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Control Your Child’s Eczema Before It Controls You: A Guide to Eczema Management

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From sleep disruption and poor productivity to emotional and mental stress, eczema causes a range of negative effects on both the child and the parents’ health and function. Implementing proper eczema management is important to maintain a good quality of life despite having this skin condition.

Eczema brings a whole lot of inconvenience that can affect many areas of your child’s life. According to an article in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, the symptoms of eczema cause a range of negative effect on a child’s health and function such as sleep disruption, skin infection and discomfort, emotional and mental stress, low self-esteem, behavioural deficits, impaired peer relationships, restricted physical activities, dependency, and fearfulness.

On the other hand, parents of affected children may also suffer from

  • Exhaustion
  • Sleep disruption
  • Emotional and financial stress
  • Anxiety
  • Work disruption
  • Limited leisure activities
  • Strained spousal relationship

If you and your child are going through the challenges mentioned above, know that you are not alone in this battle. Many children and parents around the world have been dealing with the same difficulties caused by eczema. Based on the Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Singapore, atopic eczema affects 20.8% of school children and teenagers aged 7 to 16 years in Singapore. In some countries, the prevalence of atopic eczema can also be as high as 20%, as per the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Eczema published by Ministry of Health Malaysia. This percentage continues to rise, affecting both developed and developing low-income countries.

Eczema

To treat and manage eczema properly, it is important to understand what this skin disorder is all about. Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disorder which results from skin barrier defects, immune dysfunction and environmental factors. A flawed skin barrier causes transepidermal water loss, which makes the skin dry and allows penetration of irritants, allergens and pathogens.

While dry and itchy skin is a common symptom of eczema, you can’t just conclude that your child has the condition based solely on pruritus. According to the U.K. Working Party’s Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis, to confirm the diagnosis of eczema, patients must have an itchy skin condition that is accompanied by three or more of the following:

  • History of involvement of the skin creases such as folds of elbows, behind the knees, fronts of ankles or around the neck (including cheeks in children under 10 years old)
  • A personal history of asthma or hay fever (or history of atopic disease in a first-degree relative in children under four years old)
  • A history of a general dry skin in the last year
  • Visible flexural eczema (or eczema involving the cheeks/forehead and outer limbs in children under four years old)
  • Onset under the age of two (not used if the child is under four years old)
Eczema is a skin disease of flares and remission. Treatment varies depending on the phase and the severity of the condition.
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Eczema flare-up refers to a period when your child’s symptoms worsen. During this time, you may use a ceramide-dominant, cream-based emollient therapy to optimally rebuild defective skin barrier. Ceradan® Skin Barrier Repair Cream has high physiological lipid content in 3:1:1 optimal lipid ratio for skin barrier repair. To control the flares, you may consider combining the emollient therapy with anti-inflammatory or calcineurin inhibitor topical cream. If there is an infection, applying an antimicrobial cream is advisable. Likewise, it is advisable to consult a doctor for further evaluation.

The flare-up is usually followed by a period of remission where your child’s skin either gets better or completely clears up. During this time, keep your child’s skin hydrated by applying ceramide-dominant moisturiser like Ceradan® Hydra Moisturiser, a step-down maintenance therapy after successfully treating eczema flare. It is a hydrating moisturiser enriched with ceramide and sodium hyaluronate. As per the guidelines developed by the Dermatological Society of Singapore, sufficient moisturiser must be liberally applied on the skin, at least twice a day or as frequently as required.

Likewise, it is important to bathe daily using a gentle, non-soap wash that does not strip away the skin’s natural oil. An example of a non-soap wash is Ceradan® Moisturising Wash. This fragrance-free, paraben-free and SLS-free body wash is pH-balanced and nourishes the skin with ceramides.

