Eczema

Eczema is common among babies and usually goes away by ages 3 to 5. Eczema is a skin rash that can affect any part of your child's body: face, hands, arms and legs.

This rash (also called atopic dermatitis) is very itchy. It causes dry, scaly skin that often has a pinkish base. Eczema cannot be spread. It is usually worse in the winter, when the air is dry.

Try to keep your child from scratching the itchy rash. This may cause the rash to open and become infected.

Symptoms of eczema are:

• dry, pink, scaly, itchy patches of skin
• skin that is sensitive to the touch.

How to make your child comfortable

There is no cure for eczema, but there are ways to control the itching and the rash.

• Give your child long tub baths in tepid water. Follow that by putting on a lot of skin moisturizer that doesn't irritate his skin (such as Eucerin® or Aquaphor®).
• Clip your childs fingernails so he can't scratch. If that doesn't work, have him wear lightweight gloves or mittens.
• Wash new clothes before wearing them. Use clothing made out of cotton.
• Give your child a dose of oral Benadryl® at bedtime to reduce itching.

Common eczema medicine

There is one common type of eczema medicine: a corticosteroid cream that is spread on the skin. Although the cream can be bought over-the-counter, most children with sevre eczema will benefit from stronger creams that your health care provider can prescribe after he examines your child at the clinic.