The Order of Care for Cow's Milk Allergy and Eczema in Infants and Young Children

A daily order you can follow

• Bathe quickly in warm water. Do not let the water get too hot or the bath last too long. Use gentle cleaning products.
• Pat the skin dry. Do not rub hard.
• Within three minutes, apply emollient (moisturizer) to the whole body. You can apply it more often to dry areas.
• Use topical products as your doctor instructs. Pay attention to how and how much to use.
• Wear loose cotton clothing. Avoid getting too hot or sweating.
• Apply emollient again before bed to reduce scratching at night.

Working together with environmental control

Keep the bedroom ventilated and at a suitable humidity. Wash bedding regularly in hot water. Reduce soft toys and keep pets out of the sleep area. These measures go alongside feeding management: if the doctor decides a stage of cow's milk protein avoidance is needed, follow it strictly and record any changes in symptoms. If avoidance is not needed, there is no need to cut out extra foods.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor promptly if there is still no improvement after two weeks of proper care, if the affected skin area gets bigger, if there is oozing, crusting or pus-filled spots, or if itching seriously affects the child's sleep and eating. Eczema is a long-term condition that needs long-term management. As the child grows and care methods are adjusted, most cases can be well controlled.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.