Are there any tests to diagnose Eczema?
There are some basic tests which parents can do from home
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Elimination diet tests
Eliminating one food item / group from the diet. For instance, dairy or poultry. It is recommended to eliminate the said food item for at least a week to interpret the results. If the itching subsides, it indicates a possible allergy to that particular food item.
Repeat Open Application Test
If your child is allergic to various soaps or moisturizers, this is a useful test to carry out before trying any new cosmetic. Apply the said cream or toiletry, twice a day to the inner elbow for a week. If your child develops redness, rash or itch, he is most likely allergic to the said product.
Consult your Dermatologist or Allergologist regarding clinical blood tests( like the RAST test) or skin tests, namely‘ Prick Testing’ and‘ Patch Testing’. Your doctor will choose the test depending upon your child’ s history and symptoms.
How can I manage my child’ s Eczema?
Protect your child from anything that makes her itch. Skin care and clothing care is the first step towards this goal, and should be treated as a lifestyle modification rather than a temporary fix.
01 Bathe your child not more than once a day with lukewarm water. Give him / her a quick bath with a mild soap-free cleanser like Cetaphil cleansing lotion. Prefer Syndets over Soaps. Avoid bubble baths, fragranced toiletries, massage oils and long showers. Diluted bleach baths are very helpful if your child suffers from repeated skin infections secondary to the Eczema. Pat dry after a bath. Vigorous rubbing can trigger the itch.
02 Use bland moisturizing creams all over the body within minutes of towel-drying. It may take some trial-and-error to find the right emollient. Creams work better than lotions. Seek your dermatologist’ s opinion on brands.
03 Protect your child from insect bites.
04 Keep your child’ s skin well covered with soft garments. Avoid wool, silks and denim. Avoid fabrics that leech colour. Pre-wash all new clothes and bed linen before use. Do not let your child crawl or sit on carpets and rugs.
05 Use fragrance-free liquid detergents to wash your child’ s clothes and bed linen. Make sure to rinse off the detergent thoroughly before use. Using an unscented fabric softener can be helpful.
06 Wet wraps are helpful in soothing itchy skin and can help seal-in the moisture after applying emollients.
07 Keep your child’ s nails short and filed. Put mittens on while your child sleeps, to prevent him from scratching.
08 Saliva is a known cause of Eczema around the mouth. Avoid using wet wipes. If your baby tends to drool, use petroleum jelly on your baby’ s cheeks and chin before meal time and nap time.
09 Skip“ herbal” remedies like neem oil, eucalyptus oil and other essential oils like lavender or chamomile. Kids with Eczema cannot tolerate several herbal formulations.
10 Treat skin infections promptly without resorting to over-enthusiastic use of oral antibiotics. Prolonged itching from Scabies or a fungal infection can lead to secondary Eczema.
11 Dust and pollen is all around us. If your child has tested positive for dust or pollen allergy, then consult an Allergologist for advice on how to reduce dust and pollen in your environment. Simple measures like dust-mite pillow covers, vacuuming, air filters and humidifiers can help.
12 Avoid hand sanitizers. Let your child carry Cetaphil cleansing lotion to school instead. Most schools now avoid carpets and soft toys as a lot of kids suffer from Eczema and respiratory allergies. Inform your child’ s teachers about any food allergies. Leave some emergency cortisone cream or Cetrizine syrup with the school nurse.
13 If your child needs sunscreen, select a plain Zinc Oxide based sunscreen which is hypoallergenic.
14 Good sleep can help soothing the symptoms of Eczema. However chronic and severe itching can ruin your child’ s sleep. Sedative antihistamines like Cetrizine are helpful in providing itch relief and a good night’ s sleep. Eczema has been associated with co-morbidities like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy and heart disease. These may be caused by accumulated lack of sleep over the years
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