Warts, Acne and Other Common Skin Diseases in Children

Eczema

Parents know that no matter what they do, children get into things they shouldn't, sometimes causing horrific skin irritations. Did you also know there are common skin diseases, which, if left untreated, cause intense discomfort and infections?

One skin disease that comes to mind right off the top of my head is eczema. My daughter, who is now 16, has dealt with eczema all of her life. Her eczema is allergy-based. Most cases are. But if we don't treat it immediately with topical corticosteroids then it inflames and can even cause impetigo, another common skin disease in children.

Now, impetigo is not normally 'caused' by eczema; but if the eczema is left untreated and constantly irritated (such as excessive scratching), then your child is more likely to get impetigo (a bacterial infection of the skin).

Eczema (in this case 'atopic') can happen at any age, but seems to be very common in children, people with allergies such as hay fever and even people with asthma. The eczema lesions on my daughter are reddish in color, raised and dry; sometimes scaly. According to medicine net, this is a common appearance. They can also appear in a circular pattern; resembling ring worm (a fungus of the skin); which we have also experienced. Ring worm can only be treated with an anti-fungal cream, where as eczema can only be treated with the use of steroid creams as stated previously. Eczema can also be 'wet' (oozing) and can even burn. Most people with eczema experience it mainly on their face, inside of the elbows, inside of the knees and neck; but eczema can appear on any part of the body.

Above I mentioned one form of eczema, but there are several others as stated on medicine net. All of these forms are very similar to atopic eczema with some slight variations. They include; contact, seborrheic, nummular, neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema.

Contact Eczema is as it states: eczema resulting from contact with either a chemical or an allergen, poison ivy being a prime example.