Even with millions of sufferers worldwide, medical science has not yet discovered the reason why some people suffer with eczema and others do not. Typically, contact with some external allergen triggers an allergic reaction, leading to the typical skin symptoms and changes seen in sufferers. Baby eczema is a rash seen on their face which gradually gets worse unless treated, eventually becoming causing cracking and flaking. Anything up to one fifth of infants in the USA will suffer with this awful skin complaint.
In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. A small percentage of children will not be this fortunate and will experience this condition when they are adults and it will sometimes become a chronic complaint. Almost anyone can be affected by this problem at any time in their life but it is babies that are most likely to suffer. Unfortunately most people have suffered with this since they were at least five years of age but around 33 percent will have contracted the condition by the time they reached their first birthday.
Seen as a red, itchy and scaly rash, baby eczema is usually of the more common atopic eczema variety. Strangely, atopic eczema is also hereditary and often starts when the baby’s skin is not moisturized regularly. Mothers must be watchful about the types of detergents their baby’s clothes are washed in as these are known to trigger inflammation. In some instances it would seem that breastfeeding seems to protect the child from baby eczema as opposed to those mothers who stop this practice prematurely.
Respiratory conditions can also trigger attacks but other medical complaints may also cause this too. Mothers who have asthma are also more likely to have a baby that has the condition but allergic rhinitis and food allergies can also play a part. In fact almost a third of all childhood cases are thought to be as a result of a food allergy; however, once the food responsible is discovered, it can be taken out of the child’s diet. Removing the guilty foods comes down to trial and error although there are some common foodstuffs that should be looked at first including:
*Sea-Food *Food containing milk *Foods containing wheat *Food prepared using eggs *Meals or foodstuffs where peanuts have been used in the preparation
Baby eczema is often the result of antibiotics given to the baby when it is born, as many doctors will attest. Infants, in particular babies with the condition need to be washed gently in lukewarm water using proprietary lubricating creams. Once they have dried, they need to be dressed in soft natural clothing made from cotton. A baby’s nails should be kept short or covered with mittens to prevent itchy skin from becoming further damaged or infected from excessive scratching. Unfortunately, baby eczema sometimes needs further help and in these cases, the doctor might prescribe the use of antihistamines to relieve the itching; steroid creams can also be used for a short period to help heal the skin. In babies, despite being very common, it is still a difficult condition to treat and conquer.
