This is a series focused on personal journey with eczema while managing a certain aspect of life. Today, we have Christy, who shares how she manages her son’s eczema which flares up during summer. Christy blogs at UpliftingFamilies and is passionate about helping families with their parenting struggles.
Marcie Mom: Hi Christy, thanks so much for taking part in my Friday blog series ‘Someone has Eczema’! Let’s start with you sharing a little of your son’s eczema history, when did he get eczema and what triggers a flare-up?
Christy: When my son was around two years old, I noticed one day that the back of his knees were red. I took him to the doctor because I didn’t know what was going on. The doctor said it was eczema and gave us some medicine to treat it. It seems as if summer heat, increased sweating, and swimming pools (chlorine) causes him to get a flare up. The best treatment we used was a thin layer of cortisone and then cover it with moisturizing lotion, or a prescription steroid cream.
Marcie Mom: Share with us how his skin changes as he grows older – did it improve?
Christy: The doctor said most people typically outgrow it; however, my son is 12 years old and still gets flare ups in the summer time. I feel if he would pre-treat his skin every day that it would greatly improve his skin but he is a typical boy and forgets.
Marcie Mom: How does summer affect his eczema and does the family need to accommodate to his condition during summer?
Christy: My son doesn’t really seem too bothered by his flare ups. Occasionally, they will start bleeding. I just have to remind him to use his eczema cream on his arms and legs. We haven’t ever skipped an outing or anything due to his eczema but he does have to carry his prescription cream with him.
Marcie Mom: One final question – I read from your blog that each of your 3 children has some special needs. Did managing eczema for your son make it harder to manage the other two children?
Christy: His eczema hasn’t made it harder to manage with my other two kids. He was the youngest when he was first diagnosed and I would make a habit to put cream on his legs twice a day, usually during a diaper change. Now that he is older, I just have to remind him to put on his eczema cream.
Marcie Mom: Thanks Christy for taking time to share your personal story and it is good to know that eczema can be managed well!
