How to Deal with Eczema in Babies
Are you looking for information on how to deal with eczema in babies? Does your baby have a red, itchy patch of skin or rashes that seem to be spreading across the skin?
Is your baby scratching, sometimes until it bleeds? This could be a common skin condition called eczema.
Introduction
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis is a type of skin rash that appears often in the first year of life, although adults can have it as well. Eczema in babies will usually appear in the first year of the baby’s life and comes up on the forehead, cheeks and the scalp.
Often the eczema will also spread to the arms, legs, chest and other parts of the body. Usually it is found in the creases of the body like the backs of knees and the inside of elbows. Sometimes the eczema rash looks like dry, thickened skin or has a scaly appearance. It can be small, tiny bumps that blister, bleed and ooze.
Eczema can easily become infected when scratched. It is not contagious but is known to run in families. If a close family member has eczema, allergies or asthma, it increases the risk of your baby having it as well.
What Causes Eczema in Babies
No one knows for sure what causes eczema in babies, or in anyone for that matter. However, there are some contributing factors that can increase the risk of eczema such as a close family member with eczema or with asthma or allergies.
While eczema itself is not an allergic reaction to something, it can be triggered by allergens in the baby’s diet (or yours if you are breastfeeding) as well as to allergens in the environment.
Wool, as well as chemicals and dyes in certain soaps, lotions and detergents can irritate the skin. Changes in temperature also affect eczema in babies and many find their eczema is affected by the heat.
How Common is Eczema in Babies?
Eczema is actually fairly common in infants and younger children with about 20% having it. Of that 20%, about 65% will develop it within the first year of life and 90% have symptoms before there are 5.
Many babies will “outgrow” it by the age of two and find that their symptoms disappear. Around 60% will carry the condition into adulthood as well but most learn methods for treating and preventing it so that they have fewer outbreaks of eczema as adults.
How to Treat & Cure Eczema in Babies
Once you know that eczema is what is affecting your child, it’s time to learn how to handle it. Eczema in babies is typically a symptom of something else going on in the child’s system. So determining the cause is the most important first step to how to handle it.
Moisturizing is essential for eczema skin. You cannot moisturize too much in a baby with eczema, especially with a natural moisturizer.
Remember that warm water will dry out the skin so try to do lukewarm baths and put the moisturizer directly on the baby’s skin without drying to help hold moisture from the bath in.
You should use a mild soap and shampoo and save it for the end of the baby’s bath so that she isn’t sitting in the soapy water the whole time. You should also try to allow your baby’s skin to breathe with natural, loose-fitting clothing.
You should also try to avoid rapid changes in temperature, such as going from hot to cold, as this can cause an eczema flare-up.
To treat eczema that is already there, many parents have found mild bleach baths to be very helpful. When done about every two weeks, they help clear up the eczema and also help prevent bacterial infections in the area. Talk to your doctor first before using bleach baths on your baby.
A huge variety of natural treatments also exist, such as applying virgin coconut oil, and other natural creams. Make sure you pick a gentle cream. There are also many home remedies for eczema that work for adults that may work for babies.
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