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Eczema Bulletin, Issue #020 - Eczema and Teething
March 23, 2015

Eczema Bulletin, Issue #020 - Eczema and Teething



Welcome to March's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.

This is the 20th edition of Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you

You can contact me here


I'm sorry that this month's newsletter has arrived in your inbox later than it should. I have been moving, and had a rather long wait for the internet to be connected in my new flat. So I hope it was worth the wait!! :)

This month's Eczema Bulletin includes

  • March's Featured Article – Eczema and Teething
  • My favourite eczema news article
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....naturally soothe your skin




Eczema and Teething


If you are, or have been, the parent of a teething child, you know how stressful it can be, for parent and child.

Rashes, dribbling, fever and irritability can make for a difficult time.

Although teething doesn't cause eczema, it can definitely make eczema worse in some children.

Dribbling is the main culprit. If your child has eczema on their face, the wetness of saliva can irritate their eczema. If your child has eczema or is starting to teeth, look out for flare ups, especially around the mouth and chin. Gently pat saliva away with a soft flannel, as often as you can.

Another symptom of teething is painful gums. For a baby I am sure this can be very stressful. Causing sleepless nights, irritability and anxiety. Stress is a common cause of an outbreak of eczema.

There are some ways to manage eczema during teething.

  • Moisturise. The most important factor in managing and treating eczema. Use a chemical free emollient, and apply when needed
  • Topical steroids. If your baby's eczema worsens then your doctor may prescribe a topical steroid. If used sparingly and for a limited time, they may help bring some relief to your child
  • Teething toys. Can help soothe the gums, and also keep your child's mind occupied and off of the pain. This can help with stress
  • Stress reducers. Help to reduce any stress by stroking their heads or just reading to them. Try to take their mind off of any pain, and their eczema
  • Antihistamines. May help relieve any itching. Though check with your doctor before using
  • Cold compress. If your child's skin is red and hot, try a cold compress. Use a soft flannel. Dampen it with cold water, wringing out any excess. Place on the skin for no longer than 15 minutes, then moisturise afterwards

Its just important to remember that if your baby has eczema and is teething, their skin may need more care. Look out for the dryness, redness and itchiness of eczema around the mouth and chin. You can then manage and treat it the same way you would if it appeared on their face at any other time.



Eczema News Article


I had an email through recently about the upcoming 'Allergy and Free From' show that is taking place at Olympia, in London on 3-5 July 2015.

Last year the show had over 30,000 visitors, all looking for information that could help them with their allergies and intolerances.

At present there at 142 exhibitors, who are there with 'loads to see, hear, taste, try, buy and learn!'

If you are interested in going you can visit the website to see how to get tickets.

If you live a little further north, there will be a show in Liverpool on 7-8 November 2015, You can find out more information, here

For anyone living outside of the UK, I am planning to create a page in the very near future, with the places and dates of any shows and exhibitions which may be helpful for eczema sufferers.




Tip Of The Month - Handling Comments


Handling comments made about you or someone close, especially your child's eczema can be difficult. It can sometimes be one of the hardest things to deal with when you have eczema.

As a child I had comments made about my eczema on a regular basis. Looking back, it really did dent my self esteem.

Now if someone makes a comment it doesn't bother me at all. I realised a little while ago that my eczema is just a part of me. It doesn't define me, but it does have an impact on my life, in a negative and positive way.

If you are a parent of a child, or know a child, who is having to listen to regular comments about their eczema, there are a few things you can do to help prevent their self esteem being affected.

  • Talk to them, and listen. Venting can be good for children. Sometimes just having someone to listen to you can feel like having a weight lifted
  • Empathise. Put yourself in their shoes. Nobody likes to have comments made about any aspect of their appearance. Especially not everyday
  • Make them feel special. They are completely fine just the way they are. It is a cliché that beauty is only skin deep, but it is so true. I have realised this more, the older I have gotten
  • Teach them to ignore comments. Easier said than done I know! A comment says more about the person saying it than the person it is directed at
  • Find support. This could be in your family, friends or even in a support group. It may help you and your child to meet other eczema sufferers and their families

I have found explaining eczema to people sometimes helps. A lot of people don't realise how hard it can be to live with. One person said to me that they thought it was 'a little patch of dry itchy skin'....if only!

As an adult you can still feel the sting of a negative comment. It can take you back to when you were a child. It took me until my early 20's to be able to ignore comments.

They are more times than I care to remember when I have had a thoughtless comment thrown at me. I find laughing helps me, and completely throws the other person!

I think making people more aware of eczema is very important. Everyone seems to know someone who has eczema, but most people don't really understand the impact it has on sufferers.

I would be very interested to know how you have taught your child to deal with comments. Or how, as an adult, you brush them aside. It would be great to share your experiences.


Do you have a tip you would like to share? Let me know :)





5 Ways To.......naturally soothe your skin


1. 1. Colloidal Oatmeal. Is good for moisturising your skin. It keeps the skin hydrated. It can also help to relieve itchy skin, and reduce the redness of inflammation. You can use it in the bath, or as part of a cream or soap

2. Aloe Vera. Aloe vera benefits eczema as is very soothing, and helps to moisturise the skin. You can use aloe vera in a few different ways to help with eczema. One of the best ways to use it on your skin is in a cream or gel. Use a cream or gel that is natural, and has no added chemicals in it. As it is natural you can use it as often as you need to

3. Chamomile. As a natural anti inflammatory it helps to relieve the symptoms of inflammation. Redness, swelling and soreness. It can also help to soothe your skin and help to reduce itchiness. Preventing further damage to your skin

4. Coconut Oil. It is a great moisturiser. It can help to keep your skin hydrated. Stopping it becoming dry and flaky. It is also a natural anti inflammatory. It can help to soothe the symptoms of your eczema. Reducing redness, soreness and itching

5. Emu Oil. Emu Oil benefits eczema because it helps soothe inflammation. It also absorbs easily into the skin. It absorbs into the deeper layers of the skin, helping to lock moisture in, keeping it hydrated

You can read more about natural eczema treatments, here





Keeping Up-To-Date With What is Eczema


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The April edition of Eczema Bulletin will include

  • April's Featured Article – Teething and Eczema
  • My favourite news item of the month
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....manage nipple eczema



Hope you enjoyed March's Eczema Bulletin, and thanks for reading

Teri


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