Understanding Childhood Eczema

As many parents know, eczema amongst children can be a difficult,painful and frustrating condition to cope with for the parent andthe child. It frequently causes irritable behaviour in the child and sleepdisruption. This can result in parenting difficulties, and may evenplace the child at increased risk of behavioural and emotionalproblems. In addition to covering the medical aspects of the condition,Understanding Childhood Eczema focuses on the psychologicalconsequences and how they can be managed, as well as psychologicalfactors in treatment. Revealing the advantages and drawbacks of conventional therapies,this easy-to-follow guide explains all aspects of childhood eczemain an accessible manner to help you and your child cope with thisdistressing condition. Penny Titman is an experienced clinical child psychologist who hasextensive experience in working with children and families withchronic health problems. She has completed a PhD on thepsychological impact of skin conditions on children and theirfamilies which included a study of childhood eczema on the family.

About the author vii Acknowledgements ix 1 What is eczema? 1 2 What is the best treatment for eczema? 9 3 The impact of eczema on your child and on the family 29 4 Understanding and managing scratching 43 5 Understanding and managing sleep problems 59 6 Understanding and managing diet for your child with eczema 71 7 Managing teasing and improving your child’s self-esteem 79 8 Growing up with eczema 91 Useful addresses and contacts 99 Recommended further reading 103 Index 105