Many children have been getting a reprieve from going to school in-person and, instead, doing most of their learning at home. However, as more people receive their COVID-19 vaccines, and it becomes safer for larger groups of people to gather indoors, our students will be attending physical school in increasing numbers. Parents of children with eczema are familiar with the inevitable questions people ask about their child’s skin condition: what it is, why they have it, and whether it’s contagious. As our children prepare to go back to school, we can be equipped with the answers to these common questions.
The word “eczema” means dermatitis, which is simply an inflammation of the skin. There are various types of eczema. The most common type in children is atopic eczema. A child with eczema has sensitive skin that is prone to irritation from certain substances. Their skin may often be itchy, and rubbing or scratching can result in or worsen a rash. In many cases, while it may appear that a child has a rash that itches, “an itch that rashes” is a more accurate description.
Atopic eczema is understood to be a genetic disorder that causes sensitive skin. Children with this condition are predisposed to allergic reactions from foods and other substances, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, and dust mites. Some individuals with eczema may develop more severe allergic reactions to specific foods or hay fever and asthma as they get older. People with eczema often have one or more close family members with the same condition, but not always. Many external factors can affect eczema from day to day, whether allergens or irritants.
Once we understand what eczema is and why people have it, it may seem that the obvious answer to this question is “no.” However, it isn’t quite that black-and-white. Indeed, we cannot catch eczema from another person or spread it to them. However, while eczema itself is not contagious, some skin infections are. For example, a person with eczema might scratch their skin a lot, causing it to break down. This makes them more vulnerable to a bacterial infection, which they could pass to another person. Eczema itself, however, cannot.
Strategic skincare with tangible results
As parents, we want to relieve our children’s skin problems as quickly and effectively as possible so that they can stop focusing on itching and discomfort and focus on more important things, such as school, family, friends, and hobbies. The CLn Skin Care line was born in 2014 with CLn BodyWash, a patented formula containing sodium hypochlorite to form a gentle yet effective cleanser for every member of the family.
We have since created an entire product line to meet the varying needs of all skin types because we believe everyone should have access to skin care that’s easy to use, and clinically proven.
Further Reading:
Eczema - What Do Dermatologists Recommend?
Eczema - Does It Go Away On Its Own?
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/is-eczema-contagious
https://www.everydayhealth.com/eczema/symptoms/eczema-contagious-skincare-experts-weigh/