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Last Christmas, though it was the middle of December, Lauren and Chris Whittleton wouldn’t turn on the heater.
Why not?
Well, their daughter, Ellora, would have suffered the consequences.
Ellora has severe eczema, and she’s had it since she was just a few months old. Her parents didn’t think the heater would be a problem, but when they first turned it on, her fragile skin was punished for it.
The heater dries out the skin of those with eczema, so they try to use it as sparingly as possible.
And that’s not the only threat that little Ellora, and many other eczema sufferers, face during the winter months.
She can’t wear tights because they scratch her legs until they bleed. In fact many wintry clothes cause this problem for her.
“We went to Disney and she had a Minnie Mouse outfit she loved,” recounts Lauren, “which she wore the day we bought it, but I had to take it off her because it was too irritating.
“There was a look she’d have on her face where I knew she was uncomfortable. When she did cry, it was a piercing scream.”
Often, they have to stay home for a whole day, and just let Ellora be naked so her skin can recover.
This isn’t a unique story. Parents of children with eczema across the UK report that the winter months are the most difficult for their children. This is a big problem, since one out of five children report to having the disease.
Everything from clothing, to heaters, to holiday candies can cause flare-ups, leading many parents to say their Christmas was “ruined” by these complications in the past.
For example, if a child wants to ware one of the wildly popular Frozen costumes, they can’t, because the synthetic fabric is so irritating.
There are few effective treatments right now, but those whose children suffer from eczema should get it checked out by a doctor to make sure their child is prepared for the winter months.
