Preparing for the teen years

There’s no evidence that eczema gets worse during puberty. In fact, 2 out of 3 children who have eczema find their eczema gets better by the age of 11!

That said, even if your child’s eczema gets better, their skin may always be more sensitive and drier than other people’s. They may still get eczema flare-ups from time to time, so it’s important that they continue to look after their skin.

As your child gets older they may want to use cosmetics and toiletries. For example, make-up, deodorant, nail varnish remover, perfume, aftershave, wet wipes, and false nails.

Many of these products can make eczema worse. These products often have perfumes and other chemicals that can irritate or dry out the skin.

Products that are ‘dermatologically tested or recommended’, ‘hypoallergenic’ or are for ‘sensitive skin’ usually have less perfumes in them and may irritate their skin less. Then again, these products were not made for people with eczema, so it’s hard to say for sure that they won’t make their eczema worse.

It is best to avoid cosmetics and toiletries. If your child does want to use them, it’s a good idea to try the product out on the inside of their wrist before using it.

One trick that young people with eczema say they use is to put perfume or aftershave on their clothes, instead of their body.

Other young people say that they do use make up, but as little as possible, or only for special occasions.

Your child may need to take more care with shaving so that it doesn’t make their eczema worse.

Here are some tips to make shaving easier for them:

• Electric shavers or beard trimmers can be softer on the skin as they are less likely to nick or cut the skin.
• For wet shaving, it’s best to use a sharp razor that is made for sensitive skin.
• It’s best to put a thin moisturising cream on the skin before shaving and then put more on again after.
• Some shaving foams and gels can make eczema worse. A better option can be to use moisturising creams instead. Use lots of water to lather it up just like shaving foam.
• It’s best to shave downwards, in the same direction that the hair is growing. Shaving against the hair leaves sharp ends that can cut into the skin.
• Shave slowly and try not to shave over the areas you have already shaved.

Many children get acne (spots) when they go through puberty.

Acne and eczema treatments

They may find that thick moisturising creams make their acne worse. One thing they can try is using a thinner moisturiser. Flare control creams can also make acne worse. It could help to avoid putting these creams on the areas with acne.

Using acne treatments if you have eczema

Some acne treatments can make eczema worse by drying the skin out. You may want to avoid acne lotions with alcohol in because they tend to make eczema worse. Acne gels and creams may be better for your child. If you have acne, speak to your doctor or pharmacist to find the right treatment for your child.

Your child may find that their eczema gets worse during exam time. This is because stress can cause an eczema flare-up.

Here are some top tips to help your child manage eczema during exam times:

• Encourage them to plan their revision and spread it out. This avoids any last-minute cramming, which can make them more stressed.
• Make sure they take time to relax – take breaks, do things they enjoy and get outside for some exercise, which is good for stress.
• Encourage them to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep – this will give them lots of energy and help them feel at their best!
• Make sure school knows about their eczema – this will help make sure that your child has everything they need in exams. Eczema should not stop them from doing their best.
• Suggest your child wear loose cotton clothing during exams and ask to sit in an airy and cool area of the room – this will stop them from getting too hot and sweaty, which can make their eczema worse.

Eczema does not have to stop your child from doing what they want to do.

But it’s worth bearing in mind that some jobs may make their eczema worse. Jobs that involve lots of contact with water, chemicals or hand-washing may make eczema worse, especially if your child has hand eczema. For example, hairdressing, nursing, car mechanics, gardening, building or working with food. If your child would like to do these kinds of jobs, they will need to find ways to protect their hands and skin.

Most employers are not allowed treat someone differently because they have eczema. They should allow your child to look after their eczema at work. But some employers, such as the armed forces, police and fire service, may not be able to take people with very bad eczema.

When your child is older, they may find it helpful to talk their options through with a careers advisor.

As your child gets older it can help to involve them in conversations with health professionals if you haven’t done so already.

Some parents can find this a bit odd when they have done all the talking for the last few years. But this can help get your child used to talking to their doctor or nurse so they can do this in the future.

As your child gets older, you may want to ask whether they want to go into the appointment on their own. It is usually good for someone aged 16 and under to bring an adult with them. The doctor or nurse may sometimes ask to speak to your child alone. This is to give them the chance to ask any questions that they want to ask on their own. Don’t be worried if this happens, this is normal.

Here are some things you can do to help make the first few appointments easier for your child:

• Before the appointment talk to your child about what they want to say to their health professional.
• Get them to write down what they want to ask and encourage them to ask these questions themselves.
• Encourage them to speak by involving them in the conversation if they are too nervous to start off with.
• Check with them that they have understood what the health professional said. Some parents get their child to explain back to them what the doctor said to make sure they understand.
• Make sure your child handles any appointment slips or prescription scripts to encourage them to take control of their own eczema management.