Babies With Eczema
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that eczema in babies exists. In fact, babies can get multiple types of eczema and it can be itchy and irritating – just like the adult version. While it isn’t exactly life threatening, it can be so itchy that it irritates baby’s skin and can cause a baby to become fussy. It affects both baby girls and baby boys alike.
The skin of babies having eczema is somewhat different from normal skin. The skin is drier and more prone to breaking out than babies with normal skin. Babies having this condition don’t have watertight skin and it is prone to cracking because it doesn’t have a normal elastic protective layer of skin. The skin irritates more and more from irritants and allergens. This kind of condition is highly hereditary. If a baby has parents who have had eczema in their lifetime, they are prone to getting eczema at a rate of about 80 percent. Other conditions can go along in babies having eczema, including hay fever or asthma, although they tend to develop it after infancy.
Infant eczema has many causes, including chemicals in lotions and soaps that can irritate the skin and can cause a breakout. Another irritant is clothing that is made from polyester or wool. Babies should have breathable cotton-based clothing that doesn’t cause sweat to build up on the skin. Babies can be allergic to mold, animal dander or dust that can trigger eczema in their skin. Formula, if it is milk-based, can cause an allergic reaction in the form of eczema. Even soy-based formulas can cause eczema in babies.
There are ways to treat this problem. This can include changing the formula to be one that the baby has no allergies to. They make formula that has elemental proteins which are easily digestible and which don’t cause allergies.
Washing the baby with hypoallergenic soap and a lukewarm bath is also a good idea. White Dove soap is a good soap to use as it is moisturizing and hypoallergenic. Don’t rub the skin afterward and just pat it dry. Babies can get eczema anywhere but the most common eczema places are behind the knees and in the creases of the elbows. The skin can easily become crusty in those areas and weep for lack of skin protection. After a gentle bath, use petroleum jelly to protect those areas and hold moisture in. You can also use hypoallergenic creams and ointments that you buy at the drug store or pharmacy. Limit the number of baths to only 2-3 per week so as to allow baby’s natural oils to protect the skin.
If the eczema becomes severe, you can use a topical 1 percent hydrocortisone cream that you can get over the counter or from your doctor. It reduces redness and inflammation by acting on the immune system and protecting the skin from attack by its own immune system.
Put socks or mittens on the hands of babies to keep them from scratching the eczema skin areas. Watch carefully for evidence of infection because these skin areas are open to the body and are prone to secondary infections. See your doctor if there is a possibility of an infection because antibiotic topical ointment or oral antibiotics might be required.
