5 most common kid skin rashes and sensitivities (and how to soothe them)

Eczema is very uncomfortable, and the itch can keep a kid up at night. It’s important to get a diagnosis, but even then it can be hard to control. “Managing it is an art as much as it is a science,” says Weinstein.

Eczema might first look like a patch of dry skin, but it can quickly worsen as your kid scratches. Keeping the skin well-moisturized is your first line of defence (that, and keeping his nails short). Bathe him, pat his skin and then liberally apply moisturizer while it’s still damp. On days when he doesn’t bathe, keep moisturizing.

There are dozens of products formulated for eczema—whether it’s a thin lotion or thick ointment, choose one that’s affordable and works for your kid, because you’ll be applying it often and liberally, says Weinstein.

Focus on moisturizing instead of driving yourself crazy trying to figure out what’s triggering flares, Weinstein says. “People will turn their lives upside down, searching for that one thing that if they could only eliminate it, eczema would go away. That tends to send them down an unhelpful path.”

Eczema can appear without reason, despite your best efforts. In these cases, your doctor will likely recommend a mild steroid cream (a.k.a. cortisone) to calm the itching and redness—broken skin from scratching can leave kids vulnerable to a staph infection.

People with eczema often also have food or environmental allergies. Experts do not recommend eliminating foods in search of a trigger, as it may lead to serious problems, like malnutrition.

“It’s like having blond hair and blue eyes,” says Weinstein. “They’re two genetic traits that tend to travel together, but the blond hair doesn’t cause the blue eyes, just as eating certain foods doesn’t typically cause a flare-up of eczema.”

Products that may help with symptoms of eczema:

• For babies and toddlers, Tubby Todd All-Over-Ointment
• Goat milk-based bar soap to soothe and hydrate, we like this Southern Natural soap for babies, kids and adults