Most children
get rashes at one time or another. Baby eczema, however, can
be a nuisance that prompts scratching which make the problem
worse. Typically, symptoms of baby eczema appear within the
first few months of life, and almost always appear before
a child turns 5. Approximately one out of every 10 children
develops eczema.
The term eczema refers to a number of different skin conditions
in which the skin is red and irritated and occasionally results
in small, fluid-filled bumps that become moist and oozing.
It can occur on just about any part of the body – in
babies, typically on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs,
scalp, and neck.
While baby eczema looks drastic and painful in the midst of
a flare up, in most cases it will disappear as the child ages.
What causes baby eczema?
There are many factors. We do know that baby eczema is often
inherited. Your baby is more likely to have it if you or some
other close family member has had eczema, asthma or allergies.
The most common cause is atopic dermatitis, sometimes called
infantile eczema (or baby eczema) although it occurs not only
in infants, but also in older children. The word "atopic"
describes conditions that occur when someone is overly sensitive
to allergens in their environment such as pollens, molds,
dust, animal dander, and certain foods. "Dermatitis"
means that the skin is inflamed, or red and sore.
If the baby has had antibiotics, there is a chance the eczema
could be a reaction to a resulting yeast infection, because
antibiotics destroy the “good” bacteria and infection-fighting
cells needed in our bodies, thus weakening the immune system.
Baby eczema is not necessarily an allergic reaction to something,
but it can be provoked by allergens in the baby's environment
or diet (like cow’s milk), or the mother’s diet
if breastfeeding. Baby eczema can also be aggravated by heat
or changes in temperature, dry skin, and skin irritants like
wool, some soap chemicals, lotions or detergents.
How can parents prevent or treat outbreaks of baby eczema?
It is best to be proactive against baby eczema – this
means avoiding as many triggers as possible and strengthening
their immune system:
Refrain
from overly frequent bathing and using bubble baths.
Switch
to milder soaps for bathing the child and washing their
clothing.
Keep
bedrooms and play areas free of dust mites (a common trigger).
Dress
your child in breathable cotton clothing.
Avoid
sugary substances, and all dairy from cow’s milk.
Replace cow’s milk with vitamin-enriched rice milk
or a colostrums formula which resembles mother’s
milk.
Give
your baby “probiotics” – you’ve
probably heard of acidophilus which is the most commonly
given probiotic – this will guarantee the proper
balance of “good” bacteria (stomach flora)
to counteract the bad. Växa makes Re-Flora+
which comes in capsules but can be opened and sprinkled
on baby food or in formula.
Start
your child on children’s vitamins as soon as possible.
Växa Buddies has the necessary
antioxidants, minerals, and other nutrients to buff up
your child’s immune system.
As for
treatment, mild to moderate cases of baby eczema can be helped
by regular moisturizing. Keep your child’s skin moist
after bathing by applying moisturizer within three minutes.
If the child is scratching, try to limit
the use of hydrocortisone creams. Hydrocortisone is a steroid.
Over time, it aggravates and thins the skin and can cause
irritability and chemical imbalance. Creams made from nature’s
sources like “Tea tree oil” are available at natural
health outlets and bring much relief from the itch.
Is baby eczema contagious?
Eczema is not contagious, so there's no need to keep a baby
or child who has it away from siblings, other children, or
anyone else.
