Eczema Treatment for Kids
Treatment Options for Kids with Eczema
So your pediatrician or dermatologist has confirmed that your child has eczema (atopic dermatitis). There are a wide variety of ways to treat eczema and your child will get relief. It's just a question of figuring out what works for their particular case, which will depend on their age and the severity of the rash.
There's no cure for eczema, but there are many ways to treat its symptoms and lots of things you can do at home to help make your child more comfortable and to help reduce the likelihood of eczema flare-ups. In some cases, the medications listed below are not given to children under the age of two, so be sure to ask your child's doctor about age-appropriate treatment options.
Anti-Infectives
Sometimes a lot of scratching can cause a skin infection. If this happens your child's pediatrician may prescribe an oral or topical (applied to the skin) medication to treat what is causing the infection. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and make sure your child takes all for the medicine even if the infection seems to have cleared up.
Antihistamines
If your child is scratching like crazy, an antihistamine may provide some relief. Antihistamines won't directly treat the eczema, but their sedative effects may help your child sleep better and stop scratching. Simply giving the rash, and the person with the rash, a break can help their body get back on track and start healing itself.
Calcineurin Inhibitors (also called Topical Immunomodulators or TIMs)
Applied topically, calcineurin inhibitors can reduce inflammation, which eases itching and reduces redness. This class of drug is a type of immunosuppressent, which decreases the effects of your immune system. Because topical calcineurin inhibitors are still relatively new, long-term side effects are not fully known and they should be used and prescribed with caution.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, also known as glucocorticoids and cortisone, are the most common over-the-counter and prescription treatment for eczema. In most cases, they come in a cream, ointment or foam formulation which you can apply directly to your child's skin. Topical corticosteroids are commonly used as the first line treatment of choice to reduce inflammation caused by dermatitis and eczema. A doctor will be able to determine if a topical steroid is right for your child's skin and condition. Be sure you follow your doctor's instructions.
Ultraviolet Light
Ultraviolet light treatments are usually only used to treat severe eczema flare-ups in teens and adults. These treatments must be given by a dermatologist or other licensed health care provider and are usually given several times a week. Sun exposure is not the same thing and doesn't have the same effect, so be sure to keep your child protected with sunscreen when out and about and avoid prolonged sun exposure.