Baby Eczema
How To Treat Baby Eczema
Many infants suffer from baby eczema, also known as infantile eczema and atopic dermatitis. While baby eczema usually affects children up until around the age of five, most cases are found in infants under the age of 6 months. Symptoms suddenly appear, linger for awhile, and then disappear, only to return at some later time. Most children outgrow this condition, and many who suffer from it only have one or two outbreaks. A small percentage have baby eczema or related skin disorders on into adulthood, perhaps for the rest of their lives.
There is really not a cure for this disorder, primarily because the exact cause is not known, or at least not well understood. The condition can be treated however, and to some degree either prevented or the severity of the symptoms lessened. Baby eczema has all the markings of an allergic reaction, and as such the immune system is thought to play a role. It has been noted that infants suffering from eczema also have a higher probability of suffering from other allergy-related conditions, such as bronchitis, hay fever, and asthma, lending some credence to the theory that the immune system plays a part.
The symptoms of eczema are dry and reddish skin, often accompanied by itching. One of the problems associated with baby eczema is that it can be very difficult to keep infants from scratching themselves when they itch. Eczema is a non-infections disease, but continual scratching can result in breaks in the skin, leaving open a possibility of infection. Treating baby eczema usually means providing relief from the symptoms, mainly itching, while at the same time taking steps to try and prevent further outbreaks, by avoiding or eliminating those things which can trigger an outbreak. In this case, "those things", are internal and external allergens.
Treatments - Babies who suffer from eczema usually have dry skin. In treating the condition, application of a skin moisturizer is the most common approach. Prescription, or over the counter medications may help, but normally only relieve the symptoms, while doing little to get at the cause of the symptoms. Since one of the causes is dry skin, a moisturizer can both provide relief, and at the same time lessen the chance of a flare up. Medications should not be ruled out though, as at times something will be needed to give the infant some relief, especially during severe flare-ups. A doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication, usually a topical ointment, for severe rashes, and also an anti-biotic may be necessary if the skin is broken due to scratching. Wrapping inflamed areas in a cloth saturated with warm salt water will often provide relief. A wrap may need to stay on as long as 30 minutes (hopefully the infant will cooperate), after which the skin is patted dry and a moisturizer applied.
Internal and external allergens were mentioned above. Allergens usually are responsible for triggering a flare up of eczema, and if such allergens can be avoided, so also can flare-ups, or at least they can be made to occur less frequently
Internal Allergens - Internal allergens are those things the infant may eat that can trigger a reaction. It's no different that the case of an adult reacting in a negative way to certain foods. Not all infants have the same allergens of course, and many infants don't have any to speak of. Internal allergens which are among the most common are wheat, soy, chocolate, and dairy products. It does seem to be the case that few infants are allergic to goat dairy products, while cow dairy products most often are the villains. A need to avoid cow's milk for some babies is one reason why breast feeding is considered superior for the first few months. Breast fed milk also strengthens an infant's immune system.
External Allergens - As far as external allergens are concerned, dust is a major one, and synthetic materials or scratchy materials such as wool are others. The best type of cloth to have in contact with a baby's skin is 100% pure cotton. Using cloth diapers instead of store-bought paper diapers is much better for the baby's skin, and should lessen the chance of an eczema flare up.
Although the cause of baby eczema isn't completely known, treatment of the condition is possible, and steps can be taken to at least minimize the frequency and severity of flare-ups, until the child outgrows this disorder.