Outside the window, nature pleases us with warm spring weather.days. However, with the arrival of spring, parents should be especially careful - after all, it is at this time of year that children develop various diseases and existing ones become aggravated. Including atopic dermatitis in children, the treatment of which is a very labor-intensive and lengthy process. This is what we will talk about in today's conversation. To begin with, let's remember together what atopic dermatitis is. By the way, until recently, doctors called it neurodermatitis - due to the direct participation of the baby's nervous system in this pathological process. In common parlance, this disease is still called "diathesis".
Symptoms of the disease
In order to recognize the problem in time andto start treatment, parents should clearly understand the symptoms of this disease. Of course, atopic dermatitis can manifest itself differently in different children, but the main symptoms will be the same for everyone, with minor variations. In principle, the most important distinguishing feature is skin damage. Moreover, the localization of the affected areas largely depends on the age of the sick child:
- C birth to three years
If a very small baby gets sick, then he hasThe skin on the neck, face, extensor surfaces of the arms and legs is affected. In particularly severe cases, the skin on the tummy and back of the baby may be affected.
- Children over three years old
In case of atopic dermatitisa child over three years old falls ill, the skin on the neck, cheeks, elbows and knees is affected. Although in this case, everything depends on the severity of the disease. The skin in the affected areas becomes very dry and begins to peel. If the parents do not notice the problem at this stage and do not start treatment, the disease will continue to progress. Red spots and seals, and even nodules will appear on the skin. All these skin lesions are accompanied by severe itching, which worries the child a lot. Atopic dermatitis is a very peculiar disease that has a wave-like course. Without adequate treatment, the disease sometimes worsens, then “subsides” again. And very often, parents mistakenly take periods of remission for the child’s recovery. But as soon as they relax, the disease makes itself known again.
Causes of atopic dermatitis
Before you start treatment, you need to know the reasons,which can lead to the development of this disease. It is possible that knowing this information will help parents avoid the problem. After all, as we know, it is always much easier to prevent the development of pathology than to treat an existing disease. Doctors know quite a few reasons that can provoke the development of atopic dermatitis. Below we will list the most common of them:
There is a popular belief that atopicDermatitis is an exclusively childhood disease that will go away on its own as the child grows up. However, this is not true at all – only half of children recover on their own. In the other half of children, the disease will manifest itself throughout their lives. Doctors have such a concept as early onset. The earlier the disease manifests itself, and the more severe its course, the higher the probability that the disease will manifest itself throughout the child's life. This is especially true for those children who suffer from any other allergic diseases – for example, hay fever or bronchial asthma.
Prevention of atopic dermatitis
In the event that parents know abouttheir baby's predisposition to developing atopic dermatitis, they can take some measures that, if not completely eliminate the occurrence of the disease, then at least delay the onset of the disease for four to five years. In principle, prevention should begin from the first day of the baby's birth. A woman who breastfeeds a child should follow a hypoallergenic diet. As a rule, doctors tell new mothers in the maternity hospital what and in what quantities they can eat. And if the mother does not violate the diet, she will be able to protect her baby from atopic dermatitis with a high degree of probability. In the event that the child is on artificial feeding, parents should consult with the attending pediatrician about the selection of a suitable milk formula. There are various manufacturers that specialize in the production of special mixtures for feeding children prone to the development of allergic reactions. It is also worth paying attention to the introduction of complementary foods into the child's diet. It can only be introduced to a healthy baby. Or, if the diagnosis of "atopic dermatitis" has already been made, the introduction of complementary foods should be made only against the background of stable remission. And complementary foods are introduced to children with atopic dermatitis no earlier than six months.
Treatment of atopic dermatitis in children under one year of age
It's time to talk about exactly howyou need to fight atopic dermatitis. And we will start talking about atopic dermatitis in children under one year old, the treatment of which is the most difficult. After all, there are a large number of traditional medicine remedies that alleviate the course of this disease. But their use in children under one year is simply strictly prohibited. Therefore, treatment must be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor - a pediatrician and a dermatologist. And the first thing you need to pay attention to is the child's diet. The diet for the little ones has already been described above. But with older children - 8-12 months - you need to be especially careful. The best option is an elimination diet. The peculiarity of this diet is the complete absence of any products containing allergens. Such products include chicken eggs, nuts, soy, cow's milk, fish. They must be strictly excluded from the diet of both the mother, if she is nursing, and from the baby's complementary foods. The doctor will prescribe drug treatment for the child. Today, hormonal ointments based on glucocorticosteroids are most often used. As a rule, these ointments are prescribed in combination with emollients, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease and improve the baby's well-being. Moreover, even in the remission stage, parents should not forget about the need to use moisturizers - the skin with atopic dermatitis is extremely dry. In addition, such children need constant immune-supporting therapy. Most often, doctors use local immunomodulatory drugs for this. In no case should you buy any pharmacological drugs on your own, without a prescription from your doctor. Incorrectly selected drugs can only harm the child's health. During an exacerbation of the disease, the child will be prescribed antihistamines. As a rule, a pediatrician and a dermatologist prescribe a comprehensive treatment program for atopic dermatitis. In especially severe cases, immunologists and allergists are involved in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. In no case should you treat such a small child on your own.
Folk remedies for atopic dermatitis
If a child suffers from atopicdermatitis, over three years old - you can think about alternative treatment. If you are faced with such a phenomenon as atopic dermatitis in children, treatment with folk remedies can become a real "magic wand". This is what will be discussed below. However, please note - before using any remedy, be sure to consult with your doctor.
