Let's talk eczema in children

If you're a parent, you've probably already realised that looking after a baby's skin can be a challenge. For many parents this only gets more difficult as the child grows into their early years, when eczema and other stubborn skin conditions can take hold and finding a treatment that works can be very difficult. But why do children seem to suffer more with their eczema and what can we do about it?

Affecting over 8 million people in the UK, eczema is a very common skin condition. Children are more prone to eczema due to a complex combination of genetic, environmental and immune system factors and if these are occurring in unison it can be very tricky to manage. Eczema tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component - children are more likely to develop eczema if they have close family members with the condition and specific gene variations can affect the skin's barrier function and immune response, making some individuals more susceptible.

Then there is the fact that children naturally have more sensitive skin or a weaker skin barrier, making them more susceptible to eczema triggers. In eczema, the skin's barrier function is compromised, allowing irritants, allergens, and bacteria to penetrate more easily - hence children are more likely to suffer with it. Combine that with the fact that children tend to care less about keeping clean and washing their hands, not to mention the itch-scratch cycle that can be extremely difficult to break, it's easy to see why it becomes such a problem.

Additionally, children's immune systems are still developing, and sometimes they overreact to certain triggers, such as allergens or irritants in the environment. This immune system hypersensitivity can contribute to inflammation and skin reactions seen in eczema. These triggers can include allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or certain foods like dairy, eggs or nuts. Climate and weather conditions can also play a role, as cold, dry air can worsen skin dryness and irritation making it even harder to keep the skin healthy.

Some researchers suggest that the modern environment, which is often more sterile and less exposed to certain microbes than it would have been in years gone by, may affect the immune system's development in a way that predisposes people to allergic conditions like eczema. 

Thus, eczema is a complex condition with multiple contributing factors and it can be difficult to know how to manage it effectively and how to eliminate the main cause and manage the contributing factors - of which there may be many. The good news is that while children are more prone to eczema due to these factors, the condition can often improve or even resolve with proper management and treatment and get better with age. Many children grow out of eczema altogether by the time they reach their teens.

Things you can do:

Be aware of possible triggers: finding the root cause might be impossible but finding what exacerbates it can be done with some good observation and time. Consider testing your child for allergies and looking for flare up patterns.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise: Finding a good emollient cream and combining it with soap free cleansing products for the bath and shower can really help the skin to recover and helps to prevent future flares.

Be patient: Frustrating as it is, there is no cure for eczema and it might come and go. Flare ups can be tricky to treat and hang around a while but with good care and management of triggers and symptoms, they will likely become be less regular and less severe.

The National Eczema Society is a useful resource for information on treating and managing eczema in children. Please consult your health practitioner for advice on treatments.