Who develops Eczema?
About 65 per cent of kids with Eczema have developed the problem by age 1, and 90 per cent of kids affected by Eczema develop the symptoms before their 5th birthday.
What does Eczema look like?
In infancy, Eczema appears as red dry scaly rash on the head, scalp, neck and diaper area, with perhaps a few scattered rashes over the back or abdomen. As the child grows and begins to crawl, the rashes begin appearing over the forearms and shins. During the toddler and pre-teen years, the rash is generally worst on the body folds- like the inside of the elbows, the armpits and the back of the knees. In severe cases, the rash may spread to involve large parts of the body. During the teen years, most children begin to outgrow their Eczema. However, some may continue to have flare ups during winters or periods of emotional distress. Some may continue to have dry itchy rashes on their hands for several years, along with a general tendency for skin sensitivity.
What puts my child at higher risk for Eczema?
Eczema often runs in the family.“ Atopy” is a condition of increased risk for skin, respiratory and eye allergies. Most kids with Eczema come from families with“ atopic individuals”. This means, people in this family have a tendency for Eczema, Asthma, Hay Fever and allergic eye itching. In fact, a lot of kids who suffer from Eczema may also have Asthma or Hay Fever.
What triggers Eczema?
The main problem with this condition is itching. This is why Eczema is known as the“ itch that rashes” rather than the rash that itches. An itch leads to scratching. Scratching leads to the appearance of rash. The rashes make the skin itchier. This leads to the vicious itch-scratch-itch cycle.
Potentially everything under the sun, including the sun, can cause your child’ s skin to itch! Dryness of the skin in winter can lead to itching. Prickly heat in summer can lead to itching. These children are particularly sensitive to mosquito bites, artificial jewellery and fragranced cosmetics / toiletries. Some of these children may be sensitive to their own sweat, and excessive sweating itself can lead to itching and rash. Rough clothing like wool
In children with severe Eczema, blood allergy testing can help in identifying allergy to dust, pollen, animal hair or food. The test is highly sensitive and can help parents take care of their child by avoiding or eliminating the offending allergen
and denim can irritate the skin. Clothes washed in harsh laundry detergent can also irritate the skin.
Children with Eczema are particularly prone to developing skin infections. This is because healthy skin forms a natural barrier against the entry of germs and infection. But eczematous skin is weak and broken and cannot resist pathogenic invasion. Certain skin infections like herpes, fungal rash and Scabies are naturally itchy. The itching induced by these infections can also flare up your child’ s Eczema.
Food allergens have also found to play a role. Dairy, poultry, gluten, seafood, soy and nuts are amongst the most common culprits. Staying away from the offending food can keep the itch under control. However, parents may find it hard to identify food allergies if the child is allergic to multiple food items, or itchy on a daily basis due to other irritants like soap or fabric.
Your child’ s skin might also be sensitive to dust, pollen, mold, animal hair and smoke( from tobacco or burning wood).
Stress and emotional distress do not cause Eczema, but can definitely worsen it. A caretaker( like a beloved grandparent) moving away, first day at school, a strict parent / teacher or exam woes – parents will notice a link between emotional distress and itch. Older children might even itch to seek attention.
Is Eczema a modern-day disease?
Eczemas have always existed but modernization has definitely led to an increase in all kinds of allergy. Breastfeeding has been found to protect children from Eczema. Over-sanitization, indiscriminate use of vaccines and antibiotics, and living in air-conditioned and carpeted homes and offices have played a role in the increasing incidence of allergies.
Playing in the mud, having a pet from a young age, and the occasional intestinal worm infestation can help in maturing your child’ s immune system.
Are there supplements or herbs that can help?
If your child suffers from dry skin, then oral intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can help. Dietary sources include oily fish like cod, egg yolk, olives, almonds, walnuts, tofu and flaxseed.
Some studies have found Vitamin D supplementation to be helpful in combating Eczema. Probiotics have also been prescribed with some benefit. Increasing fish and probiotic intake during pregnancy can protect your child from Eczema. Probiotics can be found in fermented food like yoghurt, yeast and sauerkraut. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacteria are most commonly prescribed in Atopic children. Indiscriminate use of probiotics however could leave to bowel dysregulation.
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