Allerchic for Eczema and Allergy
“Stop Scratching!” ….”I Can’t Help It!!!” comes Miss eight’s agitated reply!
And that’s the thing, they really can’t help it.
Eczema is a non-contagious reoccurring rash that it is always accompanied by itching. The rash itself can be dry & flaky or red, inflamed & weepy. Eczema is usually associated with another Atopic condition such as Hay Fever, Asthma or Allergies. 1 in 3 Australians will suffer with Eczema at some stage in their lives, and while Eczema can start at any age the majority of sufferers (85%) have their first symptoms before 5yrs & there is No Known Cure. Yes that’s right No Known Cure. Despite this Aussies will spend up to $5000.00 a year seeking relief.
That is not to say that you cannot get your child’s eczema under control & minimise flare ups.
Although Eczema can flare for no apparent reason, there are things you can do to minimise flare up’s such as:
- Avoiding dust mite contact by; removing or limiting exposure to carpets & cloth lounges, Weekly Hot Washing of Bedding & soft Toys & using Dust mite Covers
- Avoiding known allergens & triggers
- Wearing 100% Cotton or cotton bamboo blend clothing & avoiding synthetics & scratchy fabrics such as those with raised seems & tags
- Wearing clothing with Mittens to minimise night time scratching
- Luke warm baths or showers & using soap free products or moisturisers for cleaning
- Pat-dry rather than Rub skin with cotton or bamboo towels after bathing
- Daily moisturising immediately after bathing with a good quality moisturiser
- Avoiding extreme temperature changes
- New research is showing the use of a Prebiotic can also be useful for Eczema –
Prebiotics are non-digestible food fibres that benefit the body by stimulating the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestines.
- Wet Dressings are by far the quickest, cheapest & easiest way to relieve hot, itchy, inflamed skin. Wet Dressings involve the application of liberal amounts of emollient (thick moisturisers) & a wet layer such as Tubifast garments. – For more information on Wet Dressings watch our Educational video. Watch Wet Wrapping HERE The fact sheet can be printed from our website.
- Using Steroid creams as prescribed
It is important to not diagnose your rash via Google or My Friend/Mum Says… have your skin rash correctly diagnosed by a health care professional so individual treatment options can be correctly prescribed. Eczema treatments are as individual as your child is & can vary, while goat’s milk or oatmeal products might work well for some it may inflame the condition in others.
Now let’s talk about the Elephant in the room – Steroid Creams
There is great reluctance amongst parents to use the steroid creams prescribed by Medical professionals, one of the most common misconceptions is steroid creams will create “thinning” of the skin. A study published (April 21.2011) in the Journal of Paediatric Dermatology Researchers found that none of the children who used the steroid cream had skin thinning and their skin was indistinguishable from the children who did not have eczema and didn’t use any steroid cream. “Despite everything that has been published, we know only too well that these medicines, if used properly do not cause thin skin or do anything else for that matter, other than improve the eczema . We just needed to prove it scientifically.” Dr Gayle Fisher States.
Its true they can’t help scratching, but with the right advise we can relieve the itch.
For more information & support join our community on Facebook: facebook.com/Allerchic or head to the website www.allerchic.com..au for Fact Sheets on Eczema, Asthma & Allergies
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