Skin Care World

Eczema can be a very minor problem that's easily controlled, or something much more involved. The bad news is there's no cure, the good news is that children often grow out of it and, if recognised and treated, it can be managed.

One of the treatments available to parents is wet wrapping. This means applying an emollient, such as Epaderm, to the skin and then applying warm, damp bandages over the top to seal in the moisture and stop the itching.

Wet wrapping does have a bad reputation and one of the myths of wet wrapping is that it is used as a last resort and therefore the child must be seriously ill. This is just one of the myths of wet wrapping.

In the past, wet wrapping meant the child would have to endure several layers of bandages and in small children this was difficult to keep in place. Traditional wet wrapping would mean smoothing on the emollient, cutting bandages to the right size and wrapping around the affected areas, often the whole body. Wet wrapping is very effective, but has obvious disadvantages. It's very time consuming, and can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, especially for children going to school.

The availability of the range of Tubifast Garments offers a much more straightforward alternative. The Tubifast Garments now come with non-irritating flat seams developed using SoftSeam Technology™. The small size garments also feature cartoon characters, making them more attractive to young children.

The ready to wear Tubifast Garments are the latest development for wet wrapping. Wet wrapping is ideal for bedtimes, when the skin can become dehydrated through the night and sleep can be affected. Now with the availability of Tubifast Garments wet wrapping does not mean wrapping your child from head to foot in thick chunky bandages.

The Tubifast Garments can also be used in dry wrapping. This is a similar technique to wet wrapping only you apply the Tubifast Garments over the emollient without damping them first. This is an effective way of keeping the emollient against the skin during the day, under the child's normal clothes.

The range of Tubifast Garments includes ready-to-wear full-sleeved vests, tights, leggings and socks. They are available in a range of sizes, suitable for children between the ages of 6 months and 14 years.

What Is Wet Wrapping

Wet wrapping is a simple, prescribed treatment used in the management of atopic eczema. It consists of a layer of warm, wet Tubifast bandage or Garment covered by a corresponding layer of dry Tubifast bandage or Garment. A thick layer of emollient is applied before the bandaging is put in place. The wet wrap aims to rehydrate and cool the skin, therefore, reducing inflammation through increased absorption of the emollient, which in turn reduces the itch-scratch cycle.

Clinical research reported the successful use of wet wrap dressings on six patients (three children and three adults) suffering with acute atopic eczema. The key changes seen in these patients included a reduction in the itch-scratch cycle and improved sleep. The improvement in the condition of the skin also lasted beyond the actual treatment period.

Over the years I have worked with many families suffering the effects of eczema and firmly believe in the wet wrapping technique. As well as clinical results described above, I have seen the results for myself and will continue to advocate this technique - but what do you think as a parent dealing with eczema?

Have Your Say

• What experiences have you had as a parent of a child with eczema?
• Have you ever heard of wet wrapping?
• Do you think wet wrapping is a good idea?
• Did you know that Tubifast Garments are available?
• Have you ever heard of Epaderm?
• Are you aware of the importance of moisturising a child with eczema?
• What tips would you give to parents with a child suffering from eczema?

Contact us today with your views on wet wrapping and other eczema related topics.