It Takes a Village to Raise a Child with Eczema
They say “it takes a village to raise a child”. And in the Philippines, where we pride ourselves in our strong family ties and sense of community, this saying truly hits home.
It’s not uncommon for many kids to be under the care of not just their parents and yayas, but even grandparents and other close relatives. Outside of the home, your kids have their teachers, coaches, and family friends.
If your child has eczema, you will need “your village” to take note of these tips to ensure your child’s health; aside from that, that he/she 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
Your village needs to understand what eczema is all about, and to know how your child’s skin reacts when there are any flare-ups.
#2: Know what the triggers are
List what the possible triggers are for your child’s allergic reaction. Is it pollen, dust, certain kinds of food, or pet fur? The more awareness they have on flare-up management and trigger avoidance, the more thorough and prepared your village will be.
#3: Emphasize how scratching is a big NO
Once your child feels an itch coming on, this itching becomes intolerable, which leads to scratching and eventually, to wounds and scarring. Your village needs to 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 distracting them from scratching, which can also work wonders. It might also be worth it to consider regularly trimming their fingernails, and if need be, wrap the hands or have them wear gloves in order to reduce the itch to scratch.
#4: Take them through the regimen
From the bathing products you use (for those who help bathe your child at home), to the necessary lotion or moisturizer, ointments, and antihistamine medication, your village should follow your daily regimen and know how to treat flare-ups as much as possible.
#5: Empower them to be there for your child
Eczema may be a sensitive topic for many children, and they might be embarrassed to find out that others know they have that condition. Make your village 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.
To know more about managing eczema, contact us today.