It's National Eczema Week and I know some of the difficulties parents face having a child with eczema, no one like to see someone they love in discomfort, but hopefully, by following some of these tips you can help alleviate some of those symptoms. Thankfully my sons eczema has always been quite mild which meant we were able to self-care for him at home, I have always used Oilatum as it always worked really well for us, and it has done wonders for my son's skin when used regularly. Now my son is much older he has now learnt to take care of his skin himself.
If you have mild eczema visit your pharmacist for advice on emollients, but if you have moderate or severe eczema you will need to talk to a GP
- Visit your GP who will work with you to establish what might trigger the eczema flare-ups and offer advice on the best course of action
- Use emollients (moisturisers) every day to stop the skin from becoming dry
- Avoid scratching as it damages the skin
- If your skin is itchy try gently rubbing or tapping your skin with your fingers
- If your baby has eczema use anti-scratch mittens to stop them scratching their skin
- Keep nails short and clean to minimise damage
- Keep your skin covered with light clothing this will prevent direct scratching on the skin
- Often some fabrics can irritate your skin, avoid wearing these and stick to soft natural materials like cotton
- Keep rooms especially bedrooms cool as often heat can aggravate eczema
- Avoid using scented soaps and scented detergents
- Keep house dust to a minimum
- Your GP may advise that you or your child change and adapt your diet as some dairy products like egg and cows milk can trigger eczema
Remember always talk to your local pharmacist or visit your GP for help and advice on moderate or severe eczema related issues.
