How to treat eczema in children: symptoms, signs, types, medications

Symptoms

Eczema symptoms are: Your 4-year-old has always had dry skin, but it never seemed to bother him. However, recently he has developed dry, scaly patches on his arms, legs and face.

These are all common scenarios that are typical for the skin condition called eczema. Another commonly used term for eczema is atopic dermatitis. This is a very common condition, affecting approximately 10% of infants and children. Eczema in children can begin as early as two months. Here are tips on understanding and treating eczema. Those who encounter this for the first time ask the question: “what is eczema and how to treat it?”

Below is a photo of eczema in children:

Age specificity of childhood microbial eczema

Infants are much more likely to experience microbial eczema. Infants between 2 and 6 months are most susceptible to developing dermatitis. The consequence of immature immunity can undoubtedly be called an unformed intestinal microflora, a tendency to food allergies, and therefore a high level of skin sensitization.

Children of the older age group, from one to 6 years old, most often suffer from microbial eczema due to failure to comply with basic cleanliness rules. Among diseases of dirty hands in children, this pathology has become widespread.

The peak incidence of dermatitis occurs during puberty. Hormonal changes and constant fluctuations in the functioning of the endocrine system, as a rule, become the main causes of dermatological diseases. Young girls and boys can prevent eczematous manifestations on the arms and legs by avoiding damage to the epidermis and allergic reactions.

Definition of eczema

So, what is eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that has two distinct components:

• Dry, easily irritated skin – Children with this type of eczema have a genetic tendency to have dry skin. Moisture is very important for our skin. Helps skin stay healthy. This prevents irritation. Accelerates healing. Moisture significantly helps our skin function better. With eczema, the skin does not retain moisture very well, giving it a dry, slightly rough texture and making it prone to irritation. With ecchema, the skin becomes itchy, causing children to scratch frequently. This further irritates and damages the skin, leading to more itching and scratching, and so on.
• Allergies – Eczema can cause allergies and then a rash. Already dry and slightly irritated skin is less able to cope with this allergic rash.

Thus, children with eczema are constantly fighting a two-pronged battle - trying to retain moisture in the skin and prevent irritation and itching, and also limit exposure to allergens and skin irritants.

Now that we know what causes eczema in babies and toddlers, let's take a closer look at what symptoms to look for.

Treatment of hands and fingers with medications and folk remedies

At the initial stage, these are non-hormonal steroid ointments that relieve itching and promote rapid healing of the skin, among which it is preferable to use zinc and salicylic ointments, Radevit, Aurobin, Dermasan, Skin-cap.

Radevit

If the disease has become chronic, then you cannot do without hormonal ointments: Prednisolone, Dermovate, Triderm, Apulein, Zinacort, used only as prescribed by a doctor due to serious contraindications and for a limited period of time.

The following traditional medicines can supplement, but not replace, medications (they can also be used for the hands and feet):

• Baths with sea salt will help get rid of itching and irritation and dry out weeping skin, although with open wounds the sensation can be quite unpleasant;
• Compresses with infusion of medicinal herbs. Mix 20 g of calendula, sage and chamomile flowers, pour boiling water and let it brew in a thermos. Then cool slightly and use for 20-minute compresses on the affected areas three times a day;
• Therapeutic baths. They use a mixture of dry herbs (geranium, yarrow) with pine needles and cones. Pour 40 g of this mixture into 1 liter of water, bring to a boil in a water bath, boil for 5 minutes, then cool to body temperature and use for baths for hands and feet.

External signs

What does eczema look like in children?

• Dry skin – Your baby will have slightly dry skin with a rough texture. You may see and feel tiny white bumps when you run your fingers over the skin.

• Dry spots – You may see scattered, scaly, dry white patches anywhere on the body.

• Flashes – From time to time, you will see certain areas of your skin become more irritated and break out due to eczema. They will appear as raised, red, slightly oozing spots. The outbreaks usually occur near folds of skin—most often inside the elbows and behind the knees, but also in the neck, wrists, and arms, as well as the feet. . One of the unique aspects of eczema is that it usually does not affect the diaper area.

Types of eczema differ only in the location of the rash and the degree of itching (from mild to severe).

Diagnosis and treatment methods

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to visit a medical institution. There, tests and studies will be prescribed that will help determine exactly what type of eczema the child has.

Analyzes:

• General blood analysis
• Allergen analysis
• Scraping from the affected dermis
• Skin biopsy (in rare cases, if it is difficult to make a diagnosis).

An experienced specialist can identify eczema in a child by external signs. If dyshidrosis is complicated by some other symptoms, then additional research is necessary to exclude the presence of concomitant diseases.

