I am an allergy expert. This is why every parent should be wary of people wearing Christmas sweaters and hugging their children

US
By James

By Zeenia Naqvee

Published: | Updated:

For many people, it wouldn't be Christmas without a festive sweater to get into the spirit of the season.

But if your child is prone to allergies, a skincare expert has warned that you should be careful about dressing them in festive knits – and hugging loved ones wearing synthetic fabrics.

Many children suffer from eczema. Prevalence peaks in early childhood, and if your child is one of them, you'll want to make sure their delicate skin is protected from fabrics like Christmas sweaters and synthetic party dresses.

FEMAIL spoke to Ridah Syed, senior medical esthetician at Skinfluencer, about keeping your child safe in this area Christmas.

A young couple holds their baby tightly on Christmas Day as they dress in festive sweaters (stock image)

WHAT IS eczema?

Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin that causes redness, blistering, oozing, flaking and thickening.

It usually occurs in the first months of life and affects about 10 percent of babies.

The cause of eczema is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be due to the skin's barrier to the outside world not functioning properly, allowing irritants and allergy triggers to enter.

It may be genetic due to the condition often running in families.

In addition to their skin being affected, patients may also experience insomnia and irritability.

There are many factors that can aggravate eczema. These may include:

  • Heat, dust, soap and cleaning products
  • Being unwell, such as having a cold
  • Infections
  • Dry skin
  • Tension

There is no cure for eczema, but 70 percent of children who suffer from it no longer have the condition by their teenage years.

Patients should avoid known triggers for flare-ups and use emollients.

Source: British Skin Foundation

She said: 'Generally speaking, people with eczema have skin that doesn't retain much moisture and so is on the drier side. You may be born with a genetic predisposition to certain triggers.

'The condition can cause the skin to become quite itchy, painful and sensitive. Triggers can be hormones, stress and certain clothes (for example made of synthetic fabrics and wool) and detergents can irritate these.

'Atopic eczema can occur anywhere on the body, so if your child is predisposed to this condition, avoid these substances.'

According to the NS: 'Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the most common forms of eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked.'

Although the disease usually develops before a child's first birthday, it can also manifest in adults. It is usually a long-term condition but can improve significantly as the patient ages.

The expert also recommended keeping a barrier between the skin and the fabric if the Christmas sweater is made of a fabric that is likely to trigger, such as wool or synthetics.

She also said that if you know a flare-up is likely, it's important to do so check the labels on the sweater to make sure the material is safe for them.

And in the scenario that they experience a flare-up, use topical corticosteroids to stop the itching and reduce inflammation, and emollients to hydrate the skin and create a barrier.

To relieve your child's itching, Ridah recommended that you cover the area with light clothing or bandages to prevent your child from scratching.

This is because scratching can cause the skin to bleed and increase the risk of infection and scarring.

If there is a flare-up, use cotton or fleece sweaters and avoid wool or synthetic fibers.

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