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Eczema Treatment For Teens

5 March 2015 by Joann Dunn

Eczema, often called atopic dermatitis, is considered a childhood skin condition as most children outgrow it before the elementary age years. Eczema can persist long into the teen years, however. Even if your child's eczema does clear up, the hormonal changes of puberty and the teen years can cause it to flare up again. Unlike babies and toddlers, teens can be quite self-conscious about their skin problems, so proper treatment is essential to clear up the skin and reduce the itchy symptoms.

Symptoms of Eczema

Teens can go through many different skin changes during puberty, but eczema presents with several notable symptoms. Eczema causes your teen's skin to become red, inflamed and itchy. The skin condition can also cause small blisters on the skin, which can break open and ooze fluid. Eczema tends to show up on a teen's hands, wrists and legs, but it can appear anywhere on the body. Doctors and researchers think that eczema is an immune system response to outside stimuli, which is why many teens with eczema also tend to be allergic to other things or to have asthma.

At-Home Treatments

Before allowing your teen to begin any at-home treatments for eczema, speak with a pediatrician to be sure they are the most appropriate choices. Regular application of moisturizer is one of the best at-home treatments out there, and it should be done once in the morning and once in the evening. Thick creams tend to work better, and many pediatricians will also recommend an over-the-counter topical corticosteroid cream, which helps clear up the skin condition, as well.

Remind your teen to take lukewarm showers because water that's too hot can exacerbate the symptoms of eczema. Non-soap cleansers are also necessary because the lather of soap can irritate the skin, as well. Another way to prevent flare-ups is to wash your teen's clothes in unscented mild laundry detergents because the fragrances in scented varieties can cause an eczema flare-up.

When To See A Doctor

If you've tried all of the at-home treatments your teen's pediatrician has suggested and nothing is working, it's time to make an appointment for a thorough check-up. Your teen's doctor might recommend prescription strength topical creams or oral medications, such as antihistamines, that can help ease symptoms and clear the skin. If your teen has several patches of skin that continue to open up and ooze, the pediatrician might recommend bleach baths to kill the bacteria so the skin can heal. Do not allow your teen to use any of these interventions without doctor approval, however. 

Talk to places like Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center PS for more on eczema treatment.

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