Eczema and Babies: A Brief Guide for Parents

Eczema and babies seem to go hand-in-hand. This irritating skin condition is more common in young children than one might think. Statistics show that about 20 percent of infants suffer from eczema, with 60 percent of those cases lasting through adulthood. The good news is that most infants see an improvement in this condition by their second birthday. The best starting point for a parent whose child suffers from eczema is to learn more about eczema and babies.

Symptoms of Eczema

When eczema and babies get together, the results can be hard to predict. Infants who suffer from a mild form of eczema are likely to experience a rash somewhere on the body; however it probably won’t produce the extreme symptoms that severe eczema can produce. General symptoms of eczema include scaly or dry skin, redness, itchiness, swelling or puffiness (particularly if the child scratches the skin), and red bumps. For infants who suffer from severe eczema, and babies with undetected allergies, the symptoms can be a bit more irritating. The formation of blisters that ooze and crust over is one such symptom. The itchiness associated with severe eczema can be nearly unbearable for an infant, leading to inconsolable crying and scratching.

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Causes Behind Infantile Eczema

When it comes to eczema and babies, finding the trigger(s) behind outbreaks can be a real challenge. Much like a food allergy, deducing the cause behind flare ups can take time and a lot of trial/elimination. For an infant, a trigger could be anything from fabric detergent/softener to household cleaners. Many parents find that washing new clothes ahead of time goes a long way to prevent outbreaks. New clothes are coated with a chemical that keeps them looking bright and wrinkle-free while in the stores. This chemical can wreak havoc on sensitive baby skin.

As the leading cause behind eczema is dry skin, outbreaks can also be caused by harsh soaps or by bathing in hot water, which can cause the skin to lose moisture. Synthetic materials in clothing and even shoes can also irritate sensitive skin. Perfume and cologne are also irritants for eczema, and babies with this condition may be sensitive to their parents’ body spray.

Controlling and Avoiding Outbreaks

With eczema and babies, it may not always be possible to prevent outbreaks from occurring. The good news is that there are steps that parents can take to reduce their baby’s chances of having frequent outbreaks. The main concern with eczema is excessively dry skin. When the skin is already dry and itchy, all it takes is a mild trigger (even stress or hormonal fluctuations) to cause an outbreak. Avoid things that can cause your baby’s skin to become dry, such as harsh or perfumed soap, hot bath water, and lengthy baths. Keep your baby’s skin well moisturized with a good quality, perfume-free lotion or emollient which will prevent your child’s skin from losing natural moisture. Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry air and try to stick to perfume and dye-free laundry soap. If you believe that clothing fabric may be the culprit, try dressing your baby only in organic cotton clothing for a while.

Soothing an existing outbreak can be tricky with eczema and babies can be quite impatient. The idea is to keep your child’s skin well moisturized so that it can repair itself. Hydrocortisone is a great tool for soothing the and alleviating itchiness; however this is not an treatment that can be allied often to young children. Good quality moisturizers and emollients (such as Vaseline) work well with eczema, and babies are able to tolerate them.

It can be a difficult task to live with eczema, and babies unfortunately cannot alert their parents about their discomfort other than crying or becoming fussy. By finding the trigger(s) behind your baby’s eczema and learning how to sooth this condition, you can make both you and your baby much more comfortable and save a great deal of stress!

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In children who see no improvement in the eczema, and babies who seem to experience intense discomfort, it is recommended to speak to a doctor about other possible treatments.