TIPS FOR MANAGING ATOPIC DERMATITIS

There are usually no clear causes of eczema in children, but when a child’s skin is well cared for, the intensity and frequency of its occurrence can be reduced. Dermatologists recommend the following to improve the situation:

Guidelines for Bathing a Child

When bathing a child, follow these guidelines:

• Avoid the use of hot water. Warm water usually works better.
• Let the duration of the bath not be more than 5 or 10 minutes.
• Avoid bubble baths and only use a cleanser if it is needful and sure of its mildness. The fragrance-free ones are more preferred.
• Gently pat the skin to dry.
• Apply the medicine to the skin as directed before it gets completely dried.
• Top the medicine with a moisturiser on the child’s skin.
• Give the child a bleach bath at least twice per week to improve symptoms. Let our dermatologist tell you more.

Factors to Consider While Choosing a Moisturiser

When selecting a moisturiser,

• Choose a thick ointment or cream
• Choose fragrance-free products like petroleum jelly
• Sample the different products using trial and error technique to help you know the best for your child.

How to Ease Discomfort

• Prevent dryness of the skin by moisturising at least twice daily
• If there are too much scratching and swelling, ask your child’s dermatologist for wet therapy. This can help in the reduction of swelling and the desire for scratching.
• Prevent the child’s fingernails from being sharp so that there may be no injuries from scratch.
• Let the temperature and humidity be at comfortable levels. Extremely dry air will make your child overheat and sweat and be triggered to scratch the more.

When washing clothes,

• Use detergents that are produced for sensitive skin
• Do not use too much detergents
• Rinse with an adequate amount of water
• Avoid clothes with tags as they may rub against the skin
• Wash new clothes before wearing them on your child so that excess dyes and finishers can be removed.

Visiting a dermatology clinic will always help in keeping AD in check. Be sure you get your child to the dermatologist for adequate treatment.

You can as well visit us if you please. We are located at First Floor, 117A Harley St, Marylebone, London W1G 6AT, UK, and we will treat your case specially.

BLEACH BATH THERAPY FOR ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Some dermatologists recommend bleach baths for some children with AD. If your child is one of them, follow these guidelines:

1. Use a 6% bleach for the bath; avoid the use of concentrated bleach.
2. Measure the bleach with a measuring cup or spoon before adding to the bath. A full cup is a good amount for a full bathtub of water.
3. Avoid applying bleach directly to the affected part of your child’s skin. And wait for the bath to be fully drawn before pouring it on the child’s skin.
4. Follow your dermatologist’s directives on how long the child is to be soaked in the bath,
5. Dry the child’s skin by patting. Apply the medication immediately after the bath then moisturise the skin.

CONTACT US

Our dermatology clinic at Harley Street London is a great place for diagnosing and treating atopic dermatitis. You can book an appointment by calling us on 020 71833648 or visiting us at First Floor, 117A Harley St, Marylebone, London W1G 6AT, UK.

We will be expecting you.