It is difficult to prevent eczema. This is most true when there is a strong family history.
You may be able to reduce your child's risk of eczema by:
- Breastfeeding
- For bottlefed infants, using a certain kind of formula—Ask the doctor if your baby should have 100% whey protein formula (eg, Nestle Good Start)
- Exposing your child to pets at an early age
If you already have eczema, there are several things you can do to try to control it:
- Follow guidelines to limit house dust mites in bedding.
- Avoid direct contact with wool to the skin.
- Talk to your doctor about any natural or herbal treatments. Some of these may make eczema worse.
- Avoid scratching or rubbing when possible.
- Follow your treatment plan. Improvement may take several weeks or even months after a new medicine is started.
- Maintain a cool stable environment. Keep consistent humidity levels.
- Recognize and limit emotional stress.