Relief For Kids With Skin Allergies

Kids with skin allergies have a strong need for relief of skin allergy symptoms.  Relief of allergy symptoms for kids with skin allergies can both keep kids more comfortable and keep them healthier.

Why Relief Is Important For Kids With Skin Allergies

Relieving skin allergy symptoms for kids with skin allergies makes their lives easier to live.  The symptoms of skin allergies and associated skin allergy rashes can range in severity and discomfort.  Symptoms may produce only mild itching and discomfort, or they can produce far more discomforting itching, tingling, pain, and swelling.

The itching associated with many skin allergy rashes in kids with skin allergies often leads children to incessant scratching.  When children scratch allergic skin rashes, they become even more inflamed, and frequently become cracked and dry as well.  Tears, cracks, and dryness can become very painful and open the skin for secondary infections.  Impetigo and other viral and bacterial infections are not uncommon in children who have scratched their skin to injury.

Skin allergy rashes that are the result of a systemic reaction (as is often the case with hives) need to be controlled for reasons of child comfort, but also for reasons of health and safety.  Systemic allergy reactions can also produce symptoms that affect other parts of the body such as the airways, nasal passages, and lungs.  This can lead to loss of sleep, fatigue, asthma or difficulty breathing, and any of these things can significantly impact the active and academic life of the child.

Medication Options For Kids With Skin Allergies

There are several medication options for relieving symptoms in kids with skin allergies.

• Topical corticosteroid creams and ointments are helpful at relieving inflammation
• Systemic (oral) corticosteroids may be necessary for some types of skin allergies
• Anti-itch, or antipruritic lotions relieve itching and prevent associated skin damage
• Drying lotions, such as calamine lotion, may be indicated for certain types of skin allergies (like poison ivy)
• Antihistamines (allergy medications) can reverse an allergic reaction for a time and break the reaction until the substance is removed from the skin and/or system

Mild to moderate skin allergies often respond to over-the-counter versions of these drugs; for more severe cases, a doctor’s prescription may be necessary.

Non-Medicinal Relief Measures For Children With Skin Allergies

The first step in relieving skin allergies in children is to remove the source of the allergic reaction.  Start looking toward new and recently ingested/contacted products and foods as sources, and eliminate the most likely culprit.

Contact dermatitis (allergic skin rash) results when the skin comes into contact with an allergen, such as a plant, metal, or chemical.  When a child’s allergy is the result of touching something they are allergic to, thorough washing is the first step toward removal of the trigger and relief.  In addition, one or more of the aforementioned or following relief measures may help kids with skin allergies of this type.

• Use cool, wet compresses against swollen and inflamed areas
• Apply lotions and creams as indicated to moisturize dry, cracking skin allergy rashes (primarily, in the treatment of atopic dermatitis)
• Bathe the child in an oatmeal bath to soothe itching
• Use colloidal oatmeal creams, soaps, and products to relieve itching and promote healing
• Dress the child in natural cotton fibers

A child who has hives will either need to let the rash (if minor or moderate) run its course or take an oral medication to stop the reaction.  Otherwise, the only relief is to manage the hives and swelling until the rash subsides.

In the case of atopic dermatitis, controlling the itch that causes the child to scratch and subsequently cause the rash is the best defense.  Warm (not hot) baths and frequent moisturization with fragrance-free, high-quality skin creams and lotions is called for, and oral medications to stop the allergic reaction may also be warranted.  With atopic dermatitis, if you can control the itch you can control the rash.

These basic measures will help relieve rashes in kids with skin allergies.  When these measures do not help, you have a question, or a reaction is severe and impedes critical body functions (breathing and swallowing), medical attention is necessary.

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