If your little bundle of joy has developed infantile eczema, it's important for you to know that 50-70% of young children with this condition develop asthma when they get older. Fortunately, researchers believe they have found a connection between the two conditions, which may help you keep your child safe from developing asthma. Here's what you need to know.
The Connection is Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP)
The tender cheeks of a little one with infantile eczema can weep and ooze. This damage to the skin releases a substance called TSLP When this substance is released into the blood system, it triggers their immune systems to respond, which can result in the onset of asthma and food allergies. This response is referred to as the atopic march in the medical community.
Essentially, the release of TSLP tells the body that it has a failure in it's protective barrier function. When other barrier organs get this message, such as the lungs, it causes those organs to go into overdrive, which results in labored breathing, mucous secretion, and the contraction of muscles in the airways, all of which are traits of asthma.
Prevention of the Secretion of TSLP Is Necessary
In order for your little one's chances of developing asthma later in life to be reduced, you'll need to do as much as possible to prevent the secretion of TSLP. Since this substance is released when the skin cells are damaged, it is crucial that you protect your baby's delicate skin, especially during flareups of infantile eczema. In order to do this, you'll need to prevent your baby from rubbing or scratching at his or her skin affected by infantile eczema. Keep their nails trimmed and filed to eliminate rough edges.
Use mild detergents for all laundry that comes in contact with your baby's tender skin. Also, use mild soaps and shampoos on your baby. Apply moisturizer on your baby's skin after each bath. However, do not apply moisturizers with alcohol in them as alcohol can sting and cause pain. Your child's allergist can prescribe a medicated moisturizer that is free of alcohol. For extreme flare-ups of infantile eczema, a steroid cream in prescription strength may be recommended.
The most important thing to do, however, is to determine the cause(s) of flare-ups. An allergist can help assess what your infant could be reacting to, such as foods in their diet that may be triggering their skin to react. For more information, visit sites like http://www.drdianeozog.com.
Share22 June 2017
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.