However, for severe cases of eczema, it is best to consult a doctor for further evaluation. According to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Atopic Eczema, some of the treatments that may be recommended for severe cases are phototherapy and systemic therapy. Phototherapy is a therapeutic option for patients who do not respond or develop side effects to conventional treatment. On the other hand, systematic therapy includes adjunctive treatment like antihistamines and systemic antibiotics, as well as specific treatment like immunomodulating agents and biologics.

One of the secrets to keeping a happy life despite having eczema is learning how to relieve the itch in a quick and effective manner. Reducing the itch can save your child from the many unpleasant effects of scratching. You may use a topical treatment like Ceradan® Soothing Gel, which is specially formulated to provide optimal itch relief in just 5 minutes without the unpleasant smell and stinging sensation.

In eczema management, identifying and avoiding the potential aggravating factors which can worsen flares are important. Based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Atopic Eczema, potential triggering factors include the following:

  • Aeroallergen like house dust and unfamiliar pets
  • Physical irritants like nylon or wool clothing, soaps, detergents, disinfectants, shampoo, sweat
  • Environmental factors like climate, air pollution, sun exposures
  • Food like milk, egg and peanuts
  • Microbial colonisation/infection
  • Patient factors like pregnancy
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According to the guidelines developed by the Dermatological Society of Singapore, food allergy may worsen symptoms in infants and young children below 3 years with extensive, recalcitrant atopic eczema. Avoiding common food allergies including cow’s milk, egg, wheat and soy may help improve skin condition. However, eczema in older children and adults is unlikely to be aggravated by food allergy.

Though it surely won’t be easy to handle, eczema shouldn’t get the best of you and your child. Bear in mind that there are ways to maintain a good quality of life despite having eczema. Being informed about proper eczema management is just the first step to breaking free from the undesirable effects of this skin condition. Consistently implementing your eczema management plan is your next goal.

Resources:
Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Singapore
http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/45VolNo10Oct2016/MemberOnly/V45N10p439.pdf

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Atopic Eczema
http://www.acadmed.org.my/view_file.cfm?fileid=883

Addressing treatment challenges in atopic dermatitis with novel topical therapies – Journal of Dermatological Treatment
https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ijdt20

Treatment of Childhood Atopic Dermatitis and Economic Burden of Illness in Asia Pacific Countries
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275668112_Treatment_of_Childhood_Atopic_Dermatitis_and_Economic_Burden_of_Illness_in_Asia_Pacific_Countries

Testimonies

Soothing gel can help calm the skin.

Lennix is super sensitive to mosquito bites not only does it swells up to the size of golf balls but when he scratches it ….
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Joanne

Singapore

Ceradan Hydra moisturiser is able to maintain the hydrated.

Having eczema since I was 2 weeks old at birth, I’ve been on the search for products to keep the eczema under control ….
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Cheryl

Singapore

It’s soap free and safe for all skin types

Honestly though, this 3 are my most used products from @ceradan311sg ? I love using the wash on Shayera & Zayne as ….
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Jane

Singapore

It’s a very gentle and baby-safe product.

We were introduced to Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream by Marc’s paediatric when he started to develop a neck rash from all the sweating, milk and drool ….
Read More

Cheryl

Singapore

It is hypoallergenic and 100% safe for newborn.

My baby is almost 2 months old, for the past weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by frequent diaper changing and feeding my baby day and night ….
Read More

Adeline

Singapore

Ceramoz will make your life better!

Recommended by a pediatric dermatologist, my 4 YO girl has been using the Ceramoz for more than 2 years now. It is truly the best of both worlds ….
Read More

Alfred

Singapore
  • Lennix is super sensitive to mosquito bites not only does it swells up to the size of golf balls but when he scratches it he gets a bacterial skin infection which either lands him in hospital for IV antibiotics or heavy doses of oral antibiotics.

    So now whenever he gets bitten we immediately apply antiseptic solution and then put a bandaid on it so he wouldn’t be able to scratch.

    However the area around the bite becomes very dry and scabby possibly due to lack of air because we leave the bandaid on until the bite heals? We have been using @ceradan311sg soothing gel to help calm the skin so scratching is minimised to prevent further damage and it’s been working great! We ❤️ it!