- St. John's Wort
To prepare this remedy you will needtablespoon of fresh St. John's wort juice and four tablespoons of butter. Melt the butter over low heat, add St. John's wort juice and mix thoroughly. Place the resulting mixture in a glass container and store in the refrigerator. This ointment should be applied to the affected areas twice a day - in the morning and before bed. The duration of the course of treatment is not limited - it can last as long as necessary. St. John's wort is an excellent disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent. And there are no contraindications for its use. Perhaps, except for a possible allergic reaction.
- Softening Ointment with Glycerin
In case atopic dermatitis causessevere inflammation and peeling of the skin, try making the following ointment. You will need one dessert spoon of fresh milk, rice starch and glycerin. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until you get a homogeneous mixture, similar in consistency to sour cream. The resulting mixture should be applied to the affected areas in a thin layer and left overnight. If the problem areas are on the elbows and knees, you can make compresses. To do this, apply the mixture, cover it with a gauze napkin, plastic wrap. And fix everything with a bandage. In the morning, wash off the gruel with either warm water or linden blossom decoction.
- Potato juice
Potato juice is excellentanti-inflammatory agent that successfully treats atopic dermatitis. Wash a large potato tuber, peel it and grate it on a fine grater. Fold a gauze napkin in several layers, apply grated potato on it and apply it to the affected areas. Leave the napkin with potato gruel for two hours, then rinse with warm water and lubricate with any fatty cream.
- Kalanchoe and lime honey
If the child is not allergic to honeyand other bee products, you can use the following recipe to relieve itching. Mix equal parts linden honey and Kalanchoe juice, place the mixture in a glass container and leave to infuse in the refrigerator for seven days. This mixture should be applied to the affected areas every time the child complains of severe itching.
- Celery root juice
Mix 50 parts in any non-enameled container.grams of fresh celery juice and table apple cider vinegar, as well as 2 grams of table salt. For inflammatory processes of the affected skin, lotions from this solution are very effective. Apply a gauze napkin soaked in the solution to the affected areas of the skin for five minutes, every two hours. By the way, celery root juice is no less effective when taken orally. To do this, grate or mince one or two celery roots, squeeze out the juice using gauze. The child should drink it during exacerbations of atopic dermatitis. The dosage depends on the age of the child - from three to six years old, one teaspoon, older children - two teaspoons. Celery root juice should be taken fifteen minutes before meals, twice a day. The course of treatment should last seven days. And you should not interrupt the treatment early, even if the child's condition improves earlier.
- Fresh juices
For weeping skin lesions they are very effectivejuices of some plants. For example, cranberry. It perfectly heals all skin lesions and therefore is very often used in folk medicine to treat atopic dermatitis. To do this, prepare the following ointment - thoroughly mix 50 grams of cranberry juice with 200 grams of petroleum jelly. Apply the resulting mixture every two hours until the condition improves. And cucumber or apple juice very effectively relieves itching and burning - squeeze out the juice and lubricate the affected areas of the skin every two hours. As a rule, a feeling of relief comes in a few hours.
- Black currant tea
If an exacerbation of the disease has caught youchild in the spring, black currant can come to the rescue. Cut young shoots of currant, chop them and place them in a thermos. Pour one liter of boiling water over them, close the lid tightly and leave for about two hours. Strain the infusion using gauze. This decoction should be used as a tea brew for the child. The baby can drink tea without any restrictions.
- Linseed oil
If your child has very dry skin,flaxseed oil is effective. It is used as follows. Place one tablespoon of dry chamomile flowers in an enamel bowl, pour 100 grams of flaxseed oil over them, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. Bring to a boil over low heat, turn off, cool and strain the broth using gauze. Lubricate the affected areas of the child's skin every two to three hours for at least a week. Do not forget that fatty flaxseed oil can leave difficult-to-remove stains on the child's clothes. Therefore, take care of this issue in advance.
- Decoction of sage
Sage decoction is no less effective.It can be used for severe peeling and inflammation of the skin. The decoction is prepared as follows: place five tablespoons of crushed sage leaves in an enamel bowl, pour one liter of water over them and bring to a boil over low heat. The decoction must be boiled for half an hour. After that, wrap the pan with a thick terry towel and leave to infuse for at least two hours. Strain the decoction using gauze and pour into a glass container. The child should take the decoction three teaspoons every four hours for 21 days. In addition to the fact that the child will drink sage decoction, lotions will not hurt. They are made as follows: prepare several gauze napkins, thoroughly soak them in the solution and apply to the affected areas of the child's skin. The napkins must be changed as they dry out, within an hour. It is best to do this procedure before going to bed, and the course of treatment should last about two weeks.
- Infusion of chamomile
During remissions of the disease it is very usefulwipe the skin in the affected areas with an infusion of chamomile. The infusion is prepared quite simply - pour three tablespoons of chamomile flowers into a thermos, pour one liter of boiling water over them and close the lid. Infuse the chamomile for at least three hours. After each bathing of the child, the skin must be wiped with a decoction of chamomile. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects, so it will significantly reduce the risk of exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.
Afterword
Of course, traditional medicine recipes are oftenare very effective. However, do not forget that almost all of them are based on various herbs. And herbs often lead to the development of allergic reactions, which, in turn, underlie such a disease as atopic dermatitis. And therefore, in some cases, these recipes can aggravate the course of the disease. By the way, this is why they should never be used in small children, who develop allergic reactions much more often. But even in adult children, treatment must be kept under strict control - carefully monitor the child's condition and immediately stop treatment at the slightest deterioration. In no case should you try to replace medical supervision and treatment prescribed by a doctor with folk recipes. And all recipes must also be pre-agreed with the child's attending physician. If you approach the issue of treating atopic dermatitis responsibly, you will definitely defeat the baby's disease! We advise you to read:
