I’m an allergy expert – here’s why every parent must be wary of people wearing Christmas jumpers hugging their kids

• Ridah Syed, a medical aesthetician spoke to FEMAIL about eczema during Xmas
• READ MORE: Christmas jumper rental service launched by Lidl in green push to end fast fashion and stop the tops ending on landfill by the new year 

For many people, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a festive jumper to get them into the spirit of the season. 

But if your child is prone to allergies, a skincare expert has warned that you should be careful about dressing them in festive knits – as well as cuddles from loved ones wearing synthetic fabrics. 

Many children suffer from eczema – with prevalence peaking in early childhood, and if yours is one of them you’ll want to ensure their vulnerable skin is protected from fabrics like Christmas jumpers and synthetic party dresses. 

FEMAIL spoke to Ridah Syed, Senior Medical Aesthetician at Skinfluencer about keeping your child safe this Christmas.

A young couple holding their baby tightly on Christmas Day when they are dressed in festive jumpers (stock image)

WHAT IS ECZEMA?

Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin that leads to redness, blistering, oozing, scaling and thickening.

It usually appears in the first few months of life and affects around 10 per cent of babies.

Eczema’s cause is not fully understood but it is thought to be brought on by the skin’s barrier to the outside world not working properly, which allows irritants and allergy-inducing substances to enter.

It may be genetic due to the condition often running in families.

As well as their skin being affected, sufferers may experience insomnia and irritability.

Many factors can make eczema worse. These may include:

• Heat, dust, soap and detergents
• Being unwell, such as having a cold
• Infections
• Dry skin
• Stress

There is no cure for eczema, however, 70 per cent of childhood sufferers no longer have the condition in their teens.

Patients should avoid known triggers for flare ups and use emollients.

Source: British Skin Foundation 

She said: ‘Generally speaking people with eczema have skin that doesn’t retain a lot of moisture so it’s on the drier side. You could be born with a genetic predisposition to certain triggers. 

‘The condition can cause the skin to become quite itchy, sore and sensitive. Triggers can include hormones, stress and certain clothing (made from synthetics and wool for example) and detergents can irritate it. 

‘Atopic eczema can occur anywhere on the body so if your child has a predisposition to this condition, avoid these fabrics’.

According to the NHS: ‘Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the most common forms of eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked’.

While it usually develops before a child’s first birthday, it can also manifest in adults – and is usually a long-term condition, but can improve significantly, as sufferers get older.

The expert also recommended keeping a barrier between the skin and the fabric  if the Christmas jumper is made from a fabric likely to trigger – such as wool or synthetics.

She also said that if you know a flare-up was likely, it’s important to check the labels on the jumper to ensure the material is safe for them. 

And in the scenario that they do experience a flare-up, use topical corticosteroids to stop itchy and take inflammation down, and emollients to hydrate the skin creating a barrier. 

To relieve your child’s itchiness, Ridah advised that you cover the area with light clothing or bandages to stop them from scratching.

This is because scratching can cause the skin to bleed and increase its risk of infection, as well as scarring. 

When there’s a flareup, use cotton or fleece jumpers instead, and avoid wool or synthetic fibres. 

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