Topic: Skin Care

There are over 33 million visits to dermatologists annually. Zits, acne, pimples; whatever you want to call it we all know it's a pain to deal with.

Eczema Child Problems

Eczema From the Greek "to boil over," eczema is a general term encompassing several phenotypes characterized by very itchy skin and a predictable distribution and age of onset. Most dermatologists use the terms atopic eczema and atopic dermatitis (AD) interchangeably. In the last decade, much has been discovered about the etiology of AD1 and what occurs along leukocyte and interleukin signal pathways. One such pathway follows the antigen-presenting cell from the skin surface down into the dermis. When this cell encounters a triggering antigen, antigen-presenting cells at the skin surface stimulate Th-2 cells to elaborate certain interleukins -- chemical signals that cause Th-0 cells to become Th-2 cells. This revs up the inflammatory pathways.

There are two dermatologic approaches to treating atopic dermatitis: wet and dry. Not a lot of hard data exist on these disparate methods. I have used the wet approach with success for the last 20 years. I recommend the following:

• Bathe the child twice a day in warm water.
• Use mild soap to cleanse only the dirty areas.
• After rinsing, leave the child very moist.
• Apply a topical steroid, in the lowest therapeutic strength, to red or itchy areas on the moist skin.
• Apply moisturizer on top of the steroid and to the rest of the body as well.