Of all the challenges that accompany parenthood, none rivals a baby’s sickness. Babies are susceptible to many illnesses due to their low immunity but one of the most irritating must be baby Eczema. The mention of the medical condition brings a quick stream of cold sweat down the spine of mothers especially those who went through the horrific phase. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics about 10%-15% of all children suffer from the skin condition before they reach six years.

Symptoms Of Eczema In Children

As a parent you need to understand the correct symptoms to ensure you treat the skin rash accordingly. The main symptoms are the red looking, crusty, patches which are blistery and might even rapture. Dermatitis as the disease is known causes intense itching and the blisters are very painful which makes any scratching to make them raw. With the skin already inflamed, any delays in treatment can lead to infection and this causes a very unpleasant look on the baby’s skin. The skin becomes leathery and scaly where it has not blistered over but the itching sensation still remains thus increasing the danger of more blistering.

Causes Of Eczema In Children

There are many theories about the causes of Dermatitis but none has been agreed upon as the main one. They can be divided into external factors and internal factors. Internal factors include;

Heredity – the Eczema Association of Australasia posits that there is 80% chance that a child will get the condition if one of the parents had it in their childhood. The condition is replicated even amongst those whose parents suffer from Asthma or Hay Fever.

Some foods – children are very sensitive when it comes to food and some of these have been found to cause the Eczema in children. Sea food, Citrus egg, dairy and wheat products and some additives are widely blamed for instigating the condition. Statistics on food allergies are shocking; as seen in a nationwide survey by American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI). 6% of all children below 6 years are allergic to some foods, 27% who have food allergy have Eczema, and other foods such as eggs, peanuts, milk all affect over 3.1% of kids which means most are likely to be affected by this rash.

Stress – when children are stressed, they react by flushing and their skin grows dry and itchy the ideal condition for baby Eczema to thrive.

Irritants – though these vary from one kid to the other, some of them are common triggers. Bath soap, perfumes, scratchy clothes and laundry soaps all make the child’s sensitive skin react thus leading to the nasty and painful condition.

Allergens – some of these include dust mites, moulds, grasses, plant pollen, pets among others. However, remember what causes dermatitis in your child might might not necessarily lead to the same in your neighbor’s child. AAAI indicates more than 3,700 items have been reported to be allergens which can cause Eczema.

Areas Affected By Infant Eczema

The main affected area is the face due to its sensitivity. In addition, the face suffers most due to the exposure to all elements including irritants such as cigarette smoke, dust mites among others. The rash spreads to the neck and the cheeks which form the soft parts of the face and turns scaly and leathery. The face seems unevenly tanned as some parts are scarlet red where the condition is at its worst and others remain the normal color. The rash also spreads to the elbows and the feet which again are mostly exposed leading to a lot of pain as the child tries to scratch and sooth the interminable itch.

Baby Eczema Treatment And Control

There is no definite cure for the condition but the fact hat the child is in pain has necessitated a lot of research and medications to treat or reduce the impact of the rash and reduce infection. Below are some of the commonly used methods of control and treatment:

Antihistamines – these reduce the itching on the sore skin and hence, the patches cannot get infected due to exposure.

Topical corticosteroids – these are anti-inflammatory in nature and help the skin patches to heal by reducing the itching that develops as the infant Eczema develops. Here are some baby eczema creams that have been getting good reviews:

Antibiotics – the doctor can prescribe these to help reduce the likelihood of infections which might scar the baby’s skin forever. The infections can also lead to other serious conditions such as fever and it is important to control them.

Bleach bath – time magazine brought out this unique treatment to the fore in 2010 and many mothers have hailed the idea as effective. A small amount of household bleach is added to the bathwater and reduces the itching and rashes hence the discomfort goes away.

Wet wrapping – moisturizing the skin is important during this period as it reduces the likelihood of dry flaking sores which can be very itchy. This should be done mostly after the bath using an emollient cream to sooth the itchy skin.

Natural remedies – like all other medical conditions today, patients are turning towards nature for answers. Parents can try products with primrose oil, Aloe Vera, oatmeal, and almond oil. However, be keen to avoid any perfumes because they will contain alcohol which dries the skin thus exacerbating the condition.

Prevention Of Eczema In Children

Having observed how painful the condition can be and the apparent lack of clear eczema treatment for babies, it is important to prevent the disease if you can. Firstly, always ensure the baby’s skin is regularly moisturized. This ensures that even if the skin cannot preserve its own moisture no dry skin will result. Secondly ensure you use chemical free detergents because the kid’s skin is hypersensitive. In addition, check the child’s nutrition for any reaction towards any foods to prevent irritation. It is also advisable to ensure the child wears natural fiber clothing to reduce the discomfort that comes with other materials especially on the skin. Finally keeping the child’s nail short is advisable to prevent scratching which can trigger dermatitis. Baby eczema is tricky to cure but at least you can do something to keep it at bay.

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