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- What is dermatitis?
- Symptoms of dermatitis
- Causes of dermatitis
- Prevention of dermatitis
- Risk factors for dermatitis
- Complications of dermatitis
- When to see a doctor about dermatitis
- Diagnosis of dermatitis
- Conventional treatment of dermatitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of dermatitis
- Living with dermatitis
- Caring for someone with dermatitis
Caring for someone with dermatitis
Partner
If you have a partner with dermatitis, there are a number of useful strategies you can use to help them:
- Avoid using perfumed products - most type of skin care, cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products contain some types of perfumes and other abrasive chemicals, which can irritate sensitive skin prone to dermatitis. To to find and use non-perfumed, mild, natural (certified organic) alternatives
- Don't smoke - cigarette smoke is a known irritant to the skin and this could be one of the triggers for causing the dermatitis symptoms. Don't smoke around your partner as their exposure to your second-hand smoke can be a trigger for their dermatitis symptoms
- Help your partner moisturise - especially if the dermatitis is on the back or on areas of the skin that are harder to reach, it may be helpful if you can help your partner to moisturise these areas
- Remove the allergens from the home - once the allergens that trigger the dermatitis have been identified, ensure they are not in the home to avoid exacerbating your partner's dermatitis symptoms
- Remove the irritants from the home - once the irritants that trigger the dermatitis have been identified, ensure they are not in the home to avoid exacerbating your partner's dermatitis symptoms
Friends
If you have a friend or family member with dermatitis, there are a number of useful strategies you can use to help them:
- Avoid using perfumed products - most type of skin care, cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products contain some types of perfumes and other abrasive chemicals, which can irritate sensitive skin prone to eczema. Try to ensure you have not just cleaned your home just before your friend or family member is about to arrive and don't use air fresheners before your friend is due to come to your place
- Don't smoke - cigarette smoke is a known irritant to the skin and this could be one of the triggers for causing the dermatitis symptoms. Don't smoke around your friend or family member as their exposure to your second-hand smoke can be a trigger for their dermatitis symptoms
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Parents
If you have a child with dermatitis, there are a number of useful strategies you can use to help them:
- Apply a cool compress - use plain cotton fabric which has been moistened with cold water to the area on the skin of your child which is inflamed with the dermatitis lesions, but do not rub or press hard as this will cause pain. This simple remedy can provide a great deal of immediate (albeit temporary) relief, which is enough to reduce the worst of inflammation and itchiness on your child's skin. If the child is old enough, you can teach them how to do this too (instead of scratching their skin) to provide some relief
- Avoid using perfumed products - most type of skin care, cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products contain some types of perfumes and other abrasive chemicals, which can irritate sensitive skin prone to dermatitis. To to find and use non-perfumed, mild, natural (certified organic) alternatives
- Bath and shower in tepid water - ensure you bathe (or shower) your child in tepid water since hot water will dry out the skin and can be painful on active dermatitis. If your child is old enough, teach them how to use cooler water they take their shower and to bathe quickly
- Distract the child from scratching - you will need to use a number of strategies to prevent the child from scratching their itchy skin as that can spread it further
- Don't smoke - cigarette smoke is a known irritant to the skin and this could be one of the triggers for causing the dermatitis symptoms . Don't smoke around your child as their exposure to your second-hand smoke can be a trigger for their dermatitis symptoms
- Identify the allergens - there are a number of allergens that can possibly cause the dermatitis to occur, so work with your child to try to identify these triggers to avoid them. If an allergen is suspected of causing the dermatitis, discuss your testing options with your doctor, especially an allergy (skin prick) test, which can confirm which allergens may be causing the dermatitis
- Identify the irritants - there are a number of irritants that can cause dermatitis to occur, so try to identify so work with your child to try to identify these triggers to avoid them. Common irritants are soaps, shampoo, detergents, laundry powders/liquids, skin care, cleaning products and perfumes. Try to find more natural, less abrasive and non perfumed alternatives to determine if this makes any difference to your child's dermatitis symptoms
- Moisturise after bathing - always moisturise your child after a bath (or shower), all over, to help reduce the dryness in the skin and reduce the likelihood of aggravating the eczema. Find a very mild, unperfumed and natural (certified organic) moisturiser that provides adequate emollient moisture for the skin. Older children can be taught to moisturise their own skin in areas that they can reach
- Provide fish in the diet - oily fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout) contain the beneficial anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids which studies show can be greatly reduce symptoms of eczema. Discuss the appropriateness of fish oil supplementation with with your doctor
- Use natural, soft fibres - when your child has an active dermatitis flare-up, ensure they dress with clothes that are natural and are made of soft fibres, such as cotton. Try to avoid any wool or wool mixes as these can irritate the skin, despite being a natural fibre
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< living with dermatitis Last reviewed: 15 January 2010 || Last updated: 15 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
