Written in partnership with Dr. Clarence De BELILOVSKY, Dermatologist and member of the Mustela circle of experts.

INITIATE A DIALOGUE WITH THE NURSE ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS AND MANIFESTATIONS OF ATOPIC ECZEMA IN YOUR BABY

It's time to entrust your child to daycare or school. Is it also time to talk about their atopic eczema? Why not? First of all, because there's no shame in having it. Atopic dermatitis is certainly a skin condition, but a fairly common one, and most importantly, it's not contagious.

You may also find that the childcare worker, the teacher, or any other staff member at the school will already be well-informed about this condition. With nearly 15% of infants affected and 20% of children under seven years old impacted¹, your child will certainly not be an exception. Ultimately, it all remains a personal matter. The decision will always be yours, depending on your child's sensitivity, the circumstances, and the people you speak with.

Atopic Eczema: Tips and Practices to Facilitate Community Life

Now, rest assured, if you're hesitant to talk about it, there's no need to go into detail. Informing the teaching staff during the initial visits is solely intended to ensure your child is properly welcomed, supported, and understood throughout the year: - Is he tired, grumpy...? Did he sleep poorly due to a flare-up? You'll only need to mention it when you arrive in the morning so the team isn't surprised by his bad mood, drowsiness, or lack of concentration.

At daycare or in preschool, she can even try to help him catch up on a few hours of sleep if the opportunity arises. Does he have some red patches? Perhaps. And if his classmates or their parents look at all this redness with suspicion or concern, the staff can explain, reassure them, and make sure your child isn't left out. You can even discuss important information to share: atopic eczema is not a sign of poor hygiene. And again, there's no risk of passing it on to his little neighbor!

If he's itchy, we might as well pamper him! Being informed, the team will pay extra attention to him when changing his diaper, dressing him, etc...

Everyone has their own place! While desks are assigned in the classroom for the entire year, your child's desk should be away from heat sources such as radiators or windows exposed to direct sunlight. By informing their teacher about their eczema and the environmental factors that may trigger it, they can help choose a suitable spot for them.

Could certain foods be aggravating his atopic dermatitis? Only your doctor can make the correct diagnosis. If necessary, he will suggest setting up an Individualized Care Plan (ICP). In the meantime, everyone should follow the same diet!

If you still don't know what to do, one last criterion can help you make your choice: what stresses you out the least? Talking about it or saying nothing? Sometimes the best thing is simply your intuition.

1 Source: Atopic Dermatitis Foundation