Seeing your child struggle with hand eczema can be tough. Eczema causes your child’s skin to become dry and extremely itchy, causing them distress.
Treating hand eczema in children is important to relieve their symptoms and potential complications. If left untreated, eczema can make skin more susceptible to infections due to constant scratching and subsequent damage.
This blog gives you 7 tips for managing hand eczema in children. These can help your child have a happier, more comfortable experience.
What Triggers Hand Eczema Symptoms?
Hand eczema causes the skin on the hand to develop a cracked and scaly appearance. The condition causes severe itching, as the skin barrier has been compromised.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. According to The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it has something to do with the reaction of the individual’s genes and their environment.
Some of the known triggers for hand eczema include:
- Dust mites
- Water Temperature
- Seasonal changes
- Chemicals in soaps, shampoos, and cleansers
- Synthetic fabrics
- Fragrances
- Stress
- Certain foods
As a parent, understanding what triggers your child’s eczema can help you minimize flare-ups. One thing that helps is keeping a diary of when your child’s eczema symptoms flare up and what they were exposed to before the flare up appeared. By identifying patterns, you can pin down specific triggers and take steps to avoid them in the future.
How To Respond to a Hand Eczema Rash Flare-Up
When your child has a hand eczema flare-up, a consistent care routine can help manage their symptoms effectively. Try the following:
- Remove potential irritants from your child’s environment. To prevent scratching at night, have your child wear cotton eczema mittens or a mitten shirt.
- Keep your child’s hand hydrated to minimize irritation. Apply a rich, fragrance-free moisturizing cream immediately after washing their hands and as needed throughout the day.
- During intense flare-ups, consider using wet wrap therapy to soothe and hydrate the skin.
- Apply any prescribed topical steroids or other medications exactly as directed by your child’s dermatologist. These treatments help reduce inflammation and itching during flare-ups.
7 Tips for Managing Hand Eczema in Children
Managing hand eczema in children requires a comprehensive, reliable approach. Eventually, you will find the right combination that works.
Here are some of the key components in managing hand eczema and relieving symptoms:
1. Eliminate Exposure to Irritants
It is very important to find out your child’s hand eczema triggers. It could be the soap or cleanser they use to wash their hands or certain foods they consume. This can be challenging, but a pediatric dermatologist can help with allergy testing to identify triggers.
2. Repair Skin Barrier
Children with hand eczema often experience dry, cracked skin that struggles to retain moisture. After bathing, pat their hands dry and immediately apply a rich, fragrance-free moisturizer to lock in moisture. Apply moisturizer to your child’s hands at least twice a day, even if there are no visible rashes.
3. Dress in Soft Fabrics
Dress your child in soft, breathable fabrics like 100% cotton to avoid irritation. Avoid materials like wool or synthetic fabrics that can aggravate eczema symptoms. Use mild, fragrance-free detergents for washing clothes and skip fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
4. Reduce Itching
Prevent excessive itching and scratching by keeping your child’s nails short. Consider using cotton gloves at night or an eczema mitten shirt to minimize scratching. Wet wrap treatments, done after bathing and moisturizing, can also help soothe itchy skin.
5. Prevent and Treat Skin Infections
Eczema-prone skin is more susceptible to infections, so watch for signs like oozing, crusting, or pus. Diluted bleach baths a few times a week can help prevent infections. Make sure to follow your pediatric dermatologist’s instructions for preparing a bleach bath.
6. Use Medications as Prescribed
Follow your child’s dermatologist’s instructions for applying topical steroid creams or non-steroid medications. For severe cases that do not respond to topical treatments, discuss the possibility of biologic therapies with your provider.
7. Let Them Carry and Use Their Own Products
If your child has hand eczema, they should have access to their own handwashing products. You can have them carry smaller sizes of cleansers and moisturizers approved by the National Eczema Association. In addition, they should know how to respond to an eczema rash and take or apply their medication when they are away from you, such as when they are at school.
Having a child with hand eczema can be challenging, but by working with your pediatric dermatologist, the condition can be managed well. Do not let hand eczema get your child down; you can help them lead a more comfortable and active life.
Hand Eczema Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
The pediatric dermatology experts at Happy Skin Pediatric Dermatology are ready to serve you and your child. Samantha Casselman, DNP, CPNP-PC is our pediatric dermatology practitioner. She is highly experienced in treating hand eczema.
Samantha Casselman, DNP, CPNP-PC can help you by identifying the type of eczema, the triggers, and the most effective treatment for your child. We believe in a collaborative approach when it comes to treating patients.
To schedule an appointment, call our pediatric dermatology clinic today at (602) 837-3376. You can also use our convenient appointment request form.
At Happy Skin Pediatric Dermatology, we are committed to your child’s health and well-being. We look forward to serving you!
