Eczema | Symptoms & Causes
In-Depth
If your child has eczema, you’ve probably struggled with how you can stop her skin from itching and causing painful irritation. At our Atopic Dermatitis Center, within the Division of Allergy and Immunology, we help you every step of the way. We understand that you may want to learn more about your child’s eczema in order to fully understand the condition and get her the most appropriate treatment.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the skin. Children with eczema often have skin barrier dysfunction which causes dry, itchy, scaly skin. They can also have associated environmental and food allergies. Of children who have eczema, 65 percent show signs in the first year of life and 90 percent show signs within the first five years. Half of all affected children improve between ages 5 and 15. Parents with eczema are more likely to have children with eczema.
What triggers it?
The main triggers of eczema are dry skin, irritants, stress, allergies, infection and heat/sweating. It’s important to note that these are triggers that worsen the symptoms of eczema, and don’t necessarily cause eczema.
Is my child at risk for having eczema?
Children with a family history of allergies, asthma, and eczema are more likely to have eczema. In research studies, mutations in skin barrier genes such as filaggrin are commonly associated with eczema.
What does it look like?
Eczema often causes itching which leads to scaly, bumpy, red and/or swollen skin. If chronic scratching occurs, the skin becomes thickened and or hardened. It manifests on different parts of the body depending on the person’s age. In older children and adults, eczema tends to appear on the creases of the arms and the back of the knees. In infants, it affects the face, trunk and extremities
How serious is it?
Eczema is not a life-threatening condition. The usual cause for concern is a severe skin infection.
Is it curable?
It is not curable, but with proper treatment and medication, the disease can be well controlled.
Is atopic dermatitis the same thing as eczema?
Physicians often use the terms eczema and atopic dermatitis interchangeably because most cases of eczema are caused by atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a general term for dry flaky inflamed skin, which can sometimes be caused by something other than atopic dermatitis.
How does eczema relate to food allergies?
About 25 percent of children with atopic dermatitis have a food allergy.
Who does eczema mostly affect?
Atopic dermatitis usually affects babies or very young children, but it sometimes lasts until adolescence or adulthood.
What happens if my child doesn’t stop itching affected areas?
Prolonged itching of the skin can lead to lichenification, which means the skin becomes thick and leathery. Intense itching may break the skin, and lead to infections and or permanent scars. While atopic dermatitis is not a life-threatening condition, many patients with atopic dermatitis have an underlying skin barrier defect that requires them to take special care of their skin for their whole lives.
What impact can climate have on eczema?
Extreme levels of dry climate, or hot and humid climates can trigger atopic dermatitis. For example, the cold dry air of winter in New England can trigger an outbreak of atopic dermatitis as well as the heat and humidity of summer. We recommend that parents find ways to help their child avoid exposure to extreme weather, such as using air conditioners in summertime.
What can children do to help reduce their eczema while playing sports?
Sports equipment can be an irritant to areas affected by atopic dermatitis. Wearing moisture wicking clothes, taking a bath right after sports and taking medicine can help.
Triggers and Symptoms
What triggers eczema?
- stress
- allergies
- sweating
- certain soaps, cleaners or detergents
- long, hot baths or showers
- rapid changes in temperature
- low humidity
- wool or man-made fabrics or clothing
- dust or sand
- cigarette smoke
- certain foods, such as eggs, milk, fish, soy or wheat
- bacterial skin infection or colonization
What parts of the body are affected?
- The part or parts of the body affected by atopic dermatitis tends to change as a child ages. In infants and young children, it's usually the face, trunk and extremities. In older children and adults, atopic dermatitis tends to appear on the creases if the arms and back of the legs.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
- dry, scaly skin
- small bumps
- redness and swelling of the skin
- a thickening and hardening of the skin
- raw and sensitive skin
When should my child see a doctor about her eczema?
- child is irritable and uncomfortable
- child has trouble sleeping
- rash spreads
- child has a fever
- child has pus or yellow crusts from affected areas
FAQ
Q: What is eczema?
A: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the skin. Children with atopic dermatitis often have skin barrier dysfunction which causes dry, itchy, scaly skin. They can also have associated environmental and food allergies. Usually it affects babies and young children, but sometimes it can last until adolescence or adulthood.
Q: Why is it a cause for concern, other than being itchy and uncomfortable?
A: Severe atopic dermatitis can make it very hard for your child to enjoy school and play. Too much scratching or itching can lead to a severe skin infection. Additionally, the discomfort of atopic dermatitis can ruin sleep, which can affect your child.
