Eczema Bulletin, Issue #020 - Eczema and Teething
Welcome to March's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.
This is the 20th edition of Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you
You can contact me here
I'm sorry that this month's newsletter has arrived in your inbox later than it should. I have been moving, and had a rather long wait for the internet to be connected in my new flat. So I hope it was worth the wait!! :)
This month's Eczema Bulletin includes
- March's Featured Article – Eczema and Teething
- My favourite eczema news article
- Tip of the Month
- 5 Ways To.....naturally soothe your skin
Eczema and Teething
If you are, or have been, the parent of a teething child, you know how stressful it can be, for parent and child.
Rashes, dribbling, fever and irritability can make for a difficult time.
Although teething doesn't cause eczema, it can definitely make eczema worse in some children.
Dribbling is the main culprit. If your child has eczema on their face, the wetness of saliva can irritate their eczema. If your child has eczema or is starting to teeth, look out for flare ups, especially around the mouth and chin. Gently pat saliva away with a soft flannel, as often as you can.
Another symptom of teething is painful gums. For a baby I am sure this can be very stressful. Causing sleepless nights, irritability and anxiety. Stress is a common cause of an outbreak of eczema.
There are some ways to manage eczema during teething.
- Moisturise. The most important factor in managing and treating eczema. Use a chemical free emollient, and
apply when needed
- Topical steroids. If your baby's eczema worsens then your doctor may prescribe a topical steroid. If used sparingly and for a limited time, they may help bring some relief to your child
- Teething toys. Can help soothe the gums, and also keep your child's mind occupied and off of the pain. This can help with stress
- Stress reducers. Help to reduce any stress by stroking their heads or just reading to them. Try to take their mind off of any pain, and their eczema
- Antihistamines. May help relieve any itching. Though check with your doctor before using
- Cold compress. If your child's skin is red and hot, try a cold compress. Use a soft flannel. Dampen it with cold water, wringing out any excess. Place on the skin for no longer than 15 minutes, then moisturise afterwards
Its just important to remember that if your baby has eczema and is teething, their skin may need more care. Look out for the
dryness, redness and itchiness of eczema around the mouth and chin. You can then manage and treat it the same way you would if it appeared on their face at any other time.
Eczema News Article
I had an email through recently about the upcoming 'Allergy and Free From' show that is taking place at Olympia, in London on 3-5 July 2015.
Last year the show had over 30,000 visitors, all looking for information that could help them with their allergies and intolerances.
At present there at 142 exhibitors, who are there with 'loads to see, hear, taste, try, buy and learn!'
If you are interested in going you can visit the website to see how to get tickets.
If you live a little further north, there will be a show in Liverpool on 7-8 November 2015, You can find out more information, here
For anyone living outside of the UK, I am planning to create a page in the very near future, with the places and dates of any shows and exhibitions which may be helpful for eczema sufferers.
Tip Of The Month - Handling Comments
Handling comments made about you or someone close, especially your child's eczema can be difficult. It can sometimes be one of the hardest things to deal with when you have eczema.
As a child I had comments made about my eczema on a regular basis. Looking back, it really did dent my self esteem.
Now if someone makes a comment it doesn't bother me at all. I realised a little while ago that my eczema is just a part of me. It doesn't define me, but it does have an impact on my life, in a negative and positive way.
If you are a parent of a child, or know a child, who is having to listen to regular comments about their eczema, there are a few things you can do to help prevent their self esteem being affected.
- Talk to them, and listen. Venting can be good for children. Sometimes just having someone to listen to you can feel like having a weight lifted
- Empathise. Put yourself in their shoes. Nobody likes to have comments made about any
aspect of their appearance. Especially not everyday
- Make them feel special. They are completely fine just the way they are. It is a cliché that beauty is only skin deep, but it is so true. I have realised this more, the older I have gotten
- Teach them to ignore comments. Easier said than done I know! A comment says more about the person saying it than the person it is directed at
- Find support. This could be in your family, friends or even in a support group. It may help you and your child to meet other eczema sufferers and their families
I have found explaining eczema to people sometimes helps. A lot of people don't realise how hard it can be to live with. One person said to me that they thought it was 'a little patch of dry itchy skin'....if only!
As an adult you can still feel the sting of a negative comment. It can take you back to when you were a child. It took me until my early 20's to be able to ignore
comments.
They are more times than I care to remember when I have had a thoughtless comment thrown at me. I find laughing helps me, and completely throws the other person!
I think making people more aware of eczema is very important. Everyone seems to know someone who has eczema, but most people don't really understand the impact it has on sufferers.
I would be very interested to know how you have taught your child to deal with comments. Or how, as an adult, you brush them aside. It would be great to share your experiences.
