Eczema is a common skin condition, affecting approximately 15 to 20% of infants under the age of two in the US. It makes your child’s skin dry, itchy, and sensitive.
While eczema symptoms can affect the skin anywhere in your child’s body, it is more common on the face, scalp, feet, arms, and legs. It is not a contagious condition and may come and go throughout your child’s life.
If your child has symptoms of eczema and you are curious to know the underlying cause of your child’s eczema, this article is for you. Let’s discuss the top causes of eczema in children and where you can take your child for eczema treatment in Phoenix, AZ.
Child Eczema Causes
Researchers do not know the exact underlying cause of eczema in children; however; it is believed that eczema in children is most likely due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. These factors include:
Immune System Dysfunction
Your child’s immune system defends them against foreign harmful substances like bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that can make your child sick.
The immune system of your child with eczema overreacts and confuses small irritants in the baby’s environment and healthy skin cells as foreign invaders. As a result, the immune system attacks your baby’s skin, causing symptoms of eczema.
Allergens And Skin Irritants
There is a lot in your child’s involvement that can irritate their skin. These irritants may include soaps, detergents, disinfectants, shampoos, pollens, molds, pets, and certain foods. A child who has allergies may also experience symptoms of eczema flare up on their skin.
Genetics
During conception, the egg and sperm meet, forming a foundation of genetic material known as genes for your child’s body. Sometimes, alteration to the genetic material (baby receives from mother and father) may occur, resulting in genetic mutation that can influence the functioning and development of your baby’s body.
The mutations may cause a lack of a special protein in a child’s body, called “filaggrin”, which forms a strong barrier between your child’s body and environment. The lack of this protein makes it harder for your child’s skin to hold moisture and keep bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms out. When these foreign microbes invade the skin, eczema symptoms occur.
How You Can Help Your Child with Eczema as a Parent or Caregiver
Eczema is not a persistent skin condition. It tends to come and go, with times when your child might not have any symptoms, followed by a period when the symptoms suddenly get worse. There are a variety of things that you can do as a parent or caregiver to prevent flare-ups or treat eczema in your child, including the following.
- Take your child to a pediatric dermatologist for the treatment of their eczema.
- Ask your child with eczema to take short baths or shower in warm water.
- Use non-soap cleansers or mild, unscented soaps to bathe your child.
- Pat your child’s skin dry before putting on an ointment or cream.
- Dress your child in soft clothes made of breathable material such as cotton.
- Keep your child’s fingernails short to prevent any skin damage from scratching the skin.
- Give your kid plenty of water to add moisture to their skin.
- Help your child avoid environmental triggers like pollen, mold, and tobacco smoke.
- Have your child find effective ways to manage their stress, as stress can make eczema worse.
Eczema Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
If you think your child is having symptoms of eczema and you are seeking a lasting solution to your child’s eczema symptoms, visit us here at Happy Skin Pediatric Dermatology. Our highly trained and skilled pediatric nurse practitioner, Samantha Casselman, is committed to providing your child with a personalized and tailored treatment plan to deal with eczema symptoms and keep them at bay.
If you would like to make a one-on-one consultation with our pediatric dermatologist, call our staff today at (602) 837-3376 or reach out via our online appointment request form.
