Spring and summer are typically considered carefree. But for children with skin conditions, warm weather usually brings a whole set of concerns: sweat, dirt and sunburn. Now these kids can enjoy one of the season’s simplest pleasures—camp.
Camp was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind for Nathan when he was diagnosed with eczema at age 2. The painful pediatric skin condition, which attacks 10 percent to 20 percent of U.S. children before the age of 5, often shows up as itchy, dry skin with various degrees of redness during flare-ups.
Small children try to relieve itching by rubbing the affected areas, which makes the rash worse or even infected. For this reason, eczema is called the “itch that rashes” instead of the “rash that itches.”
For many children, the condition begins to improve by the age of 5 or 6, but for others the flare-ups continue through adolescence and into adulthood. Nathan’s eczema did not disappear and, at age 11, it became so severe that he was housebound for several months.
Dr. Moise Levy, chief of Texas Children’s Dermatology Service and professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, prescribes a topical medication that helps control the flare-ups. He also advises his eczema patients to make these simple changes:
- Use mild soap or cleanser (such as Dove® or Basis®) with warm water;
- Limit baths to one short shower or bath a day (under 10 minutes);
- Immediately pat dry after showering and put on moisturizer;
- If using topical medication, apply it before moisturizer; and
- Use only cream or ointment (such as Eucerin®, Cetaphil® or Vaseline® petroleum jelly) to moisturize.
One of the best remedies for the “eczema blues” is Camp Dermadillo, sponsored by Texas Children’s Dermatology Clinic for children with various skin conditions, including chronic eczema. Many children with chronic skin conditions have difficulty participating in regular kid activities and rarely get to spend nights away from home. Camp Dermadillo offers something for everyone—canoeing, fishing, a challenge course, art, crafts, baking, and even a beauty parlor adapted for sensitive skin.
According to Levy, “Swimming is a good child’s activity and something eczema patients can enjoy with other kids. It doesn’t involve sweating, and the chlorine antisepsis is a benefit by clearing off bacteria that could cause infection.”
Best of all, the youngsters can talk to each other about their problems and realize that they’re not the only ones with skin conditions. They return home with new friends and newfound confidence.
“Nathan has undergone a tremendous change,” says his grandmother Judith. “Before camp, he was shy and self-conscious and never wanted to go outside. Now he is out of his shell, and his self-esteem is growing day by day. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to become a camp counselor at Camp Dermadillo.”
