Cotton clothing is the best choice for your child to wear against sensitive skin, says Dr. Halmi. Avoid wool, which can especially irritate eczema. Because detergents can irritate skin, run your child's laundry through a double rinse cycle to help remove detergent residue, says Stephen M. Purcell, D.O., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Hahnemann University School of Health Sciences. Also, avoid fabric-softening dryer sheets, because they put chemicals in the clothing that can irritate the skin. Humidify the surroundings.
Dry air can contribute to itchiness, and most homes with central heating are too dry in winter.
When the heat goes on, run a cold-air humidifier or place pans of water on or near heat outlets, suggests Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., a dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and author of Super Skin. Hydrocortisone applied to the affected areas can help relieve the incessant itching of eczema,'' says Dr. Rietschel. The ointment-based form tends to boost the potency of the cortisone because it seals it in and then drives it through the skin in slightly greater concentrations,'' says Dr. Rietschel. If you only have cream cortisone on hand, add a coating of petroleum jelly over the cream to produce the same effect. Try an antihistamine.