Eczema in Children
While the immune system is involved in some way, the exact cause of eczema is unknown. This skin complaint is usually triggered by an adverse reaction to a substance, foodstuff or chemical etc. The condition of baby eczema cause distress to the child as the rash becomes more irritated leading to a scaly appearance and eventual cracking. Anything up to one fifth of infants in the USA will suffer with this awful skin complaint.
Strangely, this condition is short lived and in most cases it seems to cure itself before the child reaches the age of two. In some cases however, the condition becomes chronic and may continue into adulthood. While people of any age can get this condition, it is most common in babies and young children. About one-third of all patients develop symptoms before their first birthday, and almost all develop symptoms before five years.
Seen as a red, itchy and scaly rash, baby eczema is usually of the more common atopic eczema variety. Atopic eczema often runs in families, and can be triggered when a baby’s skin isn’t moisturized properly. Sometimes it is the washing powder or fabric conditioner that triggers the disorder, something that can be a cause of the adult condition as well. It would also seem that breastfeeding has preventative properties as a link between baby eczema and mothers who wean their babies early has been found.
Although asthma triggers could also include other respiratory problems and medical conditions. 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. Food allergies are believed to be responsible for anything up to 3 cases in ten; discovering the foodstuffs responsible should be a relatively simple matter, which once this is done, can be removed from the diet completely. Removing the guilty foods comes down to trial and error although there are some common foodstuffs that should be looked at first including:
- Fish
- Products with milk as an ingredient
- Bread
- Egg based meals
- Peanuts
Doctors also know that baby eczema can also be the result of the antibiotics received by the baby at birth. The treatment with babies involves bathing in lukewarm water, and proper skin lubrication with hypoallergenic creams. When they are dry, the use of fragrance free products is highly recommended and only natural fabrics like cotton for example. Baby’s often scratch themselves so keeping their nails short is the way to prevent inflamed skin becoming infected from scratching. Often in more severe cases of baby eczema, a pediatrician may prescribe antihistamines to relieve itching; the application of a steroid cream for a limited time to help heal the skin quicker may also be used. Whilst this may be a common complaint around the world, at the present time, easing the symptoms of the condition is the best we can do.
