoms of eczema can vary widely during the early phases. Between 2 and 6 months of age and almost always before they're 5 years old , kids with eczema usually develop itchy, dry, red skin and small bumps on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp. The rash may spread to the arms and legs and the trunk, and red, crusted, or open lesions may appear on any area affected.
They also may have circular, slightly raised, itchy, and scaly rashes in the bends of the elbows, behind the knees, or on the backs of the wrists and ankles. As kids get older, the rash is usually scalier than it was when the eczema first began, and the skin is extremely itchy and dry. These symptoms also tend to worsen and improve over time, with flare-ups occurring periodically.
Children often try to relieve the itching by rubbing the affected areas with a hand or anything within reach. But scratching can make the rash worse and eventually lead to thickened, brownish areas on the skin. This is why eczema is often called the "itch that rashes" rather than the "rash that itches. In many cases, eczema goes into remission and symptoms may disappear altogether for months or even years. For many kids, it begins to improve by the age of 5 or 6; others may have flare-ups throughout adolescence and early adulthood.
Some people will have some degree of dermatitis into adulthood, with areas of itching and a dry, scaly appearance. Eczema is not contagious, so there's no need to keep a baby or child who has it away from siblings, other kids, or anyone else. Scientists believe that eczema is inherited, so there's no way to prevent it. But because specific triggers can make it worse, flare-ups can be prevented or improved by avoiding possible triggers. Also, curbing the tendency to scratch the rash can prevent the condition from worsening and progressing to cause more severe skin damage or a secondary infection.
8 Natural Remedies to Reduce Eczema Symptoms
Josh Axe is on a mission to provide you and your family with the highest quality nutrition tips and healthy recipes in the world Risk Factors for Eczema A genetic predisposition or family history of eczema, hay fever or asthma Young age Healthcare worker Children that attend daycare ADHD Living in a dry climate Nutritional deficiency Adolescent obesity, for later onset of eczema cases Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing eczema in the first year of life.
Causes of Eczema So far, the medical community has yet to determine a definitive cause of eczema. Here are the widely-accepted causes of eczema: Dry skin and sensitive skin that cracks Immune system dysfunction Environmental conditions Gene variation that affects skin Allergies to foods , beauty products, laundry detergents or other chemical allergy Chronic stress Temperature changes Symptoms of Eczema While many will experience a lessening of symptoms and fewer flares as they age, some will continue to experience eczema symptoms throughout adulthood, such as atopic eczema rashes. The appearance of small, raised bumps which may ooze liquid and develop a crust Thick, dry, scaly skin that cracks Red, brown or grayish patches of skin on hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, in skin folds, and on the face and scalp of infants Sensitive skin that is swollen and raw from scratching A recurring rash that causes intense itching, often disrupting sleep patterns Rashes due to atopic eczema Eczema Treatment: Vitamin D In addition to increasing sun exposure, supplementing with vitamin D rich food s like cod liver oil, sardines, salmon, eggs and raw milk may help prevent eczema in children and adolescents.
Moisturize Because dry skin is both a cause and symptom, it is imperative to moisturize affected areas at least twice a day. Treat the Mind and Body According to Harvard Medical School, some skin conditions, including eczema, have a psychological component. Dead Sea Salt Baths The Dead Sea is known for its healing powers, and researchers have found that taking a bath with salt from the Dead Sea water improves skin hydration, improved skin barrier function, reduced inflammation, and relieved redness and roughness.
Cool, Wet Compresses Applying a cool, wet compress lessens the itching for some individuals with eczema.
Apply Itch Cream The intense itching is often the most miserable part of an eczema flare. Licorice Extract Used topically, licorice root extract shows promise for reducing itching in limited eczema trials. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Researchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology have found that when fish is introduced into the diet of young children by the age of 9 months, and fish is eaten weekly, the risk for developing eczema reduces dramatically.
Probiotics Probiotics may help prevent eczema in infants and decrease the severity of flares, research shows. Lavender Essential Oil In addition to the intense itching, eczema commonly causes anxiety, depression, frustration and poor sleep. Witch Hazel If during a flare the rash starts to ooze, applying witch hazel can help promote healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Margarine and other non-essential fats — These fats can interfere with the absorption of essential fats critical for healing. Sugar — Increases inflammation and reduces immune function. Fried foods — Can increase inflammation. Precautions Eczema is a skin condition that can result is severe discomfort, disruption of sleep, cause anxiety and depression and skin infections. There are seven skin conditions that fall under the eczema heading including contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, hand eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema, eczema stasis dermatitis and the most common offender, atopic dermatitis.
Eczema (for Parents)
Eczema patches can appear anywhere, but in children it typically develops first on the cheeks, chin and scalp. In adolescents and adults, eczema patches appear in areas that bend, like elbows, knees, ankles, wrists and the neck. Understanding what triggers it and how to get rid of eczema flares requires careful tracking of allergens and all flares as they occur.
To prevent future flares, avoid common triggers and allergens including eggs, soy, gluten, dairy, shellfish, fried foods, sugar, peanuts, trans-fats, common food preservatives and artificial sweeteners. Treat the mind and body for best results as increased anxiety and depression can worsen the symptoms and stress is believed to cause a flare in many adults.
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Moisturize affected areas at least twice a day to help soothe dry skin, relieve itching and speed healing. Introducing fish to young children may help prevent eczema.
Coconut Oil For An Amazing Skin
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