Eczema and School: Smoothing Out the Morning Routine

Every parent of a school age child has a busy morning routine. Add a student suffering from eczema and the morning to-do list gets even longer. Following are some tips to make your eczema sufferer's morning smoother and ensure that your student can concentrate on school instead of itchy skin.

1. Start with a good night's sleep.

Eczema can interfere with your child's ability to sleep well. Overheating, according to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne website, can increase itching which will inhibit sleep.

Improving sleep through wet wraps, lotions, and good bedtime routines will help ensure a better night's rest, which will help your child have a better morning.

2. Allow enough time.

Get up early enough so that your child has ample time to complete morning tasks without feeling pressured or incurring stress.

The National Eczema Association recognizes a psychological component to eczema the can be triggered by stress. By allowing plenty of time for your child to get ready, without repeated warnings about being late, you can reduce morning stress and possibly curtail flare ups.

3. Get your tools ready.

Set out everything you and your child will need to prepare for the school day. Include all tools and medicines for dealing with eczema when setting out supplies for the next day. Have lotions, medicines (already broken down into proper dosages if possible) cloths for cleaning or wet wraps, and any additional items needed at school lined up in order of use for the morning. This will save time and allow you to spend the morning concentrating on your child's comfort, instead of trying to find the right lotions and dosing syringe.

4. Dress appropriately for skin and the weather.

One key to keeping your student comfortable is to dress him or her appropriately for the temperature conditions. Pay close attention to the fabrics of clothes, as well, as some eczema sufferers are sensitive to certain fabrics. Layering will allow your child to better adjust to changing temperatures in the classroom, on the bus, and on the playground.

5. Prepare the teacher.

If a flare up is brewing, or your child is in the middle of a full fledged eczema flare up, send a note with him or her to give to the teacher. Flare ups may not meet the criteria for a sick day out of school, but they can negatively affect school performance. If the teacher is made aware of the flare up, he or she can work to help the student deal with the discomfort while not falling behind the other students.

For students without eczema, moisturizing and wet wraps have no place in the morning routine. For the eczema sufferer, these things, as well as the steps above, can give your student a boost towards a better school day.