BEST WAYS TOWARD OFF ITCHY SKIN IN WARMER MONTHS

NOT everyone welcomes the end of cold winter nights and cool days—especially young eczema sufferers. S pr in g’ s warmer weather can provoke uncomfortable flare-ups of the debilitating condition, which affects one in three Australian children. Eczema sufferer Cheryl Talent says weather change and heat can be primary factors that trigger eczema. “The change of season, especially coming into the warmer weather and coping with the environmental allergens can be challenging for children with eczema ,” Talent, also Eczema Association Australasia( E EA) president, says. The E AA recently announced a new partnership with skin and hair care brand Childs Farm, which produces a range that is suitable for sensitive skin and people who maybe prone to eczema. The E AA also has some spring skin tips to help kids fightitchyskin. Distraction is key, especially when you’ re trying to control children scratching their skin. Try putting a tub of moisturiser in front of them and encourage them to rub ito nor have a competition—you cream their skin while they cream a toy and see who finishes first. Keep kids’ finger nails short to prevent scratching and breaking the skin. If possible, have them wear cotton mitts or glovesatnight. Give children luke warm bath sand showers. Apply moisturiser within three minutes after bathing to‘ lock in’ the moisture. Avoid perfumed products unless they have been specifically tested as suitable for use on eczema prone skin. Avoid rapid changes of temperature and activities that raise a sweat. Talent says trial is the key and it is worth trying something different for a child’ s skincare routine. “While there is as yet no cure for eczema, good management is achievable using prescribed treatment sand suitable skincare products ,” she says .“It is now widely recognised that constant moisturising of the skin helps to maintain the skin barrier and promote healing .”