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October is Eczema Awareness Month.
If your childhood memories include scratching miserably at your itchy skin while an adult gently scolded you to stop or you’d make it worse, you’re far from 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 starts before the age 5 — and about one third of kids who have it are hit with a moderate to severe case.
Caring for children with AD can be tough on the whole family, said Teresa Wright, M.D., chief 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, they’re itchy, they’re scratching until they bleed, they’re getting infections, sometimes ending up in the hospital — all of this does affect the whole family,” Wright said.
She added that childcare providers and teachers don’t always know how to handle AD, so parents may get called away from work to pick up their kids. “It literally can interfere with a family’s ability to make a living,” Wright said.
Understanding AD treatment options, along with how to talk to healthcare providers (HCPs) about them, may help lighten your family’s load.
AD Treatments for Kids
Treating atopic dermatitis can be a big job that includes keeping skin hydrated, reducing itching and treating inflammation while also preventing or managing infections. Some of the treatments for kids 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
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors — creams or ointments that help calm the immune system and prevent itching and inflammation
- Topical PDE4 inhibitors — creams and ointments that block an enzyme involved in inflammation
- Biologics — injected medicines made from living cells that teach the immune system to target chemical messengers that cause inflammation
- Phototherapy (light therapy) — involves shining UV light onto the skin to lower the number of certain cells that trigger inflammation
- Antibiotics — medicines used to treat skin infections
- Antihistamines — don’t treat 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 their atopic dermatitis is, and the age of the child might also determine what treatments we are able to recommend,” Wright said. “I also try to keep in mind parents’ resources and ability to access medications and treatments, and we have to consider what will be covered by insurance.”
Talking to providers about treatment for atopic dermatitis
With so many options for treating kids with AD, it’s important that caregivers and HCPs share as much information as possible.
For parents, this might involve an honest conversation about how AD affects their child’s daily life — physically, emotionally and socially. If AD is keeping your child (and your family) from living your best lives, a provider needs to know so they can help figure out a way to make it better.
Caregivers should also ask HCPs about the most common AD triggers (like dry air, heat, irritating fabrics, and allergens like pollen and pet dander). An HCP can also offer advice on how to track your child’s personal AD triggers and what to do about them.
Finally, if you’re consulting a new HCP, parents will want to be prepared with a list of AD treatments or remedies 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 shifting your mindset may help your days go more smoothly. As hard as it can be to keep your cool in chaotic moments — like when you’re trying to apply ointment to a wriggling toddler — patience is key to treating your child’s AD. So is consistency, since many treatments take time (and regular application) to work.
Wright emphasized the importance of carefully following instructions and sticking to a regular, daily skincare routine. “I’m always saying the devil is in the details,” she said.
Staying in close contact with your child’s HCPs can also be helpful, particularly 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 particular thing or you’ve heard something that makes you reluctant to follow some advice I’m giving, we can talk about that,” Wright said. “I’m on your side.”
Importance of innovation in atopic dermatitis treatment
With so many kids struggling with AD, it’s no surprise that experts are always working to figure out new ways to treat this complicated condition.
“We have a number of new non-steroid topical options that can be appropriate for some situations,” Wright said. “And in more recent years, we’ve had more systemic medication options.”
As hard as it may be to watch your child suffer, you can take heart knowing that treatments are out there — it’s just a matter of finding the right one.
This educational resource was created with support from Organon, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.
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