  • Having eczema since I was 2 weeks old at birth, I’ve been on the search for products to keep the eczema under control. One thing I found useful before attending this session is that I “drink” moisturisers by the bottle and only came to know Ceradan since Marc was born. What I didn’t know was Ceradan is great for all ages, all skin types, especially dry, sensitive and eczema ones.

    The texture of the Ceradan Hydra moisturiser is very light yet is able to maintain the hydrated feeling for quite a while. And understanding from Dr Lynn that the key issue with eczema skin is to build up the skin’s barrier to minimise inflammation and infection, using a moisturiser with 3:1:1 ceramide dominant ratio is essential.

  • Honestly though, this 3 are my most used products from @ceradan311sg ? I love using the wash on Shayera & Zayne as it puts my mind at ease knowing that it’s soap free and safe for all skin types. As for the diaper cream, I use it on the kids even when there’s no rash to ensure that they’re protected. I used it on myself the other day when I had a minor rash on my hand and it helped! As for Ceramoz, it’s part mosquito repellent and part moisturiser! It’s the kiddos must have when they go over to my in-laws place which is a landed space, so you know how mosquitos love to party inside.?

  • We were introduced to Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream by Marc’s paediatric when he started to develop a neck rash from all the sweating, milk and drool in between his neck folds. And later, when Marc started on his helmet therapy, the orthopaedic suggested using Ceradan Body Wash to help minimise any possibility of heat rashes and keep his skin moisturised.

    Having used Ceradan products on Marc for quite a while now, we do find that it’s a very gentle and baby-safe product. Upon using the Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream, his neck rash was under control very quickly and it’s been very effective even for myself when I have eczema flare ups. Ceradan Regimen, which consists of Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream and Ceradan Body Wash, is suitable for children as young as newborns and it has demonstrated clinically-proven efficacy in a study conducted by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and National Skin Centre in Singapore to prevent 1 in 2 eczema flares in Singapore children.

    Since Marc loves swimming, and the chlorine in the water is very drying for the skin, I highly recommend Ceradan Body Wash to cleanse and maintain his gentle baby skin as hydrated as possible.

  • My baby is almost 2 months old, for the past weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by frequent diaper changing and feeding my baby day and night. ?‍♀️?? Diaper rash is also every mum’s nightmare so choosing the right diaper cream is so important. Ceradan’s diaper cream is clinically proven and also recommended by KK Children & Women’s Hospital.

    It is hypoallergenic and 100% safe for newborn.

    I’m thankful to be able to try out this diaper cream for my baby with its unique triple protective actions◾Zinc oxide to seal out wetness ◾Octenidine to control yeast overgrowth ◾Contains 3:1:1 ratio of ceramic, cholesterol and free fatty acids to repair skin barrier.

    Thanks for keeping my baby’s skin rash-free!

    Ceradan is available at Watsons, Guardian and Unity stores.

  • Recommended by a pediatric dermatologist, my 4 YO girl has been using the Ceramoz for more than 2 years now. It is truly the best of both worlds, being able to moisturise and protect against mosquito bites at the same time!

    One big problem we had to deal with when my girl started childcare was mosquitoes ?. Doesn’t help when she had eczema and very sensitive skin. One bite on her and the bitten site would swell and become inflamed. Mosquito patches don’t work at all, and kid-friendly insect repellents either don’t work so well, or are too “spicy” – imagine the whines when she accidentally rubs her eyes after applying the repellent. When we were initially introduced to Ceramoz, we were a bit doubtful but later glad to learn that my girl don’t get bitten by mosquitoes that often anymore! (Truth he told, she only gets bitten when she forgets to apply it after her shower in childcare). It has proved its use so much that I use it now even during her non school days, 2+ years and counting!

    If you have a school-going child with eczema conditions, delicate skin, or is simply a mosquito magnet, Ceramoz will make your life better!