Dogs rule and cats… cause childhood eczema? Although most allergy sufferers have been warned to avoid animal dander, a new study shows that one of the best natural remedies for childhood eczema is having a dog in the household. Cats, on the other hand, have been shown to increase the risk that kids will develop skin rashes.
Childhood and Baby Eczema on the Rise
Eczema is an increasingly common problem among kids, characterized by itchy bumps, irritation and skin rashes that come and go, sometimes alongside seasonal allergy symptoms. This skin condition can be caused by a variety of factors: food allergies, hay fever, chemical sensitivities, dry skin and stress all play a factor. But when it occurs in infants, doctors are often baffled about the cause, or about why baby eczema seems to be more common today than it was even a few years ago.
Tolly Epstein, an allergist and the author of a recent study on children with eczema published in the Journal of Pediatrics, says that eczema is more common than it used to be. According to the pediatricians at babycenter.com, roughly 20% of infants will experience some eczema, from mild to very severe.
Baby Eczema and Natural Treatment
Natural health experts believe that the increase in eczema incidence is related to the chemicals found in modern cleaning products, room deodorizers, baby wipes, and even baby shampoos and soaps – the kinds of products that weren't in common use a decade or two ago, or that have been reformulated with more powerful scents or harsher chemicals in the past few years.
Natural remedies for eczema normally take a dual approach:
- topical treatments like creams, essential oils, and natural soaps and moisturizers
- dietary changes to avoid common allergies like wheat, dairy, soy, corn and eggs
These approaches work for many kids, but new research reveals a different approach to support children's immune systems and prevent eczema: household pets.
Dogs May Prevent Eczema in Kids With Allergies
A recent study headed by Epstein reveals that household pets can dramatically affect the chance that a baby will develop eczema:
- Children with dog allergies were only 25% as likely to develop eczema by age four if they lived with a dog before their first birthday, as opposed to children who lived in pet-free households.
- Dogs are believed to have a protective effect, stimulating and supporting the immune systems of allergic kids.
- Cats don’t confer the same benefit to the immune system: Kids with cat allergies who live in a household with cats are 13 times more likely to develop eczema by age four.
Despite these notable benefits of dog ownership for allergic kids, it's important to realize that dog ownership is a big responsibility for the entire family. If you love dogs, though, and believe you can provide a good home for one, don't let a child's allergies be a deterrent. Your four-legged friend can actually help your kids become less at risk for allergy-related eczema.
Sources:
- Baby Center Medical Advisory Board, "Eczema," BabyCenter.com, May 2009.
- Holohan, Ellin, "A Dog May Help Guard Against Childhood Eczema," Business Week, 30 September 2010.
- Mayo Clinic Staff, "Atopic dermatitis (eczema)," MayoClinic.com, 2009.
- O'Farrell, Peggy, "Study: Dogs may act as allergy shots for children," Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 September 2010.
Victoria Anisman-Reiner - Victoria Anisman-Reiner is a freelance writer with extensive experience in holistic health care and animal training.
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