What does your child’s skin inflammation mean?
Posted: 10th May 2023 | Posted by Costa
What does your child’s skin inflammation mean?
Kids are constantly coming home with bumps and scrapes. How? We aren’t sure. But when you’re of a certain age, it’s hard not to be envious of how good they are at brushing them off. And, as a parent, we’re sure you can’t help but worry too much about these. Where have you been? I told you to stop climbing trees!
That’s the job of a parent, after all. When those skin blemishes don’t have an obvious explanation, it can make you worry even more. A rash or patch of red skin is cause for concern. More often than not, it’s related to an allergy. But where exactly do they come from? And what do they mean? That we can help with. Let’s take a look at different skin reactions in children.
Atopic vs contact dermatitis
First, it’s important to differentiate between atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. Because only one is an allergic reaction, and it’s going to help put you on the right path.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that results in repeated inflammation of the skin. It’s believed to be genetic, or possibly combined with environmental factors. It tends to occur in specific places, mainly areas that are easier to scratch or irritate. Think in the folds of your skin or somewhere like your inner elbow where the two sides rub against each other.
But if it’s an allergic reaction, then it’s contact dermatitis. As the name suggests, it’s inflammation from where the skin comes into contact with an allergen. The symptoms will be similar to atopic (more on that below) but will occur where the two meet. So, in theory, it could happen anywhere on the body.
If you notice skin inflammation regularly around the same places on your child’s body, that might point towards atopic dermatitis. But if it’s rarer and happens in various spots, then it could be contact dermatitis.
Symptoms
There will be some crossover in the symptoms, as they are both skin reactions. But there are some subtle differences. First, we’ll look at where they’re similar. Symptoms of dermatitis can include:
- Rashes
- Itchy skin
- Flaky skin
- Bumps and blisters
- Swelling
- Burning
- Leathery patches of skin
In both cases, it’s your body’s way of dealing with whatever the aggravation is. As for differences, you’ll have to pay attention. With atopic dermatitis, you might notice broad, raised areas of skin that weep clear fluid. But with contact dermatitis, it’s more like small, specific fluid-filled blisters. Contact dermatitis is often more likely to burn or cause pain.
Either way, the only accurate diagnosis is to talk to a doctor. If you notice multiple instances of unexplained skin irritations, that’s your cue to visit your child’s GP.
Causes of contact dermatitis
We’ve established that atopic dermatitis is down to (at least partially) genetics. But if it’s contact dermatitis, how do you know what exactly causes it? Is it one or multiple things? We can’t say. Again, your doctor will be much better equipped to answer that. In the interest of preparing you, here are some of the more common causes.
Food – It’s no news that food allergies can be common in children. Some estimate that as many as 1 in 12 children could be diagnosed with a food allergy at some point. They don’t have to eat it to feel the symptoms. Touching it can cause contact dermatitis – or even coming into contact with airborne particles of the food.
Pollen – A symptom of hay fever could be skin inflammation, in which case it would be because of the pollen. This can also apply to similar particle-based allergies, such as with dust mites or pet dander.
Chemicals – When we say chemicals, this means anything that can have chemicals in them. Examples being detergent, soap, or perfume. This can also occur after touching someone who has used said product.
The sooner you catch something like this, the quicker you can find a solution. It’s not often that such an allergy can be dangerous to a child’s life, but we still recommend talking to your child’s GP about any unexplained skin conditions and finding out your best next steps.
If you ever have concerns about you or your child’s potential atopic or contact dermatitis, get in touch. We have a team of allergy specialists who can guide you through the diagnosis and treatment journey. To find out more, call us on 02031 433 449.