At some point, almost every child has dry skin. Sometimes it appears in small patches behind the knees or in the creases of the elbows. It can involve larger areas of skin, too, such as the fronts of the thighs. And sometimes the skin all over the body gets dry.
The medical term for dry skin is eczema or atopic dermatitis. In a toddler, eczema classically appears in the folds of the knees and elbows. It can also show up as dry or red patches on the cheeks, behind the ears, or on the wrists or ankles. Some children develop skin-colored bumps on their thighs, the backs of their arms, or their bellies. Eczema can range in color from normal skin tone to bright red. Continue reading “Understanding Eczema in Children” »