Baby Eczema

Baby eczema is a skin condition that affects 15-20% of infants. It causes patches of dry, rashy, itchy skin that can look red and bumpy. Baby eczema usually shows up within the first six months of your baby’s life. Some babies will grow out of it by age 2 while others may have it into adulthood. Baby eczema is a chronic condition that can come and go. Knowing the cause the the triggers can help you learn to manage your child’s eczema.

Symptoms

Symptoms of baby eczema are usually noticed when a rash appears on your child’s skin. Most common areas for infants to get eczema are on their face, scalp, feet, arms, and legs. Though it can appear anywhere. Symptoms usually start within the first six months of your child’s life. Symptoms can include dry skin, itchy skin, a bumpy rash, and skin discoloration either red or darker than normal coloring. Eczema is not contagious. It can spread over your child’s body making it look like it is spreading, but it cannot spread to other people.

Causes

Skin irritants or allergies are one of the main common causes of eczema in children. Skin irritants can be fabrics, soaps, detergents, scented lotions, fragrances, or perfumes. Food allergies that can cause eczema in babies are cows milk protein allergy, dairy, eggs, wheat, and peanuts. Other allergens that can cause eczema are dust, pet dander, and pollen. Extreme temperatures can also cause your child to have eczema. Eczema tends to flare up in the winter when the air is cold and dry. Sweating can also cause eczema to flare. Some babies may have sensitive skin which can lead them to be prone to eczema.

How your child’s immune system reacts can also be a cause of eczema. Your immune system is what fights off bacteria and viruses in your body. Sometimes your immune system can confuse healthy cells as bad cells and attack them wrongly. Babies may have an immune system that attacks healthy skin cells, which can lead to eczema. Genetics can also cause eczema.

Common triggers of eczema in babies are clothing materials and fabrics, cold temperatures, dry air, or sweating, soaps and detergents, allergens such as pet dander, dust, foods, or plants.

Diagnosis

After your pediatrician has done a physical examination they will be able to determine if your child has eczema or not. They may suggest additional tests, especially if you do not know what the cause of your child’s eczema is. Additional tests may include an allergy test, blood tests, or a skin biopsy.

Treatment

There is no cure for eczema. It is a chronic condition so learning treatments that can help alleviate symptoms will be beneficial to your little one. Treatment will depend on what is causing your child’s eczema as well as what triggers flare ups, and the severity of symptoms. One of the main things to do with eczema is to eliminate and avoid triggers as best as you can. Things to avoid for caregivers and your baby are scented soaps, lotions, detergents, air fresheners, and perfumes. Have your baby avoid foods that contain any food allergen like dairy, eggs, wheat, or peanuts. Avoid pet dander, dust, pollen, or plants that cause allergic reactions. Avoid scratchy fabrics, or clothes that do not fit properly.

Moisturizing will be your new best friend. It is best to moisturize your baby’s skin 3-4 times a day if they suffer from eczema. Make sure what you are using to moisturize is unscented, fragrance, and dye free. It should be a lotion or moisturizer made for babies so it isn’t too harsh for their skin.

Limit bathing your child to twice a week. When running their bath water it should be warm but not too hot. Baths should be kept short, only 10 minutes at a time. After your baby gets out of the bath, pat their skin dry and moisturize immediately.

Topical corticosteroids can be used to help alleviate itchy and ease skin inflammation. Topical corticosteroids can be very harsh on the skin, especially in infants. Using the wrong dosage or strength can cause permanent skin damage in your baby’s skin, so be careful when using and make sure you are following your doctor’s instructions. Antihistamines can also be a treatment, these can help if your child suffers from allergies that are causing their eczema. Other treatments may include photo light therapy, or wet wraps.

Things to do to help your baby with eczema. Make sure they are wearing loose breathable clothing, made out of soft fabrics such as cotton. Run a humidifier in the house to combat dry air which can cause eczema flare ups. Keep your baby’s nails short so they don’t cut their skin if they are scratching. You can also put your infants in baby mittens to help stop scratching as well, eczema can be very itchy. Switch the whole family into using fragrance, and dye free detergents, soaps, and lotions.

Call your doctor if along with eczema your baby has a fever, the rash feels warm and looks red, there are pus filled bumps, or the skin looks like cold sores or blisters.

Outcomes

Babies with eczema usually grow out of it around the ages of 5 or 6. Eczema may come back around puberty. Some babies will have eczema their whole life. It is a chronic skin condition that can be managed with treatments. Learning what causes your baby’s eczema and what causes flare ups can help you manage the condition and ease your baby’s symptoms.