eczema

A common skin disease, especially in children, that comes and goes in flare-ups. The skin barrier does not hold water well, so it dries and cracks. It often runs in families with asthma and hay fever. Triggers include dry air, heat, sweat, harsh soaps, wool and some foods. In babies it often appears on the cheeks; in older children, in the creases of the elbows and knees.

Teach short, lukewarm baths, gentle soap, and thick moisturizer right after bathing. Keep nails short, dress the child in cotton and apply creams as ordered. Broken skin can become infected.