How to Treat Eczema on the Elbows and Knees: A Mother's Journey

My child had eczema on her elbows and the back of her knees – and here is what I learned!
Guest Author: Lisa, S. Madison, Wisc.

My child had a reoccurring rash on the inside of the elbows and backside of the knees. The rash would seemingly randomly show up maybe 4-5 times over a year.

Our doctor told me the rashes were eczema and that eczema “in the creases” as it is called is quite common and can be aggravated by skin touching skin. Eczema can be caused by a variety of different triggers including a food allergy like dairy, detergent/fabric softener, pollen and pet dander, or weather – dry cold or hot and humid. Who knew! What didn’t make sense was that no new foods had been added to my child’s diet, I had been using the same laundry detergent for years, and we didn’t have a cat or dog at the time! The rashes brought on itching spells that would come and go randomly with the rashes.

"Typically, there was no itch in the morning but by the late afternoon it would start up and the urge to itch would become crazy and overwhelming."

Typically, there was no itch in the morning but by the late afternoon it would start up and the urge to itch would become crazy and overwhelming. The itch got to be quite distracting at school, disrupting my child's normally good behavior. She just didn’t understand why the more she scratched, the more eczema would itch. I just could not keep the poor kid from scratching until tears. I was devastated!

"I was devastated!"

I'm a mother but also a nurse so we followed the dermatologist's treatment recommendation for a special eczema bath and Vanicream lotion afterward. In addition to the baths, I tried all of the of natural, herbal and homeopathic eczema treatments I could find. I know it's important to follow your doctor’s eczema treatment advice and ours recommended that I keep a diary of the condition and documenting each treatment to find the one that works the best for our family. I am convinced that different treatments prove effective for different people.

"I am convinced that different treatments prove effective for different people"

As a mother, the best advice I can offer for treating eczema in the creases is to find high quality, thick cream that has had good results for you; add a fabric covering over the elbow and knee skin like the eczema therapy + relief  arm and leg sleeves from Soothems. These Soothems sleeves are made from a smart fabric called TEWLTect that combines TENCEL and Chitosan, which will help moisturize and heal the skin, and zinc oxide to prevent bad bacteria growth. The TEWLTect fabric has stand-alone benefits but as an added bonus the sleeves function as a bandage to keep the cream you've applied in its place (and not all over your house!) The most effective diaper rash creams have the highest concentrations of zinc oxide. It's the same ingredient/element that has been integrated into this fabric.

"The sleeves easily slide on and fit snugly on the bicep and/or thigh and are long enough cover the crease and beyond: Slather, cover, done!"

The sleeves pay for themselves. How? They keep expensive lotion/cream/steroid from smearing anywhere but where you put it. This saves you money and increases the effectiveness of the cream.

During the most severe itch, soak the sleeves in water and wear them slightly damp as part of what is called a wet wrapping process which really helps to moisturize the skin and relieve the itch.

If that wasn't enough, as a resident of earth I love and appreciate that Soothems are made from environmentally friendly, sustainable materials.