Sharing is caring!

Do you have a kid at home with a stubborn rash that just won’t go away? Have you tried just about everything and still not seen any results? Years ago, I struggled with treating my oldest daughter’s eczema. We lived in Atlanta at the time, and actually went through season changes (not so much now, living in Florida). Whenever it got too hot or too cold, her skin would get really dry and break out in a rash. There were times she was too itchy and uncomfortable to even sleep well. I had to be careful when she played outside. I had to lather her up so many times a day. Sometimes she looked like a little grease ball because of it. Eczema isn’t always easy to treat. So, I’ll share with you some of my best eczema treatment recommendations, from my professional and “mommy” experience.

But, first, what is eczema?

Eczema is also known as “atopic dermatitis”. It’s a common condition where your child experiences patches of dry, red, itchy skin. The cheeks and folds of the elbows and knees are the most common spots for the rash to show up in kids. The rash can flare up from time to time, and isn’t always present.

What causes eczema?

Eczema is usually caused by your child’s immune system overreacting to a certain trigger. Kids with asthma and allergies are more likely to have eczema. Eczema is basically an allergy or sensitivity that shows up on the skin.

How do you diagnose eczema?

I’ve had a lot of parents question whether or not their child really has eczema. Many get so stressed out by the constant treatments that they think I must be treating the wrong thing. The reality is that most doctors can diagnose eczema just by taking a history and looking at the rash. Rarely does your child need to see a dermatologist or go through a skin biopsy for your doctor to be sure it’s eczema.

How do you treat eczema?

The big key to treating your child’s eczema is consistency. Specific treatments will vary based on how bad your child’s eczema is:

Fragrance-free products

To start with, it’s so important that you find a good, fragrance-free body wash and cream/ointment for your child. I recommend this for any child, actually. Not just those with eczema. Body washes and lotions with a fragrance do a whole lot more harm than good to the skin. Stay away from scented bubble baths and perfumes as well. My favorites are the Dove sensitive skin line, Aveeno Deep Moisturizing, Cetaphil, Aquaphor, and Eucerin. I tend to avoid lotions that come through a “pump” since they tend to be thinner than the creams and ointment you get in a tub or tube. The thicker, the better, when it comes to eczema treatment.

Moisturizing

This is key for preventing and treating eczema. I recommend moisturizing your kid’s skin at least 2-3 times a day. More than that won’t hurt, though. So whenever his skin feels dry, or whenever he’s itchy, lather him up! 

Limiting baths

You’ll hear differing opinions on baths when it comes to eczema. Yes, baths with any type of soap can dry the skin. So, it’s recommended to skip their bath when you can. I had a hard time doing this when my daughter was in daycare or going to school. I just had to wash those germs off every day. But, on days where we were just home and she didn’t really get dirty, I’d skip her bath. I prefer clean skin any day! Baths should be as short as possible (no splashing around in the bathtub), and with room-temperature water.

Steroid or immune-suppressing creams

There are a few different over-the-counter and prescription creams that you can use on your child’s eczema. Some are steroid based. Others work by minimizing the immune system response that’s causing the rash. Stay in touch with your Pediatrician for recommendations on these. 

Allergy medications

Medications like Claritin or Zyrtec can be used for those kids that get really itchy from their eczema.

In general…

My general treatment recommendation for my patients looks like this:

1. Short, room-temperature bath with a fragrance-free body wash on days your child gets dirty (it’s OK to skip a day when you can). Pat the skin dry with a towel, and leave it slightly damp after the bath.
2. If your child has been recommended to use a separate steroid or immune system-suppressing cream, apply that cream to just the areas that are broken out (skip this if your child has no active rash).
3. Right after, moisturize your child’s skin from head to toe with a fragrance-free cream or ointment. Do this as much as you need to throughout the day, whether your child has an active rash or not).
4. Use an allergy medication if your child is itchy, especially at bedtime (if recommended by your Pediatrician).

How do you prevent eczema?

Many times, kids are predisposed to getting eczema. It can’t always be avoided. But, if your child has known allergies (like to cats, dogs, grass, trees, etc), then try your best to avoid those things when you can. If you know your child tends to flare up with weather changes, be on guard and use extra moisturizer when that happens. Stay on top of rashes and treat them as soon as they come up, to prevent them from getting worse. Staying consistent with moisturizing your child’s skin is probably the best way to prevent flares. Also, use fragrance-free products (body wash, lotion, and laundry detergent) as I mentioned before.

What are some complications of eczema?

If your child has an active rash, scratches it and breaks the skin, he’s at risk of getting an infection of the skin. I’ve, unfortunately, seen this happen too many times. You can prevent this complication by keeping your child’s nails trimmed short and treating his eczema diligently. Also, use long sleeves or pants to cover up your child’s rash so that he won’t be tempted to scratch at it. Talk to your Pediatrician if your child is still uncomfortable no matter what you’ve tried, or if you’re worried about an infection. It can become a really big deal, so avoid it at all costs!

I hope these tips are helpful for you and your kids! Eczema isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of thing. I’ve seen so many different degrees of it. No matter how bad your child’s eczema is, know that there are things out there that you can use to make him more comfortable. It’s just so important to stay consistent with the treatment plan. The only way to know if something is truly working is if you stay consistent with it. My hope is that you can keep your child’s eczema under control, and he’ll have lots of rash-free, comfortable days!

If you take anything at all from this, remember MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE!!

If you or your child are struggling with eczema, get your printable Eczema Treatment Regimen below! It’s a helpful printable you can keep on hand as a frequent reminder for eczema care. Just drop your e-mail below! You’ll also get access to my Resource Library with tons of helpful printables and checklists, plus my weekly newsletter to help you balance your many roles. Check it out!

Want to save this article, My Best Eczema Treatment Recommendations, for later? Pin it below, and share with your family and friends!

Sharing is caring!