When to use medications

When to use these medications? When the eczema is under control, the rash is mild, and your child has little or no itching, then give your child a break from the medications. But don't be afraid to use it during flare-ups and during periods of moderate to severe itching. You must break the cycle of itching and scratching before the rash gets worse. You can safely use these medications daily for several weeks.

• Keep nails short and very clean – when your child scratches, the bacteria that live under the nails and on his skin can end up in a rash. This can lead to skin infection. Shorter nails will also reduce trauma to the skin.
• Wear long sleeves and pants if the weather permits - this will cover the skin so your child won't scratch as much.
• Medicines to relieve itching – Oral antihistamines are a very effective way to combat the itching caused by eczema.

Treatment of eczema in the groin in women

Therapy for eczema in the groin should be comprehensive. The use of antifungal ointments without the use of other means will be ineffective.

Additionally, you should remember the hygiene rules included in the treatment plan:

• the affected skin is treated with antifungal shampoos (Nizoral, Selsun Blue);
• the dermis should be treated with antifungal ointments, including miconazole and terbinafine (Lamisil, Lotrimin). They have a gentle and at the same time effective action;
• Zinc ointment helps relieve skin irritation;
• Any ulcers that arise should be immediately treated and dried. Suitable Burov's liquid, decoctions of medicinal herbs. If the blisters open, after removing the pus they need to be treated with Fukortsin, Iodine;
• you need to take antihistamines - Suprastin, Doratadin, Zyrtec;
• in advanced cases, an antibiotic must be prescribed.

In individual cases, the doctor may prescribe strong ointments. They have a number of contraindications and are prohibited for use during pregnancy and lactation.

If the rules of use are violated, they cause itching and redness of the skin. The main active components of such ointments are naftifine, sulconazole, econazole.

Effective drugs:

• Mycoseptin;
• Spectazol;
• Loprax.

When diagnosing eczema of a bacterial nature, local antibiotics are prescribed:

• Erythromycin;
• Metronidazole.

Antifungal drugs for internal use are prescribed in case of severe illness, aggravated by special indications, including HIV infection.

Types of rash

Mild rash

Treat it with over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream (don't worry about the 0.5 percent—you might as well use nothing if you use this). Use the cream twice a day until the rash goes away. Ask your doctor for a mild prescription cortisone cream if the over-the-counter cream does not work.

Moderate rash

Again, what is considered mild depends on your child's underlying rash. These areas are often redder and more inflamed, may have some moisture from the rash, and may bleed slightly from scratching. The itching will be worse than usual. Treat these areas with a mild prescription cortisone cream. You can ask your doctor for a medium strength eczema cream if a mild one doesn't work.

Severe rash

These areas will be very red and irritated, oozing and bleeding. Itching and burning will be unpleasant. Your doctor may prescribe a strong cream to be used very rarely for severe areas that do not improve with a medium strength cream.

Etiological factors

The causative agents of eczema are microscopic fungi of the genus Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Human infection occurs through contact and household contact. Skin infection is possible when sharing the same towel or underwear with the patient. Fungi can penetrate the skin when visiting public baths and saunas. Often, athlete's foot develops in people who go barefoot in the bathhouse.

Eczema is common among athletes. Regular sweating, rarely changing clothes, storing wet clothes in dark closets are all risk factors for developing a fungal infection. Wearing unwashed clothes day after day can cause illness. The following predisposing factors for the development of fringed eczema are identified:

• mycosis of the legs or hands;
• increased sweating;
• presence of diabetes mellitus;
• nutritional obesity;
• infrequent washing of clothes;
• insufficient ventilation of the room;
• wearing synthetic underwear;
• failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
• presence of diaper rash;
• circulatory disorders;
• high humidity and temperature.

Athlete's foot can develop due to the use of certain medications or a bacterial infection.

Adviсe

How long to use eczema cream – You do not need to continue using the same cream until the rash completely disappears. Once you notice that the rash is slightly better, then move on to a weaker cream. Use this until the rash returns to its original level. It is safe to use mild prescription creams for several weeks.

Helpful tips: After a bath, apply the cream to slightly damp skin. Apply steroid cream before applying moisturizer.

How to care for your child’s skin before and during illness?

Weeping eczema in infants and older children damages the structure of the skin. Normally, the epidermis consists of several layers. The outer layer is covered with a thin, fatty film of phospholipids. In children it is especially fragile. The outer barrier protects against an unfavorable environment and pathogenic microbes.

