Baby Eczema

Most parents who notice red welts and rashes on their baby’s skin would simply write it off as a mild skin irritation. However, more often than not such skin condition may turn out to be s little more serious than one would care to anticipate. Statistics have shown that infants and babies have shown more vulnerability to one of the most common skin allergy – eczema or what is otherwise known as atopic dermatitis. Babies with ages 2 months to 2 years old are more prone to baby eczema than any other stage in their growing years and are known to appear on the forehead, scalp, cheeks and can even spread through the lower extremities. It can be characterized as dry and scaly patch in the skin or it may have some blisters and tiny red bumps that can easily turn into angry red inflammation when constantly scratched.

Although infant eczema may not be considered as a highly dangerous skin infection, it can bring about extreme discomfort for babies not to mention the fact that it’s heart wrenching to see itchy irritations on your baby’s soft, downy skin. So the question is, what really causes eczema in babies? Health experts cannot pinpoint the source for sure, but hereditary factors play a major role in acquiring skin sensitivity. It is often provoked by the allergens commonly found in the environment or it may also be triggered by diet. If you are breastfeeding, you need to pay careful attention to your food intake, as this will be passed on to your infant and cause allergic reactions. Normally, baby eczema is known to be easily aggravated by heat and close contacts to known skin irritants such as strong chemicals found in soaps and detergents, slight changes in the temperature and extremely dry skin. The alarming thing here is, about 10-20% of babies suffer from eczema during their first years as baby’s skin are known to be highly sensitive.

When you notice the first signs of eczema, make sure to keep the skin hydrated, as this is the crucial part in the treatment. However, your baby should always be given daily baths but with a mild soap and lukewarm water. Be sure to apply some moisturizing ointment right after bath or within the first three minutes after bathing since the soap have stripped off the natural oils of the skin. The choice of clothing should also be given interest because it is equally important to choose clothes that will allow the skin to breathe. It would be best to avoid scratchy materials and wools since these are known to be skin irritants. Your baby’s clothes as well as beddings should also be laundered with a mild and fragrance free detergent to avoid further allergic reactions.

It is equally important to make sure to keep a stable temperature as changes in temperature will make the skin more prone to baby eczema. Keep the house free of dust and animal dander as much as possible by vacuuming key areas regularly. The use of air filters in the air-conditioning system will also help get rid of allergens in the air. Be sure to consult your doctor as to what would be the best medicine for your baby. Playing Russian roulette with your medication can possibly cause harm rather than good, so it’s best to seek medical advice.

The main problem with baby eczema is the constant scratching that can trigger more complications and would only worsen the inflammation. Normally, babies scratch to relieve the itchiness but it can only spread the irritation to other parts of the skin. Keep the nails trimmed so as to avoid making matters worse. It will help if you put mittens on the baby’s hands to eliminate scratching problem. If your baby is having trouble during sleep, discuss this with your doctor. Some health care providers would prescribe a dose of antihistamine to ease the itchiness.