![]() “Babies can have difficulty regulating body temperature, and they can get dehydratedquickly. Parents should take heat rash as a warning, she says. Babies often get heat rash in the winter, when caregivers bundle them up in too many layers. “Sweat gets trapped underneath the skin and causes it to be red and bumpy,” explains Tara Chobotuk, a paediatrician in Halifax. Heat rash, prickly heat, sweat rash-all these terms refer to a skin upset that develops when your kid gets hot and her skin isn’t properly ventilated. “They’re two genetic traits that tend to travel together, but the blond hair doesn’t cause the blue eyes, just as eating certain foods doesn’t typically cause a flare-up of eczema.” “It’s like having blond hair and blue eyes,” says Weinstein. Experts do not recommend eliminating foods in search of a trigger, as it may lead to serious problems, like malnutrition. People with eczema often also have food or environmental allergies. cortisone) to calm the itching and redness-broken skin from scratching can leave kids vulnerable to a staph infection. In these cases, your doctor will likely recommend a mild steroid cream (a.k.a. That tends to send them down an unhelpful path.”Įczema can appear without reason, despite your best efforts. “People will turn their lives upside down, searching for that one thing that if they could only eliminate it, the eczema would go away. There are dozens of products formulated for eczema-whether it’s a thin lotion or thick ointment, choose one that’s affordable and works for your kid, because you’ll be applying it often and liberally, says Weinstein.įocus on moisturizing instead of driving yourself crazy trying to figure out what’s triggering flares, Weinstein says. On days when he doesn’t bathe, keep moisturizing. Bathe him, pat his skin and then liberally apply moisturizer while it’s still damp. Keeping the skin well-moisturized is your first line of defence (that, and keeping his nails short). “Managing it is an art as much as it is a science,” says Weinstein.Įczema might first look like a patch of dry skin, but it can quickly worsen as your kid scratches. It’s important to get a diagnosis, but even then it can be hard to control. How do I treat eczema?Įczema is very uncomfortable, and the itch can keep a kid up at night. Fragrances and chemicals in lotions, detergents and shampoos, as well as polyester clothing, may also further irritate the skin. It can worsen in dry winter air or with heat and sweat in summer. In toddlers, eczema can worsen in elbow creases and behind the knees-anywhere the skin may become irritated by heat and clothing. Infants may have patches of eczema on their arms, legs, scalp, forehead and cheeks (the diaper area is often spared because the moisture is kept in). ![]() Skin will look dry, red, raised and scaly, and will be quite itchy-you’ll probably see your kid scratching, sometimes to the point of drawing blood. Just as allergies run in families, eczema can be inherited. The skin isn’t able to keep moisture in and irritants out and, as a result, can become dry, itchy and inflamed. EczemaĮczema (also sometimes called atopic dermatitis) is a chronic skin condition that affects an estimated 17 percent of kids, says Miriam Weinstein, a paediatric dermatologist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. But when lotion won’t cut it, you’ll need a more targeted approach. It can be stressful to see angry rashes or itchy patches pop up on your kids, but as Vancouver dermatologist Sunil Kalia says: “Sensitive skin is quite common in babies and toddlers.” In fact, most skin troubles are preventable or easily treated (moisturizer often works wonders). All too often, this protective layer becomes dry, irritated and blotchy. Your kid’s skin is a shield from the world around him.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |