We understand it's hard to stay calm when eczema is constantly flaring up. Your baby cries a lot, doesn't getting enough sleep – and neither do you. However the good news is regular check-ups and home care can help you manage the symptoms.
The only on-going treatment for atopic skin: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!
In all cases of atopic eczema, there is always the problem of very dry skin and an impaired skin barrier. Daily nourishing of this dry skin is essential to strengthening its protective hydrolipidic layer. The simple gesture also helps to space out flare-ups. For babies at risk, it's important to start applying emollient products as soon as they're born and to continue until there are no longer any symptoms – often up until adolescence! Be sure to choose products specifically adapted to atopic skin.
The advantages of having properly moisturised atopic skin:
- Forestall eczema flare-ups
- Slow the disease's evolution by improving skin balance
- Treat symptoms by lessening itchiness
Treating eczema flare-ups: battling inflammation
When a flare-up occurs, localised anti-inflammatory treatment (topical corticosteroids) are still the most appropriate way to soothe rapidly, reduce itchiness and avoid infection for your child. Always apply the treatment prescribed by your doctor on the affected areas only, once a day, until the redness disappears. The amount of topical corticosteroids you use automatically decreases as treatment progresses and patches grow smaller. It is always a good idea to follow your doctor's recommendations.
4 tips to apply cream like a pro:
- Wash your hands before applying cream on your child.
- Be generous. The right amount of cream for a child's two elbows and knees is equivalent to the size of an adult's knuckle. Massage it in gently and slowly so that it all gets absorbed.
- Emollient cream twice a day: apply the moisturising cream or balm morning and evening, even if your child doesn't have a bath or shower, all over his body and not just in the critical spots.
- Anti-inflammatory treatment once a day: at the same time as the emollient cream, and only on the eczema patches, until they disappear. Always follow the doctor's prescription.
Learn how to scratch
Apply cold: Place ice cubes wrapped in a clean cloth on the patches.
Spray Bioderma's Atoderm SOS Spray to calm itchiness. It is even suitable to use with newborns.
Try to stop scratching by rubbing all of your child's itchy areas with smooth, cold pebbles, or any other smooth object, to limit skin damage.
Use a wooden anti-scratching roller to massage the itchy area.
Divert attention with her favourite toy, a joke, or a game making faces to keep her mind off scratching!
