KidsHealth video. Find out how moisturiser helps children with eczema. Can't see this video on YouTube? Try viewing it on Vimeo.
transcribeTranscript
[Music throughout video]
Diana Purvis (dermatologist, Starship Children's Hospital)
Kia ora Chrisziina, come in, come in girls.
Voice
Mere and Pounamu have eczema.
Using lots of moisturiser many times a day is really important for children like Mere and Pounamu.
The skin has a very important role in protecting us from the outside world.
Diana Purvis (dermatologist, Starship Children's Hospital)
It's helpful to think of the skin as being like a brick wall which protects us from irritants and infections and even allergens.
When you have active eczema this wall becomes leaky and this means that irritants and allergens can come in more easily causing further inflammation and worsening the eczema.
Voice
Regular and generous use of moisturisers reduces inflammation and supports the natural barrier function of the skin.
Before applying creams for your child’s eczema, make sure your own hands are clean.
[Sound of running water]
Skin with eczema can get infected easily so avoid putting your hands into a tub of cream. This can introduce infection. It’s better to spoon out your moisturizer onto a dish or paper towel and use this cream to apply to your child’s skin.
Diana Purvis (dermatologist, Starship Children's Hospital)
So you take your cream and I tend to dot it down the skin and then smooth it, and you smooth it with the way that the hair grows on the body. Because if you rub up and down it irritates the skin. So you just smooth it down like this and you can just leave it to soak in. You don't have to rub it all the way in.
Voice
Cream can be applied many times a day - at least twice a day but as often as 5 or 6 times when eczema is active.
For small babies it’s often convenient to apply creams with each nappy change.
With an older child again apply moisturizer several times during the day - after a bath or shower and then 1 or 2 other times. Apply the cream and smooth on down the arm or leg in the direction of the hair growth.
Try and involve your child with putting on their own creams as much as possible so they get confident with putting them on themselves when they’re at school.
Remember:
Use lots of moisturiser.
Use it at least twice a day – more if possible.
Use it all over the body, including the face.
If your child still has red, itchy, active eczema please see your doctor or nurse.
Moisturiser for children with eczema
Using lots of moisturiser many times a day is really important for children with eczema.
Remember:
- use lots of moisturiser
- use it at least twice a day - more if possible
- use it all over the body, including the face
- if your child still has red, itchy, active eczema please see your doctor or nurse
You can print out an eczema action plan and take it with you when you see your child's health professional. Ask them to mark on the diagram where to put moisturiser and topical steroids on your child's skin.
Antiseptic baths 2 times a week can help prevent infection and improve eczema.
Acknowledgements
Our grateful thanks to the family in consultation with Dr Diana Purvis, Dermatologist, Starship Hospital, and all the other families whose generosity was essential in the making of these videos. Thanks also to Kidzhealth (private paediatric care) and to Allergy NZ for providing facilities and support for filming.
The information and video on this eczema page have been developed and approved by the Clinical Reference Group for the Paediatric Society NZ's Eczema Clinical Network, Te Rōpū Kiripai Hapori.
