Eczema in children
Plain answers for parents: triggers, bathing, the itch–scratch cycle, probiotics and when to see a doctor.
When a child’s eczema needs a doctor
The signs that a child’s eczema needs more than home care: infection, eczema herpeticum, lost sleep, no improvement after two weeks, and what a doctor can offer.
The “atopic march”: eczema, food allergy, asthma and hay fever
What the atopic march means, why newer research says it’s far less predictable than it sounds, what raises a child’s risk, and what parents can actually do about it.
Eczema at school and in the teen years
How eczema changes between ages 4 and 17: hands, folds and face, gym and sweat, uniforms, sleep, self-esteem and mental health, and handing the routine to your child.
Eczema on darker skin: why it can look different
On brown and Black skin, eczema may look purple, grey or dark brown rather than red, show up as tiny bumps, and leave light or dark patches. Here’s what to look for and why it matters.
Probiotics and eczema: what the studies show so far
The gut–skin idea behind probiotics for eczema, what trials in children and Cochrane found for prevention and treatment, and what an NPN on a probiotic means in Canada.
Swimming with eczema: chlorine, lakes and after-swim care
Can kids with eczema swim? What chlorine does to eczema-prone skin, how to protect it before and after the pool or lake, and when it’s better to sit a swim out.
Atopic dermatitis vs eczema: are they the same thing?
Eczema is a family of itchy, inflamed skin conditions and atopic dermatitis is its most common member. A plain tour of the types, and why the name on a study matters.
Eczema and sleep: how to break the night-time itch
Why eczema disrupts children’s sleep, what poor sleep does to a child, and practical steps for the bedroom, bedding, pyjamas and bedtime routine, plus when to ask your doctor for help.
Bathing and moisturizing when your child has eczema
The “soak and seal” routine for kids with eczema: short lukewarm baths, gentle cleanser, pat dry, moisturizer within minutes, and why bleach baths need a doctor.
Worried about steroid creams? What parents should know
Why so many parents fear steroid creams for eczema, which side effects are real and which are rare, what undertreating costs a child, and how to talk it through with your doctor.
Common eczema triggers in kids (and how to find yours)
The usual suspects behind a child’s eczema flare: heat and sweat, dry air, wool, fragrance, detergents, infections, stress and food, plus how to keep a trigger diary.
Food allergy and eczema: what the evidence says
Why eczema and food allergy show up together, why food usually isn’t the cause, the real risks of cutting foods out, and what Canadian advice says about introducing allergens.
The itch–scratch cycle in kids’ eczema, and how to break it
Why scratching makes eczema itchier, the role of nerves and inflammation, and practical ways to help a child scratch less: nails, cool compresses, moisturizer, sleep.
Wet wraps for eczema: what they are and when they’re used
How wet wrap therapy works for bad eczema flares, what the research shows and doesn’t, why it’s done with a doctor’s plan, and when wet wraps should not be used at all.
Eczema in babies: what to expect in the first year
Where eczema shows up on an infant, how to tell it apart from cradle cap, what the research says about moisturizing newborns to prevent it, and when your baby needs a doctor.
Eczema in children: the basics every parent should know
What atopic dermatitis is, how common it is in Canadian kids, where it shows up at each age, why a leaky skin barrier and a jumpy immune system cause it, and the outlook.