Halloween is this weekend and there is a good chance your little monster will be excited about going to parties or trick or treating.

But if your child has eczema, Halloween can be more tricky but by taking a few simple steps, you can make sure it’s still a spook-tacular time for them.

Costumes

Dressing up clothes and costumes can often be made with cheaper, man made fabrics like polyester and nylon that can irritate eczema prone skin. Fabrics like cotton or bamboo are best so if you are a creative type you could make your own costume using these. If your little one has their heart set on a specific costume, layering cotton eczema friendly clothing under these can help.

Party food

If your child has food allergies and is attending a party, you could warn the party host in advance of their allergies and suggest snacks suitable for your child. For trick or treating, you could bring your own allergy friendly snacks or you could consider dropping off allergy friendly treats with the neighbours you plan on visiting on Halloween so your child doesn’t miss out.

Face paint

Face paint is a no-no for many eczema sufferers with the harsh make up aggravating sensitive skin. Try to convince your child to choose a costume that doesn’t need face paint or one with a mask instead. If you are going to try to use make up, test patch first at least 48 hours before to make sure there won’t be a reaction to the product.

Candles

Many homes will have pumpkins and candles outside which you may need to be wary of. Using emollients on the skin makes fabric more flammable and you need to be careful not to let your child’s costumes anywhere near a flame.

Most importantly, enjoy Halloween and if you have any pictures of your little ones in costumes feel free to share them with us! You can email them to info@eos.org.uk or send them to us via Facebook messenger.