king-crayons-swamp-18.html
1117 NOVEMBER
19 / 80
i magine your
skin
is a coat of armor. now, imagine that armor has cracks in it. this is what
eczema
is like, says dr. w. trent massengale of atlas dermatology. ?when kids have
eczema
, their bodies don?t make normal moisturizers, so they have dry
skin
. with those cracks in the armor, their immune system is often activated and releases inflammatory chemicals that cause the
skin
to become red and itchy,? he says.
eczema
has a strong genetic component, says dr. massengale. it?s inherited on the same gene that carries allergies and sinus problems and asthma, so
child
ren will often experience a triad of the three. also,
eczema
sometimes comes with infections, such as warts, mollescum, and impetigo because of the ?cracks? in the
skin
. while this may seem alarming, it?s actually quite normal. ?it?s one of the most common conditions we see,? says dr. massengale. ?it can range in severity, but most people are diagnosed as a
child
and then outgrow it by their teenage years.? while there is much discussion on why
eczema
stops flaring up as
child
ren reach puberty, dr. massengale explains it could be because hormones in the body change and the body increases oil production. he continues, ?they keep that sensitive
skin
, but we don?t see the same flare ups in adults as we do in
child
ren.? if you see a dermatologist, possible treatments include topical anti-inflammatories, medicines to stop itchiness, and even shots and pills to control the immune system. ?treatment should focus on restoring the
skin
to have a healthy
skin
barrier,? says dr. massengale. ?we should work to stop doing things that are causing more dryness and irritation, such as taking multiple showers and baths, using certain soaps, wearing wool material, and purchasing items with a fragrance.? he explains that taking small steps to avoid allergens, such as dust mites, or constantly applying fragrance-free moisturizer can make a big difference in your
child
?s
eczema
flare ups. for relief at home, dr. massengale advises creating a wet wrap if your
child
is experiencing severe dryness and itchiness. fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and put both your
child
and either a pair of pajamas or long johns in the bathtub. when your
child
gets out, apply heavy moisturizing creams and wring out the pajamas and put them on your
child
. on top of that, put on dry clothes, such as sweatpants and a sweatshirt, and have your
child
sit in a non-air conditioned room for about an hour. this will help to moisturize the
skin
and soothe the itchiness. ? p at h w a y s t o p a r e n t i n g
eczema
and
child
ren n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 | b r p a r e n t s . c o m 1 9
november-teens-get-20.html
