You wake up one morning refreshed and ready to tackle the day, but suddenly, you notice that there are rashes starting on your child's face.
If you know your child has eczema, the situation raises many questions: why has it flared up now? What if your child scratches the rash too much? Will it scar? What do I need to do to get rid the eczema on face? And if your child's eczema patches are near their eyes, will it lead to eye infection?
You might have already tried a number of moisturizers, possibly even hydrocortisone cream or other steroid containing products. While steroid containing cream may reduce itching quickly, even after multiple applications, the chance of relapse is high. Any steroid, even low potency hydrocortisone cream, is not recommended for the facial area due to potential side effects (drying or cracking of the skin, burning, acne, change in skin color, skin atrophy). Hydrocortisone creams may also make certain skin conditions such as impetigo, rosacea and acne worse. Therefore, hydrocortisone cream is intended for infrequent use.
Is there a way to calm down eczema on face quickly without using steroid cream? Here is what we suggest:
1. Use only lukewarm water for cleansing and bathing. Do not use hot water!
2. Minimize facial cleansing to every other day. Frequent cleansing may dry out your child's skin.
3. Only use a fragrance-free, non-drying cleanser. Avoid cleansers that claim to be "all natural" but contain essential oils. While the intoxicating smell makes them hard to resist, many essential oils (the list could be quite long) contain skin sensitization materials and could cause your child's face to flare up. If you notice the skin rash becomes drier or red after use, it's time to switch to something more mild. We posted a blog regarding ingredients in cleansers. Be sure to check it out if you are interested.
4. Keep a close eye on what makes your child's skin rash worse: food allergies could be a big factor, which we will discuss at a separate post. If you are breast feeding, take note of what you are eating. From a skincare prospective, whatever your child's skin comes into contact with is a potential allergy trigger for flareups; even certain moisturizers contain harsh chemicals that could irritate skin and cause more itching.
5. Use a fragrance-free hypoallergenic moisturizer: this is something all dermatologists would recommend, anti itch creams for kids from well known brands: Aveeno, Neosporin, Cetaphil, and Eucerin. If any of these brands work for your baby, then stick to the brand and use the moisturizer once or multiple times a day. However, if these prove ineffective, or you are looking for a natural and non-greasy cream, try LEMYKA Natural Hydrating Cream.
LEMYKA natural hydrating cream is designed to intensively moisturize skin for a long period of time. It helps to restore healthy skin barrier that fends off future flareups. If the itching persists, then add LEMYKA steroid-free calming cream to your child's daily skincare routine. It's designed to soothe itching and works particularly well for babies and young children with eczema. The best part of these two products is that they are free of steroids and harsh chemicals, making them gentle and safe for your child's skin.
Whichever product you choose, be aware that finding a viable skincare routine for your child is extremely important. Skin rash, especially due to eczema, is likely to be a chronic issue and needs to be treated accordingly. Proper management of the problem in a timely manner will minimize any potential scarring, saving you and your child from future headaches and suffering.