When the disease occurs, the layer is damaged and the protective functions are weakened. The connection between epidermal cells is disrupted. The skin dries out. Why is this dangerous? Dryness causes unbearable itching, scratching inflammation, microtraumas serve as entry gates for pathogens and allergens. Proper care prevents the development of the disease and alleviates the condition during eczema.

1. It is necessary to exclude contact with external irritants. Synthetics, wool, pet hair. Clothing close to the body made of cotton and linen. It is important to wash children's clothes correctly. Washing with hypoallergenic powder. The machine automatically sets the additional rinse mode in hot water. Nowadays washing machines are sold with a built-in mode for washing children's clothes.
2. The principle of care is skin hydration. Hygienic baths. Daily bathing without soap in non-chlorinated water at 37 C. Clean the city water supply with filters to remove chlorine or let the water sit for several hours. Swimming for no more than twenty minutes. Once a week, bathe with hypoallergenic shampoo and soap. Then dry the skin with a towel using gentle blotting movements.

Important! Baths are permissible only at the initial stage of the disease. If there are wounds, wet crusts, or pus, temporarily refrain from swimming.

1. Moisturizing baby creams. Children's medicinal cosmetics for skin care. Creams restore cells, eliminate redness, reduce itching, and heal cracks. Moisturized skin should be silky, soft, not rough.

• "Bipanthen";
• "De-panthenol";
• cosmetics series “Eared Nannies”;
• "My Sunshine";
• "Avencia";
• "Mustella."

Before introducing care products into use, a test must be carried out. Apply the cream to a small area and check the reaction after a few hours. If the skin is clean, the product can be used.

Side effects

Side effects of steroid creams. There are two types of side effects:

Preventative treatment – ​​If your child's eczema is generally well controlled, with very little itching and rash, then you do not need to use cortisone cream for prevention. However, if your eczema is moderate to severe and your child continually develops rashes and itching despite doing your best to minimize it, you can use this cream daily to try to improve the condition. Use the gentlest form of baby or toddler eczema cream that is appropriate for your child.

Eczema in children under one year of age

A child under one year of age may also develop eczema. It can be triggered by many factors, including breast milk. During this period, the mother must adhere to a certain diet, which completely excludes highly allergenic foods from the diet, such as citrus fruits and honey.

If a child encounters eczema at such an early age, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to provide adequate and timely medical care. The doctor will help identify the cause of the disease and select a set of measures to eliminate it.

Self-medication is strictly prohibited (especially with folk recipes)! Otherwise, serious complications may develop that will lead to disastrous consequences.

Skin infections

Keep in mind that children with eczema are more susceptible to bacterial skin infections, especially in areas where the rash is worst. This infection is called impetigo. Signs that this is happening include increased redness of the skin around the rash and fluid oozing from the rash or forming a crust over the rash. This is not an emergency and is not a reason to see your doctor after hours. It can wait until the next day to be examined by a doctor.

Below is a photo of eczema on the face:

What should a mother do to alleviate the baby’s condition?

Weeping eczema in children requires special attention. A dermatologist is obliged to find out the cause. Knowing the source of the problem will prevent the rash from reoccurring and becoming chronic. The baby needs to be examined, the mother needs to be asked about the baby’s diet and the conditions in which he lives. Afterwards, conduct a test to identify the allergen based on the mother’s story.

Weeping eczema in a baby requires a review of the mother's diet. Older children need to exclude allergenic foods and contact with external irritants. It is advisable not to give chocolate, dairy dishes and products, cocoa drinks, citrus fruits.

The baby's clothes deserve special attention. Synthetic items should not come into contact with the body. Sensitive areas of the skin should not be rubbed by the seams. Avoid excessive sweating, maintain the temperature in the baby’s room at 21 C. Trim the baby’s nails short to prevent scratching the wounds.

Expectant mothers should eat properly so that weeping eczema does not appear in the baby. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, eliminate all possible allergens, even if the mother is not allergic to them. Stop smoking, alcoholic beverages, and do not come into contact with chemicals.

Classification

Depending on the causes and clinical manifestations, the following types of disease are distinguished:

1. True form. Characterized by the development of all the symptoms characteristic of this disease.
2. Seborrheic . Develops as a result of improper treatment of seborrhea. The affected area is the scalp; less often, the rashes spread to the skin of the face.
3. Viral . Occurs due to untreated viral infections.
4. Bacterial . The cause of the disease is a bacterial infection that affects the child’s body.
5. Atopic . Develops as a result of allergic reactions. For young children, the main provoking factor is food or contact allergies.
6. Mycotic . The cause is a fungal infection that affects the child’s skin as a result of contact with infected people or household items.