- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
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- White patch on skin: A cause for concern?
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Question
Infant eczema: How is it treated?
My 18-month-old granddaughter has severe eczema. She has been to several doctors, but nothing has helped. What treatment options are available for young children?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is marked by reddened, crusty and itchy skin. For infants and young children, this condition can be especially troublesome since it's difficult to stop them from scratching or rubbing their skin, which can make the condition worse.
Eczema is caused by an immune system reaction in the skin. Because your granddaughter's immune system reaction can't be changed, her eczema can't be cured. But, it is highly treatable by thoroughly moisturizing her skin and giving her medications to decrease her immune system's response.
To make your granddaughter's skin better moisturized and lessen the uncomfortable effects of eczema, you can:
- Bathe your granddaughter no more than once a day and for no longer than 15 minutes to preserve the natural oils in her skin.
- Use warm (not hot) bath water and a bath oil that is preservative-, dye- and perfume-free. This will help her retain moisture from a lotion applied after her bath.
- Use a mild soap for washing, such as Dove, Purpose, Cetaphil or Vanicream brand soaps.
- Apply a moisturizing lotion meant for sensitive skin, such as Vanicream, Aquaphor, Cetaphil or Vaseline brand lotion, within three minutes after your granddaughter's bath.
- Use perfume- and dye-free laundry detergents and avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Perfumes left on your granddaughter's clothes after they are washed could further irritate her skin.
In severe cases, skin care can be complemented with medications and treatments at the hospital for additional relief. Your granddaughter's doctor may recommend:
- Hydrocortisone-containing lotion.
- Nonsteroidal immune-modulating creams, such as tacrolimus (Protopic) or pimecrolimus (Elidel).
- Antihistamines.
- Antibiotics, if rashes become infected.
- Wet-dressing treatment in a hospital. A steroidal or nonsteroidal immune-modulating cream is applied to the skin. Then, the skin is wrapped in cotton material that has been soaked in water or an antiseptic solution. This protects the skin from environmental irritants and helps it to absorb the medication.
