Eczema is a medical condition also referred to as Atopic Dermatitis. It usually appears as a skin rash on children below the age of five. It normally tends to appear on the scalp and the cheeks but later spread to the chest, arms, and legs and even in severe cases it spreads on the rest of the body. When the child is less than one year, the condition is likely to appear on the inner side of the elbow, the wrist, ankle and the knees back parts. The rash appears thickened, dry or scaly skin and it is usually made of minute red bumps that develop infection or ooze after scratching. Baby eczema is a condition, which appears and then disappears on its own.
The condition cannot be passed from one person to another though it is intensely itchy and it gets very uncomfortable. When left untreated, it can be a nuisance to a point of causing a social challenge to the affected child. It is diagnosed through physician examination on the child’s skin but it is recommended that a dermatologist should do it. Its cause is still a mystery to medical practitioners but its tendency to occur is attributed to hereditary factors. It is important to clarify that eczema is not a reaction from drugs or elements though allergic related factors like pollen and cigarette smoke may trigger it. In some cases it may be triggered by diets from the mother if the baby is breastfeeding or its diet. Excessive heat is known to aggravate the rash and other skin irritants like chemicals from fragrances, detergents, lotions and soaps. Drastic change of weather especially that makes the skin dry. Extreme stress may trigger the rash.
Eczema is a rampant condition in infants and children as research shows that around 30% of children suffer from the condition. 65% of all infants develop the symptom during the first year in life. It is hard to tell if a child is likely to develop the symptoms but its risk decreases with increase in age. Most of the affected children outgrow the symptoms by the age of two years and the rest percentage outgrows it before they reach adulthood.
Baby eczema may be easily prevented if the parent reduces the factors triggering the symptoms. This can be achieved through disinfected baths and using a recommended moisturizer. The parent should ensure that the bathing water is not too warm as it is likely to dry the skin more compared to lukewarm water. A non-soap cleanser or a mild soap should be used in the bath then followed by shampooing after the bath. Excess water from the skin should be patted gently using a soft towel. The moisturizer should be applied before the skin dries up completely to seal the baby’s natural moisture inside. A parent should ensure that their babies are clothed with natural fabrics to avoid irritating the skin and the cloths should not be too cold or too warm.
The child should be discouraged to scratch the affected part as it only worsens the condition. To reduce scratching, the babies nails should be maintained short and the parent should used the softest linens for the baby’s bedding's. Making sure your child gets a good night’s sleep doesn't have to be an impossible feat, you can start by eliminating dust and mites at the same time by switching to hypoallergenic linen. Also avoid using feather pillows and furniture treated with anti-dust mite sprays because those chemicals can also affect your child.
Remember that before deciding on any treatment for baby eczema it’s always best to seek a professional opinion so that your child can benefit from the best.
The condition cannot be passed from one person to another though it is intensely itchy and it gets very uncomfortable. When left untreated, it can be a nuisance to a point of causing a social challenge to the affected child. It is diagnosed through physician examination on the child’s skin but it is recommended that a dermatologist should do it. Its cause is still a mystery to medical practitioners but its tendency to occur is attributed to hereditary factors. It is important to clarify that eczema is not a reaction from drugs or elements though allergic related factors like pollen and cigarette smoke may trigger it. In some cases it may be triggered by diets from the mother if the baby is breastfeeding or its diet. Excessive heat is known to aggravate the rash and other skin irritants like chemicals from fragrances, detergents, lotions and soaps. Drastic change of weather especially that makes the skin dry. Extreme stress may trigger the rash.
Eczema is a rampant condition in infants and children as research shows that around 30% of children suffer from the condition. 65% of all infants develop the symptom during the first year in life. It is hard to tell if a child is likely to develop the symptoms but its risk decreases with increase in age. Most of the affected children outgrow the symptoms by the age of two years and the rest percentage outgrows it before they reach adulthood.
Baby eczema may be easily prevented if the parent reduces the factors triggering the symptoms. This can be achieved through disinfected baths and using a recommended moisturizer. The parent should ensure that the bathing water is not too warm as it is likely to dry the skin more compared to lukewarm water. A non-soap cleanser or a mild soap should be used in the bath then followed by shampooing after the bath. Excess water from the skin should be patted gently using a soft towel. The moisturizer should be applied before the skin dries up completely to seal the baby’s natural moisture inside. A parent should ensure that their babies are clothed with natural fabrics to avoid irritating the skin and the cloths should not be too cold or too warm.
The child should be discouraged to scratch the affected part as it only worsens the condition. To reduce scratching, the babies nails should be maintained short and the parent should used the softest linens for the baby’s bedding's. Making sure your child gets a good night’s sleep doesn't have to be an impossible feat, you can start by eliminating dust and mites at the same time by switching to hypoallergenic linen. Also avoid using feather pillows and furniture treated with anti-dust mite sprays because those chemicals can also affect your child.
Remember that before deciding on any treatment for baby eczema it’s always best to seek a professional opinion so that your child can benefit from the best.