For many children, flare-ups can be caused by skin irritants such as soaps, chlorinated water, wool clothing, or sudden changes in temperature or humidity. For some eczema sufferers, pet fur, pollen, and certain foods can also trigger a flare-up. A common problem for young children with eczema is that their own saliva is often an irritant, which is why their cheeks and skin around their mouths are often affected.
One of the most difficult trigger factors to predict in children is emotional stress. Children with eczema often react to stress by experiencing red itching and flushing. For the child with eczema, normal childhood feelings like anger, frustration, and fear can lead to an eczema flare-up.
Precautions
- Don’t let the child get overheated. After active play periods, dab sweat away with a damp cloth and pat dry.
- Avoid wool or other scratchy fabrics. Choose breathable fabrics. Soft fleeces in winter and cool cottons in summer are the best choices.
- Don’t use products that irritate the skin like harsh soaps, perfumes, bleach, or detergents.
- Be aware that playing with animals may cause eczema flare-ups. Some children with eczema are allergic to cats, dogs, and other furry animals.
- Monitor humidity. Low humidity can dry the skin, especially on cold winter days. High humidity and heat can lead to increased sweating and make the itching worse.
- Be aware that certain foods may cause flare-ups in some children. These foods may include eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts, soy or soybeans, fish, wheat, or hot and spicy foods.
Important Information
The product information provided on Protopic-la.com is intended for residents of Central America and the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Virgin Islands).
Protopic prescription ointment is used for short or repeated treatments for people who don’t respond well to or who may have side effects with traditional treatments. It’s approved for adults in concentrations of 0.1% and 0.03% and for children, aged 2 to 15 years, in the 0.03% concentration only. Although individual results may vary, many people see improvement after the first few weeks of treatment.
The most common side effects are stinging and burning. The worse your eczema is, the more likely you may have stinging and burning. Protopic may be associated with an increased risk of certain skin infections. When using Protopic, avoid direct sunlight, tanning salons, and phototherapy, and don’t cover the skin being treated with bandages, dressings, or wraps. Only your doctor can weigh the risks and benefits and decide if Protopic is right for you.