Q: Can other children contract my child’s eczema?
A: No. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious; however, if an allergen is a source of your child’s atopic dermatitis, it is important to avoid it.
Q: If my child has eczema, will he be OK?
A: Although there is no cure for atopic dermatitis, it can be treated with bathing, emollients, prescription ointments and other treatments. Many children with atopic dermatitis get better as they grow older.
Q: Can stress cause eczema?
A: No. Stress does not cause atopic dermatitis, however it can worsen the symptoms.
Q: Can eczema leave permanent scars?
A: Yes. If your child suffers from a chronic case of atopic dermatitis and itches excessively, this can lead to permanent scarring.
Q: Can eczema affect my child’s mood?
A: Yes. Atopic dermatitis is very uncomfortable, and can limit your child’s sleep, which may impact her mood, just as anyone would be affected by a lack of sleep.
Q: Can my child still swim in chlorinated pools?
A: Yes. Prolonged exposure to chlorine can make your child’s atopic dermatitis worse. However, if your child applies fragrance-free, hypoallergenic sunscreen before swimming, and quickly rinses off and applies moisturizer after getting out of the pool, her atopic dermatitis should not be aggravated.
Q: Should my child bathe daily even if he has eczema?
A: Yes. It’s important for your child to bathe daily, moisturize and hydrate the skin afterward.
Q: If I prevent my child from being exposed to allergens, will her eczema go away?
A: Most children have an underlying skin disorder, and their atopic dermatitis will not go away even if you limit exposure to allergens.
Q: What’s the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis?
A:Physicians often use the terms eczema and atopic dermatitis interchangeably because most cases of pediatric eczema are caused by atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a general term for inflamed, itchy skin, which can sometimes be caused by something other than atopic dermatitis.
Questions to ask your child’s doctor
After your child is diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, you may feel overwhelmed with information. It can be easy to lose track of the questions that occur to you.
Lots of parents find it helpful to jot down questions as they arise- that way, when you talk to your child’s doctors you can be sure that all of your questions are answered. If your child is old enough, you may want to suggest that she writes down what she wants to ask her health care provider too.
- How could the medication or treatments interact with my child’s current medication regiments?
- How could creams or ointments interact with other creams or sprays, such as suntan lotion or bug repellent?
- Are there any dietary restrictions my child needs to follow while taking atopic dermatitis medications?
- What treatments and medications are covered by my insurer?
- What are some things I can do to help my child’s itching and scratching?
- How can I find out if any of the products, substances and foods around the house triggers my child’s atopic dermatitis?
- How will atopic dermatitis impact my child’s social life?
- What resources are available to help my child cope with the stress of having atopic dermatitis?
- How could atopic dermatitis impact my child’s experience in the classroom?
- How will Children’s Hospital Boston coordinate with my child’s school nurse to continue care at school?
Eczema | Diagnosis & Treatments
How do we diagnose eczema?
At Boston Children's Hospital, your child's doctor will conduct a complete a physical examination. A diagnosis is based on:
- family history of allergies or asthma
- patient’s personal hertory of allergies and asthma
- skin examination
After we complete all necessary tests, our experts meet to review and discuss what they have learned about your child’s condition. Then we will meet with you and your family to discuss the results and outline the best treatment plan.
How do we treat eczema?
At Boston Children's Hospital, we are uniquely qualified to determine the best course of care for children with skin problems. We're known for our science-driven approach — we're home to the most extensive research enterprise located in a pediatric hospital in the world, and we've partnered with a number of top biotech and health care organizations — but our physicians never forget that your child is a child, and not just another patient.
Although there is no cure for atopic dermatitis, treatment can decrease your child's skin dryness and irritation, making her more comfortable. In severe cases, your child's physician may prescribe your child medications to help alleviate her atopic dermatitis symptoms. Common medications include:
- steroid creams and ointments
- topical medications to help decrease skin inflammation
- examples are hydrocortisone, mometasone or triamcinolone
- antibiotics
- topical calcineurin inhibitors such as topical tacrolimus or pimec
- antihertamines
- help decrease itching
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax)
- Oral immunomodulators are a last resort treatment that may reduce symptoms of atopic dermatitis, but they are used sparingly since they may also affect the immune system or cause cancer.
- oral corticosteroids
- oral corticosteroids are to only be used as a short term solution, as there are potential serious side effects
- cataracts
- osteoporosis
- muscle weakness
- high blood pressure
- thinning of skin
- oral corticosteroids are to only be used as a short term solution, as there are potential serious side effects
What can I do at home?
