What's Up with Eczema?

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin problem that makes your skin dry, itchy, and sometimes bumpy. When you have eczema, your skin can turn red, flaky, or even crusty. It might feel itchy, and sometimes the bumps can leak a little fluid or get a scab. Eczema doesn’t always stay—it can come and go!

When babies have eczema, it usually shows up on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp. As kids get older, eczema can appear behind the knees, in the elbows, and on the back of the neck or wrists. Sometimes, if you scratch a lot, your skin can change color or get thicker.

Why Does Eczema Get Worse?

Eczema sometimes runs in families, so if someone in your family has asthma, food allergies, or other allergies, you might get eczema too. This happens because the body is a little extra sensitive to certain things, like dust or pollen.

You might notice that your eczema gets worse in the winter when the air is cold and dry, or when you’re around certain soaps or products with strong smells.

How Do You Treat Eczema?

Eczema is something you can have for a long time (even your whole life), but there are ways to help your skin feel better. The most important thing is to keep your skin moisturized and use gentle products that don’t have strong smells.

Doctors can give you special creams to put on your skin. These creams help stop the itching and redness. If your eczema gets worse or gets infected, you might need to take medicine, like allergy pills or even a special bath that helps your skin.

Some other things that can help are:

• Moisturizing: Using lotions or even Vaseline after you get out of the bath or shower helps keep your skin soft.

• Wet wraps: After moisturizing, you can put on damp pajamas to keep the moisture in—this helps your skin feel better!

• Bleach baths: It sounds a little strange, but sometimes a very small amount of bleach in a bath helps kill germs and makes your skin feel better. Your doctor will tell you how to do this safely.

It’s important to follow your doctor’s advice and only use the medicines they give you. If you ever get a fever, red bumps that look like blisters, or if your skin feels hot and swollen, you should tell a grown-up and visit the doctor.

How Can I Stop Eczema from Getting Worse?

Here are some ways you can take care of your skin and help prevent eczema from getting worse:

• Keep your skin moisturized by using gentle lotions.

• Take short baths or showers with warm (but not hot!) water.

• Use gentle soap and make sure it doesn’t have a strong smell.

• Wear soft cotton clothes (not wool or itchy fabric) to avoid irritating your skin.

• Keep your nails short so you don’t scratch too much.

• Stay away from things that make you itch, like pollen, mold, or pets, if you're allergic to them.

Conclusion

Eczema is a skin condition that makes your skin dry and itchy. It can get better with moisturizing, using gentle products, and avoiding things that make it worse. If your eczema doesn’t get better or starts to look infected, make sure to tell an adult and visit the doctor. Keeping your skin soft and hydrated will help you feel much better!