Track Eczema Symptoms and Triggers—You Could Stop It in Its Path

Eczema is a fairly common inflammation of the skin, one that affects most children. Over-the-counter moisturizers can often ease symptoms. But when your child’s eczema is allergic, the symptoms are often triggered by subtle allergies to foods, such as milk and eggs.

In young children, allergic eczema may be the first of many allergic diseases they experience if symptoms are not controlled. For instance, as a newborn, your child may develop eczema from drinking a particular cow’s milk formula. As he gets older, this allergy trigger along with other allergies could cause ear infections or nasal congestion. And in extreme situations, down the line he could develop asthma.

The good news is that by tracking your child’s symptoms, it can help your doctor determine the cause. And once you know what’s causing the eczema, you are much better equipped to ease your child’s eczema outbreaks today—and help protect his health in the future.

Create a chart and log any eczema symptoms as soon as they appear. Your eczema symptom chart should include the following, but add anything else you feel is missing. There is no formula to this. We just want to give you a place to start.

• Date
• Time of day
• Weather conditions
• Location
• Symptoms (see below)
• Foods your child has been eating
• Severity at onset of outbreak
• Speed of outbreak progression

It’s important to track what leads up to an eczema outbreak. But it’s equally important that you be able to recognize your child’s eczema symptoms. The following are eczema symptoms you should look out for:

• Rash on cheeks, elbows and knees, as well as on the inside creases of the knees and elbows
• Intense scratching 
• Waking at night due to scratching
• Blisters with oozing and crusting
• Raw, bleeding skin
• Dry leathery skin areas

And remember to get tested.