It’s October Eczema Awareness Month.
If your childhood memories include miserable scratching at your itchy skin while an adult gently scolded you to stop or make it worse, you’re not alone.
More than 9.6 million children in the United States are affected by atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes red, itchy patches all over the body. The most common type of eczema, AD often begins before the age of 5 years — and about a third of kids who have it hit with a moderate to severe case.
Caring for children with AD can be difficult for the whole family, she said Teresa Wright, MDchief of pediatric dermatology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
“If a child has more moderate to severe eczema and they’re miserable, itchy, they scratch until they bleed, they get infections, sometimes they end up in the hospital — all of that affects the whole family,” Wright said.
She added that childcare providers and teachers don’t always know how to handle AD, so parents may be asked to leave work to pick up their children. “It can literally affect a family’s ability to make a living,” Wright said.
Understanding AD treatment options, along with how to talk to your health care providers (HCPs) about them, can help ease the burden on your family.
AD treatments for children
Treatment of atopic dermatitis it can be a big job that involves keeping the skin hydrated, reducing itching and treating inflammation while also preventing or treating infections. Some of the treatments for children with AD are:
- Topical corticosteroids — creams or ointments to help with itching and inflammation (swelling)
- Emollients (moisturizers) — lotions, gels, creams, and ointments that help with dryness
- Local calcineurin inhibitors — creams or ointments that help calm the immune system and prevent itching and inflammation
- Local PDE4 inhibitors — creams and ointments that block an enzyme involved in inflammation
- Biologically — injectable drugs made from living cells that teach the immune system to target chemical messengers that cause inflammation
- Phototherapy (phototherapy) — involves shining ultraviolet light on the skin to reduce the number of certain cells that cause inflammation
- Antibiotics — drugs used to treat skin infections
- Antihistamines – won’t cure AD, but may help itchy kids sleep better
Which of these treatments is right for your child depends on many variables.
“I think the main factor is how severe the atopic dermatitis is, and the age of the child can also determine what treatments we can recommend,” Wright said. “I also try to keep in mind the parents’ resources and ability to access medications and treatments, and we have to look at what will be covered by insurance.”
Talking to providers about atopic dermatitis treatment
With so many options for treating children with AD, it is important that caregivers and HCs share as much information as possible.
For parents, this can include an honest discussion about how AD affects their child’s daily life—physically, emotionally, and socially. If AD is preventing your child (and your family) from living your best life, a provider needs to know so they can find a way to make it better.
Caregivers should also ask HCPs about the most common triggers of AD (such as dry air, heat, irritating fabrics, and allergens such as pollen and pet dander). An HCP can also offer advice on how to monitor your child’s personal AD triggers and what to do about them.
Finally, if consulting a new HCP, parents will want to come prepared with a list of AD treatments or treatments that have already been tried, along with some notes about how well they worked (or didn’t).
Keeping calm and connected
Caring for children with AD isn’t easy, but changing your mindset can help your days run more smoothly. As hard as it is to keep your cool during chaotic times—like when you’re trying to apply salve to a wriggling toddler—patience is key to treating your child’s AD. So does consistency, as many treatments take time (and regular application) to work.
Wright stressed the importance of following directions carefully and following a regular, daily skincare routine. “I always say the devil is in the details,” he said.
Staying in close contact with your child’s HCPs can also be helpful, especially when it comes to sharing anything you notice about AD triggers and symptoms—or your concerns about treatments.
“If you’re nervous about using a certain thing or you’ve heard something that makes you hesitant to follow some of the advice I’m giving you, we can talk about it,” Wright said. “I’m on your side.”
The importance of innovation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis
With so many children struggling with AD, it’s no surprise that experts are always working to discover new ways to treat this complex condition.
“We have a number of new nonsteroidal topical options that may be appropriate for certain conditions,” Wright said. “And in more recent years, we’ve had more systemic drug options.”
As hard as it is to watch your child suffer, you can take heart in knowing that there are treatments – you just need to find the right one.
This educational resource was created with the support of Organon, a member of the HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council.
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