Topical Steroids For Baby Eczema

If your skin is tender warm or hot to the touch and swollen it may be infected.

Topical steroids for baby eczema.

In highly severe cases steroids can be prescribed orally but we will focus on topical steroids for eczema today. Topical steroids are used for eczema in adults and children. Babies and very young children are at risk of absorbing topically applied corticosteroids into the bloodstream especially when these medications are very potent applied in large quantities too frequently used for prolonged periods of time or used inappropriately under a diaper or other covered occluded area. Do topical steroids stunt child development.

Topical steroids are classified by their strength or potency which ranges from super potent class 1 to least potent class 7. They are not curative and on discontinuation a rebound exacerbation of the condition may occur. Corticosteroids have been used for more than 60 years in topical medications to treat many kinds of inflammatory skin conditions including eczema. Topical steroids are effective in helping to heal cracked and broken skin from eczema.

In mild forms the skin is dry hot and itchy whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken raw and bleeding. Corticosteroids suppress the inflammatory reaction during use. Topical corticosteroids are used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the skin other than those arising from an infection particularly eczema contact dermatitis insect stings and eczema of scabies. The topical steroids are the ones your pediatrician will prescribe to your infant first.

The ointment form is much more potent than the cream and should never be applied to more than 20 of the total body surface area. Eczema or dermatitis as it is sometimes called is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups the severity of the disease can vary. Topical steroids also known as topical corticosteroids are immunosuppressant creams and ointments that are used to treat inflammation flare ups in eczema. Elocon is approved for children as young as 2 years of age and used once daily.

Medium to high potency topical corticosteroids are effective for atopic dermatitis and eczema in adults and children 9 10 as well as for phimosis 11 12 i e foreskin that cannot be retracted.