Eczema 101 for Other VIPs in Your Child’s Life

Having eczema can be a sensitive issue for kids (even adults!). Some may cover themselves up with certain kinds of clothing and refuse to talk about it; others may be reluctant to share their day-to-day struggles with itching, rashes, and patchy skin.

In the Philippines, it’s common for many kids to not just be under the care of their parents and yayas, but to have help from extended family like grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins, or even their authority figures in school or extracurricular activities.

If your child has eczema, you will need these VIPs in their life to know as much about their condition to ensure that they stay healthy and to ensure that they will be able to live life as normally as possible, especially around other kids.

1) Give them the rundown on eczema so everyone is on board

They need to understand the basics of eczema: that it’s “a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by overactivity in the immune system,” that it’s not contagious, and that it can be managed fairly easily. Secondly, they need to be made aware of exactly how your child’s skin reacts when there are flare-ups: does he/she have red patches, dry or flaky skin, or skin that oozes fluid when scratched?

2) Know what the triggers are

List the possible triggers for your child’s eczema flare-ups. Is it pollen, dust, certain kinds of food, or pet dander? The more aware they are of what could cause flare-ups, the more cautious, thorough, and vigilant they will be.

3) Emphasize how scratching is a big NO

Once your child feels an itch coming on, there’s no stopping him/her from digging their fingernails into their sensitive skin, which could eventually lead to an infection. These VIPs in your child’s life should be able to spot whether your child is experiencing discomfort so they can do something about it: from treating that particular area, to changing their clothes into a more comfortable set, or even by distracting them from scratching.

4) Take them through the regimen

From what bathing products you use (for those who help bathe your child at home), to the necessary lotion, ointments, or antihistamine medication, these VIPs should follow your daily regimen and know how to treat flare-ups as much as possible.

Mometasone furoate (Elica®) products can help stop itching, reduce redness, ease swelling, and provide relief within 24 hours. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) cream is applied on thin skin (e.g. your face) and moist lesions, while Mometasone furoate (Elica®) ointment is applied on dry lesions and thickened skin.

5) Empower them to be there for your child

As mentioned earlier, eczema can be a sensitive topic for some children, and they might be embarrassed to find out that others know they have that condition. Make these VIPs aware if your child has any insecurities or even questions about the condition, and allow them to offer their support in their own kind of way. Sometimes, being able to talk to someone outside of the family to get a different perspective may be exactly what your child needs.

They say that knowledge is power; the more aware and involved people are in your child’s life — especially when it comes to eczema — the better they can support your child and help them live a normal life!

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

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