Pediatric Eczema affects up to 20% of all children from birth to 11 years old and is the most common chronic skin condition among children in the United States. Eczema is a chronic condition that ranges from mild to severe and includes a wide range of symptoms from small patches of dry skin to thick and intensely itchy lesions. Although not life threatening, the discomfort from the disease and the visible rash are often upsetting to both the child and parents and can have severely negative impacts on quality of life.

Holistic Management

While topical steroids are the treatment of choice from a conventional medical perspective, the holistic viewpoint looks at the treatment of eczema through a different lens. From a holistic viewpoint, the root of the problem must be addressed for long-term resolution and health. If this underlying root issue isn’t looked at, then the disease may continue to simmer for years creating more eczema or manifesting later in a more serious way. Holistic management includes the treatment of acute episodes with Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture as well as long-term use of nutritional supplementation and dietary management for disease management.

Acute Treatment

Both acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have been shown to be helpful for the management of acute flare-ups of eczema. Acupuncture is readily accepted by children and can include either traditional treatment with needles for older children who are accepting of it or a non-needle treatment called Shonishin for younger kids and infants. Herbal treatments are done by using tinctures, which are liquid solutions of herbs and can be squirted directly into the back of the child’s mouth. Herbs work quickly and are safe and tolerated well by children. Both of these therapies work to treat the underlying condition or root cause of the eczema through naturally regulating the bodies immune system reactions and clearing out the “damp” and “heat” toxins that are thought to lead to eczema from Chinese Medicine theory.

Internal treatment often requires a minimum of a few months of therapy for complete resolution of the itching and lesions. However, external treatments can also be used to help quickly alleviate the itchiness and begin to minimize the lesions. External treatments are in the form of herbal lotions or ointments and can be used regularly for healthy skin and improvement of daily life.

Long-Term Care

Long-term care refers to the time period once the visible eczema has gone into remission and the child is no longer experiencing any symptoms. At this time Chinese herbal Medicine will be continued for a short period longer to help maintain the progress that has been made. However, for long-term disease management nutritional supplements will be the mainstay and dietary changes may be necessary.

Some supplements that have proven useful include Probiotics and Essential Fatty Acids such as fish oil. Infants, toddlers and older children all require specific strains and dosages for both of these. Also, there are numerous other supplements that may be appropriate for any individual case and so consultation with a holistic provider is recommended before starting your child on any supplements.

Food allergies or sensitivities are also common in children with eczema. Short or long-term dietary changes may be needed in many children for complete resolution of the condition. Food allergy testing may be necessary in some cases to determine the extent of the problem. However, with proper treatment most children can overcome these food allergies and resume eating a normal diet after a period of time in remission.

Round-Up

Pediatric eczema is a distressing condition that can impact the quality of a child’s life significantly. However, holistic treatment options have proven helpful to many children and families and offer hope to many others. Eczema is not a straightforward disease; it can be complicated and difficult to treat. Yet with the full involvement of the family and a good treatment plan from a holistic practitioner, it can be overcome. Please contact FirstHealth of Andover to begin management of your child’s eczema.  We encourage you to call the clinic with any questions regarding the care of your child. Thank you for choosing Integrative Medicine as part of your healthcare.

- Jason Henson, MAOM, L.Ac.

Pediatric Wellness Initiative