Kiddipedia
Common skin condition causing many a disturbed night’s sleep!
When my little guy was 6 months old just a mention of the words ‘eczema rash’ sent sleep-deprived me, into a flap. And for good reason; this nasty and very itchy rash kept us both awake night after night. Turns out, I am not alone. Approximately one in three infants develop eczema by 12 months of age, so it’s fair to say that this common skin condition is causing many a disturbed night’s sleep.
And, nobody knows better than us parents, how important sleep is to cope with the day-to-day of caring for our little ones…. Did someone say energy, mood, trouble concentrating?!?
I love hearing that our Little Rockers Radio all night lullabies help parents to settle their distressed bubs back to sleep. When we were dealing with our little one’s eczema rash I hankered for information about how to help my child feel more comfortable. So, to find out what else we can do to help children and parents dealing with eczema, I caught up with parent and clinician Dr Dave Kwon.
Here are some of the important take-aways from that interview.
You can find the entirety of our interview HERE in Little Rockers Radio Latest News.
ECZEMA IS . . . a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can occur at any age but is common in childhood, with most children showing signs at 3-4 months. Also known as ‘atopic dermatitis’, eczema presents as dry, red and itchy skin. Symptoms range from mild to severe.
THE GOOD NEWS . . . the majority of children grow out of it before they are 5. While there is no cure for eczema, there are plenty of options to treat and manage the condition. According to Dr Kwon, where possible, avoiding the trigger is the best treatment for eczema.
THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS . . . The most commonly areas affected are the face and abdomen and, from around 18 months, eczema also likes to inhabit skin folds. Children with itchy cradle cap, are commonly associated with the manifestation of atopic dermatitis.
BUT WHY . . . The two major causes of eczema are thought to be genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Dr Kwon reminds us that it is important to note that environmental factors exacerbate genetic predisposition, so while it is very hard to pinpoint what the exact cause of eczema is, it is very important to try and identify what triggers an eczema flare up.
TRIGGER UN- HAPPY. . . Some examples of environmental irritants that trigger eczema are:
- agents that dry out skin like soap, shampoo and chlorine in swimming pools
- abrasive clothing or surface such as wool, nylon or carpet
- chemicals such as artificial fragrance or paraben
- heat
SO, HOW DO I FIX IT . . . According to Dr Kwon, “Treatments that advertise a ‘cure’ or work for your friends’ children might not have the same result for you’, so he recommends finding something that works for your child. “If a flare up is significant,” he said, “a topical steroid cream or ointment can be applied. If severe, it is unlikely that a simple skin care product will make a huge improvement, but used in conjunction with steroid therapy, it can work wonders.”
I hope this information helps you to keep your little eczema sufferer comfortable and, helps to decrease the stress and sleep loss associated with a nasty eczema rash.
If your bub needs soothing (or you need us to sing you a lullaby!) PRESS PLAY when you need us. Every child has the right to be safe, happy and healthy and we exist to make this happen.
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AN EFFECTIVE BUT GENTLE SOLUTION THAT MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU. . . Realising that some very well-known products contain known irritants such as artificial fragrance and parabens, Dr Kwon and business partner, also a medical practitioner, began looking for skincare to suit their children and were overwhelmed by the amount of online information and lengthy product ingredient lists.
As medical practitioners with a passion for providing effective but gentle solutions, they knew there had to be a better way. So, the two doctors, created their own hypoallergenic, dermatologist certified creams, made from natural origin ingredients sourced here in Australia, that contain no nasty chemicals and can be used by everyone.
Allganic® is beautifully simple.
Check it out and download our free App at www.littlerockersradio.com.au to PRESS PLAY when you need us. BTW – Allganic is a proud sponsor of Little Rockers Radio.
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