The cold winter months are coming and we often find the change of season triggers patches of eczema on my younger son. The rough patches of skin, often found on his elbows and legs, cause endless itching. While there is no cure for eczema, there are ways to manage it and lessen flare ups and irritations.
We know that many factors can trigger eczema from things in the environment to food to stress and it can even be hereditary but dermatologists still don’t have a way to cure it. But it just doesn’t affect the person with the skin condition. Sometimes it can affect other family members. As a mom, I have been woken up several times to “my skin is itchy and I can’t sleep,” from my younger son. I then have to drag myself out of bed to put some cream on him to soothe the affected area, and then try to get back to sleep knowing al the while how uncomfortable he is.
Researchers around the world are continuing their studies in an attempt to understand our skin and why eczema flares up on some and not the others. Currently there is much talk about the “microbiome” in the dermatology community. La Roche-Posay, the leading brand for atopy-prone skin management, has been keeping an eye on recent studies of this major scientific discovery.
What is microbiome?
Bacteria is everywhere and an integral part of our bodies; we have to live with both good and bad bacteria. According to the latest research, the micro-organisms we have always tried to get rid is actually a part of the ecosystem that acts and interacts with our bodies to ensure healthy function. The microbiome is like a community of micro-organisms that lives on our body. There are well over a hundred billion bacteria, fungi and viruses that live on us and each one of us has a unique and diverse microbiome. Researchers have discovered that atopic patients have a different microbiome than healthy patients, one that is not as diverse.
What does this means? Up until now, the various treatments for eczema (atopy) were first designed to decrease inflammation and re-establish the skin’s protective function. With the new research, La Roche-Posay Laboratories have demonstrated that simply restoring the skin’s barrier function is not enough to provide long-lasting relief — the microbiome’s balance also needs to be restored to healthier levels.
If you have a family member who needs to manage their eczema you may already have La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Baume as a go-to product. Now you will find the same trusted product with an added ingredient to make it even more efficient.Lipikar Baume AP+, the newest edition, includes the exclusive Aqua Posae Filiformis ingredient that researchers say will boost the bacteria’s positive properties even further.
This product is on our bathroom counter and we’re already using it. With the easy to use pump and quick drying feel, my son can apply it to any affected areas on his own — and he’s doing it before the flare ups come…so he won’t get to that point of scratching intensely.
Do you have kids who have eczema? La Roche-Posay is now inviting 100 families to apply for this coming year’s support program. Each year, with the support of dermatologists, provide information and advice along with a one-year supply of Lipikar products to help manage dry skin due to eczema. This program is exclusive to Canada. If you’re interested in how to get involved visit 100families.laroche-posay.ca for more details.
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