Mild eczema in 5 year old. Started when he started school

[Waterycup7]

Ds started to develop mild eczema when he started school in September (which coincided with him turning 5). It’s on both his inner elbows, nowhere else, and he scratches them a lot, causing a bit of a viscous cycle.

None of the over the counter creams seem to do anything for him.

I read that sometimes it can be an allergic reaction to something.

Would it come that suddenly at age 5? He didn’t have it when he was younger.

Any tips on how to help him with it?

Bump!

There’s lots of things it could be. Dairy reaction? Is he eating a lot of cheese/milk?

Washing powder on his uniform?

Is he drinking enough water?

He doesn’t much like cheese or milk, but does have a yoghurt once every couple of days so maybe?

I haven’t changed washing powder but it is very possible he isn’t drinking enough water!! I will try and up that for sure!

Could be a harsh Bubble bath/shower gel? It can be better to bathe just in warm water with oats or special salts?

Loads of info out there on various websites so hope you manage to crack it.

My DD8 also gets eczema on her inner elbows and I've noticed its cleared up this week now shes on holiday. I suspect it is the synthetic school jumper causing the irritation so will be getting some cotton ones intead of the official synthetic ones. Might be worth checking the materials in his uniform?

I find aveeno good as a treatment and if its really bad weleda skin food but I have to apply that one when shes sleeping as she doesn't like how it feels. To add thinking back her eczema probably started around 5ish I don't think its a particularly unusual age for it and is always just been on inner elbows or hands during covid times when school were making them wash their hands constantly.

My DS had eczema when he was little and man-made fibres made it worse. At one stage his school polo shirt was a mix of cotton and man-made and I had to buy a fully cotton version and send it off to have the logo embroidered on it in order to prevent itchiness. He grew out of it.

Also using Filetti washing powder helped a lot.

The inner elbows might be from when they're told to roll their jumper sleeves up when they're painting, washing their hands and playing in the water tray.

Is he wearing cotton or polyester shirts? DS will always get a flare up unless we stick to 100% cotton shirts, jumpers and trousers as the inner elbows and backs of the knees get sticky and sweaty.

Could be anything from the uniform to the cleaning products the school uses. Get some hydrocortisone on it.

If it started when he began school I agree with pp it could be the material of his clothing. It might bet better when it's warmer and he's in a short sleeve top only.

Also, could water from hand washing be running down his arms under his jumper? Left wet that could also contribute.

Any new bedding/ toys (slime/ play doh) he had for his birthday he plays with lots that could be causing it?

Stress / worry can trigger it too in some cases.

Also tomatoes/ tomato dishes can make it flare up.

Can you tell I've had to really research this for my own 😂

Keep an eye on it over half term and see if it changes.

Strangely though, our DS does better in long sleeves when the weather is really hot because the fabric is a barrier from the skin sticking together when the arms are bent. So short sleeves are fine from autumn to spring then long sleeves in the middle of summer.