Neurodermatitis in Children: The Most Important Information for Parents

In Germany, every 4th toddler is affected by neurodermatitis, making it the most common chronic skin disease in childhood. This raises many questions and uncertainties for parents. We have compiled the most important information for all affected parents whose children suffer from neurodermatitis.

But first, the good news: Children with severe neurodermatitis often experience fewer to no symptoms as they get older.

Table of contents:

1. What does neurodermatitis look like in children?

2. Symptoms of neurodermatitis in children

3. What triggers neurodermatitis in children and what makes it worse?

4. What to do about neurodermatitis in children?

5. Which cream helps with neurodermatitis in children?

What does neurodermatitis look like in children?

Even in infancy, the so-called cradle cap often appears as the first symptom of neurodermatitis. After that, increasingly dry skin develops with itchy, sometimes flaky and reddened areas. Typically, in childhood, the elbows, backs of the knees, neck, and nape of the neck are particularly affected. If the skin is not cared for and the neurodermatitis is not treated, the child's skin may appear uneven and slightly thickened. In addition, affected children usually experience a phased course of the disease: there is a constant alternation between flare-free and acute phases. The so-called itch-scratch cycle shows how difficult it is to get the symptoms of neurodermatitis under control, as they mutually reinforce each other and constantly fuel each other in a vicious circle. Therefore, it is all the more important to treat neurodermatitis and to apply a moisturizing basic care in all stages.

Symptoms of neurodermatitis in children

In summary, the following symptoms are classic for neurodermatitis in childhood:

• Cradle cap already in infancy (not to be confused with milk crust). This leads to yellowish scales and crusts on the baby's scalp
• Very dry skin, which reddens especially in acute phases and flakes over time
• Weeping skin areas, usually with subsequent crust formation, which occur on scratched areas
• often tormenting itching of the little ones

 
Caution: There are skin diseases whose symptoms are similar - especially in childhood. Therefore, we always recommend clarifying the existing symptoms with a doctor and having them make the diagnosis.
 

What triggers neurodermatitis in children and what makes it worse?

There is no single reason for the development of neurodermatitis, but it is assumed that it is always a combination of genetic and immunological factors. In addition, there are possible trigger factors that can particularly cause neurodermatitis in children. The causes can be roughly divided into three essential points:

• Impaired skin barrier function
• Genetic predisposition
• Environmental influences = trigger factors, such as dry heating air, stress, a new detergent or even the woolen blanket on the sofa, which promote immunological processes

At this point, we recommend filling out a symptom diary. This is helpful to record daily or weekly how your child and their skin are doing and which factors may have promoted a flare-up. Feel free to use our template if you like. :)

What to do about neurodermatitis in children?

First of all: You can do something for your child's neurodermatitis! And that will not only feel good for your child, but also for you.
As mentioned above, you should first have the symptoms clarified by a doctor. Only then can you be sure that it is actually neurodermatitis in your child. In addition, we have collected a few tips for you on how you can support your child:
 
Tip 1: Keep a symptom diary. This way you can identify possible trigger factors and counteract them.
 
Tip 2: Find out which diet is good for your child and also has a positive effect on their skin. Maybe there are foods that your child doesn't tolerate and that promote neurodermatitis. Some people with neurodermatitis, for example, don't tolerate citrus fruits, wheat, and cow's milk products.
 
Tip 3: Dress your child as irritant-free as possible. Clothing that contains wool additionally irritates your child's skin and promotes itching and redness of the skin. Therefore, opt for loose clothing made of smooth cotton or silk. These materials ensure a comfortable fit. Also avoid detergents with perfume.
 
Tip 4: Forbidding your child to scratch is often difficult – especially during sleep. Our tip is therefore to always keep your child's fingernails short so that the skin is irritated as little as possible.
 
Tip 5: You are also allowed to think of yourself sometimes. We know that parents whose children suffer from neurodermatitis are under enormous pressure and worry a lot. Therefore: Take a break and do something good for yourself - your relaxation will surely transfer to your child.
 
Tip 6: Pay attention to the right basic care. Your child's skin barrier with neurodermatitis is weakened and needs a lot of moisture. Therefore, definitely integrate good basic care into your daily care routine and, for example, come up with something that might even make creaming fun by drawing figures or symbols. :)

Which cream helps with neurodermatitis in children?

Here it is important to identify the right therapy for the individual stage of the disease in consultation with the doctor. In general, however, the following applies: Daily basic care is essential in all stages of neurodermatitis therapy. We particularly recommend our med Basic Cream. With its clean, reduced formula, the cream is very suitable for the care of very dry, itchy skin, such as with neurodermatitis. Feel free to try it out! We have a med trial package with which you can test our med Basic Cream and our med Balm. In our last customer survey (September 2024 with 247 customers), regular use resulted in less dry skin in 97% of children with neurodermatitis. We are very happy about this and other results, all of which you can read here!