How to ease the suffering of children with eczema

Margaret Jennings meets a mum who has set up her own business making baby-friendly accessories to help parents ease the suffering of children with eczema.

A CORK-BASED mum whose young boy has suffered from atopic eczema, an inflammatory skin condition normally treated with emollient creams, has set up her own business to help other parents ease their child’s suffering.

Patrycja Redzikowska’s son Max developed the skin condition at age two months and when she found recommended creams did not ease his discomfort for long, she began to explore by elimination, what caused his condition to flare up.

Two of the irritants she identified were dust and the overheating of his body and as a result she researched alternative fabrics — such as bamboo, hemp and other natural sustainable materials — and made her own bedclothes for him.

“They are very absorbent, which helps wick away any moisture from his skin and they are also anti-bacterial, restricting the growth of dust mites in the fibres,” she says.

“Restricting the dust mites is key, as they are largely found in the bed and his skin has benefited so much from this.

“Keeping Max, who is now 19 months old, cool; giving him a good diet — by identifying what foods irritate him; regular cleaning of the house; handing our dog over to my mother — all these things have helped to keep his skin clear.”

Parents who have responded to her website www.plepleple.com and Facebook page where she now sells her own handmade duvets, blankets, and bibs made from organic materials, are also seeking advice to manage their children’s conditions.

However she admits: “There isn’t one explanation to what causes problems — it’s so individual for every child. But as a mother I needed to help Max.

"I was watching him suffer and it’s worth trying — making little changes to see if the child improves. It may be something very small for some parents that will make a difference.”

In Max’s case, as the cracked dry skin worsened, he also experienced respiratory problems, which his mum believes was the “next level of his body letting you know something is getting worse — fighting the allergen as it developed.”

“If your baby has breathing problems on top of the skin, try and find the trigger,” she advises.

According to Dr Billy O’Connor, a consultant dermatologist at the Lee Clinic in Cork, atopic eczema is very common, with 10-15% of the childhood population having the condition.

“It’s a genetic condition with children often also having a tendency to have hayfever and asthma. But it’s important to say that up to 50% of infants’ eczema is cleared up spontaneously by age three — with or without treatment.

"And they may not necessarily suffer other conditions, like hayfever or asthma in adulthood.

“It’s often present with itching and redness. There is dry skin in the folds, in the elbows and knees and it can get worse in winter.

"They scratch and itch and can get bacteria and crusting. Also, they can get increased lines in the palms of the hands and get an atopic pleat on the lower eyelid.

"Some get lumpy bumpy skin on the outside of arms and legs.”

From a medical viewpoint he says the mainstay of treatment is to replace the abnormally dry skin with moisture treatment.

“Using moisture cream is number one and the volume is very important; try and get through a 500g tub a week and emulsifying ointment should be added to the bath.”

A mild steroid over-the-counter cream is used on babies and if there’s an infection then an antibiotic syrup is given.

In older infants over a year, an antihistamine might be given to reduce itching and scratching, which can typically take place while sleeping, he adds.

Regarding diet, Dr O’Connor says: “Lots of parents can get caught up on focussing on food allergies but this may only be relevant in 10- 15% of sufferers and then we usually recommend they are seen by a paediatric allergist especially if eczema flares up when they are going from breast feeding to bottle feeding but that’s for the minority.”

He agrees that the dust mite can be an issue with children with atopic eczema, who have a tendency towards asthma and hayfever, but points out one third of infants with eczema are unlikely to have those respiratory issues.

Regarding materials, the dermatologist says while wool is an irritant common to all children with eczema it is not a specific allergen, but cotton would be beneficial, especially in the case of overheating, which can add to the discomfort.

“I would recommend that parents check out the Irish skin foundation website as it’s very helpful and go and see their GP because the vast majority of the conditions can be managed,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Patrycia says there had been no history in her family or her partner Martin’s, of any atopic eczema, hayfever or asthma and points out that her older son, Nick, aged six has never had an issue.

“I was told that the cause of atopic eczema isn’t known,” she says.

“It took me two months to figure out what was triggering Max’s problems and to manage them, so he has had relief since he was four months. It’s worth giving it a try.”

FACT FILE

1. Eczema affects approximately one in 10 children in Ireland.

2. Atopic eczema can run in families and often exists along with other atopic conditions such as hayfever and asthma.

3. A defect of the skin barrier makes it more susceptible to infection and irritation and allows allergy-inducing substances to enter the skin.

4. Emollients are the mainstay treatment for eczema and should be used for washing, instead of soap, as well as moisturising. Choose one that suits your child and use several times a day.

5. Don’t rub moisturisers into your child’s skin — use long smooth strokes all over in the direction of hair growth.

6. If eczema persists as your child gets older teach them to use their emollients just like you teach them their dental cleaning and toilet routine.

7. Topical mild steroid cream is the main treatment for flare-ups in a baby’s condition.

8. If your child’s skin becomes wet, weepy, red and very itchy, think infection and seek medical advice.

9. Wash your child’s soft toys regularly or put them in the freezer overnight, to kill house dust mites.

10. Use cotton clothing where possible to avoid irritation.

11. Dry skin is always itchy so take your child’s moisturisers with you everywhere and keep a supply at nursery/school.

12. Inform nursery/school staff about your child’s skin care so they can moisturise as needed.

* Some of these facts are taken from the Irish Skin Foundation website www.irishskinfoundation.ie