8
Ways Parents Can Help Teens Manage Their Eczema
Avoid nagging
In early childhood, all your child’s needs fell on your shoulders. But adolescence is a time for your teen to have a voice in their care.
Gradually encourage them to start taking on more responsibilities for their treatment, but try not to nag. Consider setting up a fixed time each week to discuss their symptoms, upcoming doctors' appointments, and medication refills.
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1.
2.
Give them a journal
3.
Help them cope with stress
4.
Monitor toiletries and cosmetics
5.
Involve teens in avoiding triggers
6.
Answer awkward questions
7.
Address mental health challenges
8.
Loosen the reins
1.
Avoid nagging
A symptom journal can be an important tool in tracking flares and making treatment decisions.
Get your teen a journal (either in paper form or as an app) where they can record eczema symptoms and note any exposures to potential allergens or other environmental triggers.
2.
Give them a journal
Managing eczema can be stressful. Encourage your teen to develop stress management strategies, and support them as they explore different techniques. That may mean booking your teen a yoga class at a local studio, covering their subscription to a meditation app, or simply being there to listen.
3.
Help them cope with stress
Some teens love experimenting with heavily scented toiletries and cosmetics. However, these can trigger eczema flares in some people. Teach your teen how to test products on small areas of their skin before applying them all over. You can also help them shop for alternative products if the conventional stuff aggravates their eczema.
4.
Monitor toiletries and cosmetics
From pollens and mold to dust and fragrances, eczema triggers are all over the place. Get your teen involved in limiting their exposure to triggers. Encourage them to put their bedsheets in the laundry frequently, tidy up their bedroom, and limit how much time they spend outdoors when the air quality index (AQI) is above 100.
5.
Involve teens in avoiding triggers
“Will using a condom affect my eczema?” “Can alcohol make my eczema flares worse?” “Will I be able to date with eczema?” There are all kinds of questions a teen with eczema may have but find difficult to ask. Let them know the lines of communication are always open.
You can also point them to other resources, like the National Eczema Society’s guide for teens with eczema, that they can turn to for answers to questions they may not feel comfortable
asking you.
6.
Answer awkward questions
Eczema doesn’t only affect teens’ skin — it can also impact their psychological well-being. Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety, depression, or difficulty with social interactions.
If you sense your teen is experiencing mental health challenges, connect them with a qualified therapist, help them join an age-appropriate support group, or both.
7.
Address mental health challenges
While you’re there to help, eczema will ultimately become your teen’s responsibility as they move into adulthood, so guide them toward independence.
Encourage them to start speaking directly with doctors and pharmacists whenever possible and appropriate — even if you’re still supervising. That will help them feel more in control and capable of advocating for themselves throughout their life.
8.
Loosen the reins
8.
Loosen the reins
