Dear moms and dads with children and babies with atopic dermatitis!
A few weeks ago, we posted our first blog post on atopic dermatitis in babies and toddlers. Today, Dr. Kerstin Schallaböck, physician, mother of four, and KAMI skincare founder, will share some do's and don'ts to consider when living with children with atopic dermatitis.
"Aside from the constant fatigue from sleepless nights, the worst part about our youngest's atopic dermatitis was the guilty conscience of not being able to help my son. I was constantly plagued by the fact that I was doing nothing, or too little, to help Kami get better. This helplessness was so stressful! Today I'd simply like to share a few tips with you that might help in some circumstances; in any case, they're worth trying."
Here’s how you can help your child (or yourself):
The right basic care:
- For neurodermatitis skin, the goal is to slow or calm inflammation on the one hand, and to compensate for the deficient skin barrier on the other. This is primarily achieved through fats, especially those containing linoleic and linolenic acids, which are also found in the skin. KAMI SOS Oil and our balm are particularly well suited for this task.
- All water-based creams (i.e., anything with "hydro" in the name, products that promise moisture) should be avoided. They are even more drying, as the skin can't retain moisture. Gel-based products and serums often contain drying ingredients. Exception: If the skin is wet, a moisture-based product may be used on those areas, as a greasy cream or oil wouldn't stay there.
- Moisturizing oil baths are also important for basic care. We've developed the moisturizing KAMI Wash Fluid for this purpose. However, only bathe for a short time! Please reapply cream after bathing. Our KAMI 2-Phase Spray is great for the body; it's quick to use, and (older) children can even spray it themselves. This might be more fun than boring moisturizing.
- In winter, richer creams should be used to protect the skin from the cold. A combination of KAMI SOS Oil and KAMI SOS Balm is ideal.
- In summer, watch your child's skin for sweating from greasy creams. This should be avoided, as it worsens the skin condition. If this happens, switch to lighter products (e.g., KAMI 2-Phase Spray).
- No soaps, no bubble baths, no perfume additives! Handwashing also works well with moisturizing products.
- After disinfection, which is sometimes unavoidable, apply greasy creams.
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Everyday tips
- Avoid scratching: This is difficult with babies and small children. It's recommended to use cotton mittens or sew up pajamas. Of course, as a parent, you might think this is cruel, but it's certainly better than scratching yourself. Make sure your sleeves are long enough. Fingernails should also always be short and filed smooth so that any scratches don't become too severe.
- Once a child develops a certain level of independence, they can treat itching themselves with the SOS Skin Care Oil in the roll-on bottle. There's no spillage or mess, and the feeling of being able to help themselves builds self-confidence. The child is empowered to take action against the condition themselves.
- Go swimming: Chlorine water is very bad for atopic dermatitis. Therefore, be sure to take breaks while splashing around, change wet swimsuits or swim diapers quickly, and shower thoroughly!
- Exercise: Exercise is always important, of course, but it's especially important for people with atopic dermatitis in three ways: exercise makes you tired, thus improving sleep quality, and exercise boosts the immune system. Third, exercise stimulates sweating, which is good as long as the sweat can evaporate easily. Contact sports should be avoided. Outdoor sports are also preferable. Soccer, running, tennis, or track and field, for example, are recommended.
- Indoor climate: Most children with atopic dermatitis prefer cool air. So, keep the windows open while sleeping, unless it's pollen season! The air shouldn't be too dry either. A humidifier is recommended.
- Stress: Everyone knows that stress should be avoided, but unfortunately, in everyday life, it's often impossible to avoid it. Make sure your child gets enough breaks and spends time outside. Relaxation exercises work even for kindergarten children. Simple breathing exercises are recommended; all children and parents can participate. What is often forgotten is that the sibling dynamic can become a dead end for a child with atopic dermatitis if the other siblings feel left out because of the atopic dermatitis. Try to balance things out by including everyone without creating extra work for yourself. A walk to the playground, the supermarket, or the bakery, for example, is good for everyone.
Focus on clothing:
As discussed above, people with atopic dermatitis (usually) prefer cooler temperatures. Therefore, less is better than too much; in most cases, a cold is less problematic than another flare-up!
- Layering clothing, like layering, allows children to adapt to their individual warmth needs. Empower your child to decide when they're cold or warm, and when they want to undress or dress.
- Synthetic fibers are bad for the skin.
- Wool and linen are rather bad for the skin.
- Cotton and silk are generally good for the skin.
- Pay attention to the workmanship; loose inner seams and labels can increase the itching.
- Always wash new clothes before wearing them.
- Breathability is also important in shoes: avoid "vegan" leather—that is, plastic! Also, only wear rubber boots and overly warm Gore-Tex winter boots in rain and snow.
Focus on food:
Even babies with healthy skin often react to new foods, while babies with atopic dermatitis react more severely. It has been shown that delaying the introduction of complementary foods does not help prevent symptoms; rather, it postpones them and then worsens them. Current data even shows that prolonged breastfeeding increases the risk of atopic dermatitis, although the causal link here remains to be questioned.
It often takes a few days to determine how well a food will be tolerated over time. Therefore, the principle of less is more applies. Small amounts and only one new food at a time. After 1-2 weeks, it will be clear whether your child is allergic or not. The goal is to tolerate every food. Maybe not always in large quantities, but the dose makes the poison. The benchmark for when a food is considered “compatible” is a healthy gut with a functioning microbiome.
There are certain foods that often cause reactions. These include:
- Citrus fruits and all fruits with a lot of acid
- Chocolate and acidic sweets
- Spicy foods and spices
- Nuts
Potatoes are recommended as complementary food to start with, as allergies are very rare.
Bananas are the first fruit to recommend, as they contain little acid (see above).
While a healthy child can eat normally with their parents at 12 months, a toddler with atopic dermatitis should wait 6-12 months longer. Finally, the following foods should be considered:
- cow's milk
- Soy products/soy milk
- eggs
- Chocolate/Cocoa
- Fish and seafood
- Nuts
- Bread or products with wheat flour
However, I would advise against radical diets and eliminating entire food groups. Firstly, it has been shown that any improvements are only short-term. Secondly, you are excluding your child from normal social interactions (children's birthday parties!), and this stress also affects the condition of their skin.
However, it is proven that taking antibiotics during infancy exacerbates the risk of atopic dermatitis. However, these are (usually) only prescribed in cases of serious illness and therefore cannot really be avoided.
A glimmer of hope for parents with young children: in 90% of cases, atopic dermatitis will "grow out" of itself. Nevertheless, increased attention to skin health will be necessary for the rest of their lives.
I hope you found this post interesting. I'd appreciate your feedback.
Kind regards
Your Kerstin
Read here Further tips for everyday life with babies or children who suffer from atopic dermatitis.
