Daily bathing is extremely important for babies and children with eczema. It may help to do this in the evening before they go to bed as bathing is often soothing and will help the child settle better to sleep.
It’s important to make sure that washing and bathing are part of the eczema daily routine. Washing and bathing removes previous treatments and cleans off any loose scales and crusts so that further treatments can sink into the skin effectively. Bathing is preferable to showering, however make sure they don't spend too long in the bath as this can wash away the body's natural oils.
Adding a dermatologist recommended bath oil such as Lipikar Cleansing Oil to the water will help neutralise the drying effects of calcium and will leave a film on the skin after your child has finished bathing. The water should be warm as hot water generally irritates the skin more and can lead to more itching. Soap free formulas specifically adapted for children with eczema should be used for cleansing. After gently patting your child dry, emollient can then be applied.
Emollients hydrate and soften the skin. They provide a protective film over the skin to keep moisture in and harmful irritants out. They come in different formulations and each child needs the one that best suits their skin.
In a recent multicentric clinical study the use of an emollient containing shea butter, glycerine, canola oil and thermal water demonstrated significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis and reduced need for primary pharmacological intervention.
It is important to advise when applying emollients to apply them in the direction of hair growth so as to avoid any irritation of the hair follicles. A daily emollient should always be used for people especially children with eczema as it can greatly reduce the incidences of flare ups.
Click here to learn how to treat eczema flare-ups
This article is brought to you by the skin experts from La Roche-Posay.