- Bathe your child frequently and use moisturizers, baths are preferred over showers.
- Use mild soaps and limit the use of soap.
- Make sure your child's fingernails are short, as scratching may worsen atopic dermatitis.
- Dress your child in lightweight clothes to reduce sweating.
- Apply cool wet bandages or dressings to the affected areas.
- Let your child play outside in the sun, but not for too long, as prolonged sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Have your child avoid contact with irritants, as determined by your child's physician.
- Use a humidifier in your home to help keep your child's skin moist but keep the humidity less than 40%. High humidity promotes dust mite growth.
- Use a fan or air conditioner in your child's room to keep the room cool, to help avoid sweating.
What is the treatment plan if a food allergy is triggering the atopic dermatitis?
- Once the food allergen is identified, it is removed from your child's diet at the same time your child receives treatment for skin inflammation.
How long will treatment take?
- Many children with atopic dermatitis have an underlying skin barrier defect that requires them to take special care of their skin for their whole lives. They need to avoid irritants and may need to use moisturizers daily, which helps to decrease itching and flaking.The length of treatment depends on the severity of the case of atopic dermatitis. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis in childhood are at greater risk of having atopic dermatitis in adulthood.
How can I help prevent my child from getting skin infections from scratching?
- It is difficult and unlikely to completely prevent your child from doing any scratching, so it is helpful to cut your child's nails so she can't dig into the skin. Additionally, her fingernails can be dirty, so cutting them removes bacteria that may infect the area affected by atopic dermatitis.
How can I help my child stop scratching?
- Developing a strategy to stop the itch-scratch cycle can be helpful. Cover your child's skin with long sleeve clothing, long pants or tights so she can't get to the lesions. Hands on activities such as games or toys or cool compresses can be good distractions. In older children, relaxation tapes or music work well.
How Boston Children's Hospital approaches atopic dermatitis
Our Allergy and Dermatology Programs see many children with atopic dermatitis and ensure your child's treatment plan is well thought out from start to finish. For children with difficult to control atopic dermatitis, We have an Atopic Dermatitis Center, which is part of the Allergy Program, Our center has a pediatric allergist, a pediatric nurse practitioner, a pediatric nutritionist and a pediatric psychologist or a behavioral therapist who helps your child learn ways to cope with the itching and scratching.
Our multidisciplinary approach is the key to our treatment, and the Atopic Dermatitis Center teams up with pediatric dermatologists regularly to find the best treatments for patients. In addition to atopic dermatitis, the center also treats allergies and asthma.
Eczema | Coping & Support
Because atopic dermatitis is usually a visible condition (affecting a child's skin), your child may feel the effects of her condition socially and psychologically, as well as physically. In addition to the anxiety of fighting the urge to itch, children with facial atopic dermatitis may develop school avoidance if they are teased, and they may not want to go to school.
Boston Children's Hospital's Atopic Dermatitis Program has a psychologist, Jennifer LeBovidge, PhD, who spends a lot of time with families and developing strategies to help decrease the scratching, help with the sleep schedule and cope with any teasing that may occur at school.
In cases that a patient develops a more severe mental illness, they'll be referred to the medical Behavioral Medicine Clinic, a multi-disciplinary team of pediatric psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals providing effective, compassionate evaluation, education, counseling and therapy to help you and your child cope with atopic dermatitis.
There's a lot of support available here at Children's for you and your family, and here are some of the ways we can help:
- Patient education: Our nurses will be on hand to walk you through your child's treatment and help answer any questions you may have. They will also reach out to you by phone, continuing the care and support you received while at Children's.
- Parent to parent: Want to talk with someone whose child has been treated for atopic dermatitis? We can often put you in touch with other families who have been through similar experiences and can share with you their experience at Children's.
- Faith-based support: If you are in need of spiritual support, we will help connect you with the Department of Spiritual Care. Our program includes nearly a dozen clergy representing Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Unitarian and United Church of Christ traditions who will listen to you, pray with you and help you observe your own faith practices during your hospital experience.
- Social work: Our clinical social workers have helped many other families in your situation. Your social worker can offer counseling and assistance with issues such as coping with your child's diagnosis, stresses relating to coping with illness and dealing with financial difficulties.
Visit our For Patients and Families page for all you need to know about:
- getting to Boston Children's
- accommodations
- navigating the hospital experience
- resources that are available for your family
