Getting to grips with your child's emollient

When your child has eczema, their skin is not able to create the natural protective barrier that stops water being lost, and dirt, irritants and bacteria from getting in. Your child's emollient is the most important treatment for their eczema. This is because the emollient will replace lost moisture, reduce the itchiness and dryness of your child's skin and help restore their skin's barrier function. The reality is that many people (children and adults alike) just don't use their emollient enough for it to do its job properly, and for them to see an improvement in their eczema.

Your doctor or nurse should prescribe your child a large amount of emollient to help you and your child to use it effectively – at least 250g a week. So you should expect to use between 2 and 4 pump dispensers (500g each) every month.

If your child is not being prescribed enough emollient you should feel confident to ask your doctor or nurse to prescribe larger quantities.

Follow these simple rules to applying an emollient:

Put it on every day - during flare-ups and in between, even when skin is clear
Apply it every 3-4 hours - which means at least 4 times a day
Be generous - generally speaking you'll need far more emollient than you might imagine

Find out more about different types of emollients and why it's so important to build a daily emollient routine.

Why not download our handy guide to remind you about how to apply your child's emollient.

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