Pediatric Dermatology Services

It is important to have a regular schedule with eczema care that includes bathing with a gentle cleanser and moisturizing to lock water into the skin. Moisturized skin helps control flares by combating dryness and keeping out irritants and allergens. The “Soak and Seal” method of treating eczema is recommended by many providers to help dry skin and reduce flares. To get the full therapeutic benefit, have your child Soak and Seal often and follow these steps in order.

INSTRUCTIONS TO SOAK AND SEAL

1. Put the child in a bath using lukewarm water for five to 10 minutes. Use a gentle cleanser (no soaps) and avoid scrubbing the affected skin.
2. After bathing, pat the skin lightly with a towel leaving it slightly damp.
3. Apply prescription topical medication to the affected areas of skin as directed.
4. Within three minutes, liberally apply a moisturizer all over the child’s body. It important to apply the moisturizer within three minutes or the skin may become even drier.
5. Wait a few minutes to let the moisturizer absorb into the skin before dressing or applying wet wraps.

Don’t limit moisturizing to just bath time. Slather it on your child throughout the day whenever their skin starts to itch or feel dry. Try using an ointment or a cream rather than a lotion and apply it with your palms, stroking lightly in a downward direction.

Bleach baths can be an effective tool to reduce inflammation and bacteria on the skin of children with eczema. The concentration of bleach in the bath is about that of a chlorinated swimming pool. If properly diluted and used as directed, a bleach bath is safe for children and adults. For best results:

1. Add 1/4 cup (about 59 milliliters) to 1/2 cup (about 118 milliliters) of bleach to a 40-gallon (about 151-liter) bathtub filled with warm water. Measures are for a U.S. standard-sized tub filled to the overflow drainage holes. Use household bleach and read the product label. In the United States, bleach products may contain 6 percent to 8.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, the Environmental Protection Agency says. If the concentration of sodium hypochlorite is at the higher end of that range, use less than a 1/2 cup of bleach.
2. Soak from the neck down or just the affected areas of skin for about 10 minutes.
3. Rinse if your skin doesn’t tolerate the bleach bath well. Gently pat dry with a towel.
4. Immediately apply moisturizer generously.
5. Take a bleach bath no more than three times a week.

You may experience dry skin if you use too much bleach or take bleach baths too often. If your skin is cracked or very dry, any bath — including a bleach bath — may be painful. Talk to your doctor before trying an eczema bleach bath.

The American Academy of Dermatology encourages parents to do the following when giving their child a bleach bath:

1. Use a measuring cup to get the exact amount of bleach needed and then add it to the water. Too much bleach may irritate the child’s skin and too little may not help eczema symptoms.
2. Never apply bleach directly to the child’s eczema.
3. Talk to your dermatologist about starting bleach bath therapy including how long your child should soak. Most dermatologists recommend 5 to 10 minutes per bathing session, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Parents of children with bleach sensitivities or allergic asthma that might be aggravated by chlorine fumes should consult with their heath care provider before starting bleach bath therapy.

During particularly intense eczema flares with severe itch or pain, wet wrap therapy can work wonders to rehydrate and calm the skin and help topical medications work better.

1. The fabric wraps are soaked in water and applied to the affected skin on the body. Face wraps use gauze and surgical netting, and are made and applied by nurses trained in this treatment.
2. Wet wraps are best done after bathing, moisturizing and applying medication. Use clean, preferably white, cotton clothing or gauze from a roll for the wet layer, and pajamas or a sweat suit on top as a dry layer.
3. If the eczema is on the feet and/or hands, you can use cotton gloves or socks for the wet layer.
4. To do wet wrap therapy, first moisten the clothing or gauze in warm water until they are slightly damp. Next, wrap the moist dressing around the affected area.
5. Then gently wrap the dry layer over the wet one.
6. Lastly, carefully put on night-time clothing so as not to disturb the dressing. Leave wet wraps on for several hours or overnight, taking care not to let them dry out.
7. Consult with a health care provider prior to starting wet wrap therapy.

Acne appears when a pore in our skin clogs. This clog begins with dead skin cells. Normally, dead skin cells rise to surface of the pore, and the body sheds the cells. When the body starts to make lots of sebum (see-bum), oil that keeps our skin from drying out, the dead skin cells can stick together inside the pore. Instead of rising to the surface, the cells become trapped inside the pore. Occasionally, natural bacteria on our skin can cause acne to become “infected” which can be painful. Myths about acne are as common as the skin problem. One common myth is that you have to let acne run its course. Dermatologists know that letting acne runs its course is not always the best advice.

Here’s why:

 

1. Without treatment, dark spots and permanent scars can appear on the skin as acne clears.
2. Treating acne often boosts a person’s self-esteem.
3. Many effective treatments are available.

You can reduce your acne by following these skin care tips from dermatologists.

1. Wash twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
2. Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything else can irritate the skin.
3. Be gentle with your skin. Use gentle products, such as those that are alcohol-free. Do not use products that irritate your skin, which may include astringents, toners and exfoliants. Dry, red skin makes acne appear worse.
4. Scrubbing your skin can make acne worse. Avoid the temptation to scrub your skin.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water.
6. Shampoo regularly. If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.
7. Let your skin heal naturally. If you pick, pop or squeeze your acne, your skin will take longer to clear and you increase the risk of getting acne scars.
8. Keep your hands off your face. Touching your skin throughout the day can cause flare-ups.
9. Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Tanning damages you skin. In addition, some acne medications make the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which you get from both the sun and indoor tanning devices.
10. Using tanning beds increases your risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent.

Consult a dermatologist if:

1. Your acne makes you shy or embarrassed.
2. The products you’ve tried have not worked.
3. Your acne is leaving scars or darkening your skin.

For more information visit: AAD Acne Resources(the source of this information)

If you have a lot of acne, cysts, or nodules, a medicine that you can buy without a prescription may not work. If you want to see clearer skin, you should see a dermatologist. Dermatologists offer the following types of treatment:

Acne treatment that you apply to the skin: 

Most acne treatments are applied to the skin. Your dermatologist may call this topical treatment. There are many topical acne treatments. Some topicals help kill the bacteria. Others work on reducing the oil. The topical medicine may contain a retinoid, prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide, antibiotic, or even salicylic acid. Your dermatologist will determine what you need.

Acne treatment that works throughout the body:

Medicine that works throughout the body may be necessary when you have red, swollen types of acne. This type of treatment is usually necessary to treat acne cysts and nodules. Your dermatologist may prescribe one or more of these:

1. Antibiotics (helps to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation).
2. Birth control pills and other medicine that works on hormones (can be helpful for women).
3. Isotretinoin (the only treatment that works on all that causes acne).