Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis, is a common and frustrating condition for parents and their children. The main symptom is an itchy rash, which can be red, rough or irritated, scaly, and in a bad outbreak, the skin can be open and oozing. While there is no cure, there are ways to be proactive to minimize the symptoms by keeping the skin hydrated and minimizing “triggers”.

The typical places children get eczema is in the creases or insides of the elbows, knees, ankles, feet, neck, wrists, and in-between fingers. Eczema is different from other itchy rashes, including contact dermatitis, heat rash, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. The timing of when the rash started, where your child has the rash, and the pattern of when it flares up can help your pediatrician figure out if he or she has eczema or another skin rash.

TRIGGERS

Eczema is an itchy rash that comes from extremely dry, sensitive skin, can be caused by as many different things as there are people. Common triggers include:

• Skin that is not kept adequately hydrated
• Any body care products with fragrance – that is why we used essential oils to scent our product which heal the skin and provide aroma therapeutic benefits, instead of irritating it like fragrance does
• Laundry detergent that has fragrance or dyes, or any fabric softeners
• Harsh soaps
• Bubble baths
• Dust mites or pet dander
• Food allergies
• Overheating and sweating
• Wool, polyester, or lace clothing
• Wearing new clothing before it has been washed
• Any skin contact with a wide range of chemicals including chlorine (chlorine swimming pools), formaldehyde (sleeping on “wrinkle-free” sheets), hotel towels or sheets (rinsed in bleach, which is chlorine)
• Summertime (heat rash) or wintertime (dry air)

Your best bet for avoiding eczema flare-ups is to keep your child's skin well-moisturized. Since it is often hard to identify and avoid triggers, using Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment can be an effective way to avoid eczema flares. It certainly has helped us!

To help avoid dry skin, give your child a short daily bath using lukewarm water and a very mild, moisturizing soap or soap substitute that has no artificial fragrance. Within 2-3 minutes after the bath, rub on Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment until it has completely soaked into the skin (don’t just put it on and leave it, actually rub it in). Before Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment, our only choices for hydration in these cases were greasy ointments like Vaseline and Aquaphor, which actually don’t hydrate, but work as an occlusive dressing by keeping any moisture in the skin from escaping, and must be kept on the skin for long periods of time to be effective.

Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment works on the principle of HEALING the skin by ADDING moisture in a readily available, quickly soaked-in way, versus just trying to keep whatever moisture that is still in the skin from escaping.

PLEASE NOTE: Once your child’s eczema rash shows any signs of broken skin, the rash has become an OPEN WOUND, and wound precautions apply because of the risk of infection. Do not use any moisturizers in that location, but rather anti-biotics and physician-approved topicals. Keep in mind that any steroidal topical ointments thin the skin and further compromise the skin integrity making the risk of infection worse.

If your child has a bad eczema flare up, then you should consult your physician or pediatric dermatologist for the treatment that is appropriate for your child. Once the flare up is back under control, resume using Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment as a good preventive measure.