Have you noticed dry, itchy or bumpy patches on your baby’s skin off late? Then there’s a good chance they might be affected with baby eczema – a common & pesky skin condition. The highest prevalence of eczema globally is among children under 5 years of age.
Baby eczema, though not life-threatening, can be worrisome for parents. Apart from being unpleasant to look at, it can often make babies restless. Watching your baby all itchy and uncomfortable is not easy & many parents often feel helpless. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper and learn about baby eczema, including its cause & management. So read through!
Baby Eczema: Causes
Eczema in babies is often a mixed outcome of the interplay between heredity & environmental factors. These include:
- Allergens: Your baby’s skin is super sensitive. And multiple things that are present in their surroundings may cause their skin to react adversely due to allergies. This may manifest itself in the form of eczema flare-ups. The most common triggers or allergens include certain clothing materials, detergents or soaps, certain foods, changing temperatures, cold air, sweat, dust, dander, plants, etc.
- Astray Immune System: Normally, the job of the immune system is to identify foreign items such as harmful bacteria, viruses, etc and fight them off. This keeps human beings safe & protected. But in babies with eczema, the immune system often gets confused between foreign invaders and healthy skin cells or even small irritants. So it overreacts and results in eczema outbreaks.
- Genetics: Genes are hereditary building blocks. These carry the traits and functions from parents to their babies. But sometimes mutations in these genes can cause loss or malfunction of certain functions. One such mutation may cause malfunction of certain proteins which are responsible for keeping the baby’s skin’s protective barrier intact. And if this barrier isn’t functioning properly, it may result in the development of baby eczema.
How To Identify Baby Eczema?
The symptoms of eczema in babies may be commonly visible on their face, scalp, feet, arms & legs. These symptoms may be in the form of:
- Dry & itchy skin
- Bumps or scales on the skin
- Rash
- Skin discolouration/hyperpigmentation
These symptoms often come and go and may become more noticeable at night. And when the symptoms are worse we call them flare-ups.
How Is Baby Eczema Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of baby eczema is generally made by a visual examination by your paediatrician or dermatologist. Sometimes, additional tests such as an allergy test, blood test or a biopsy might be needed.
Prevention & Treatment Of Baby Eczema
After a confirmatory diagnosis, the suggested lines of treatments include:
- Avoiding Triggers: Once you’ve identified what’s causing your baby’s eczema to flare, it’s best that you keep those triggers at bay. It’s also wise to keep babies away from the triggers listed above, if in doubt. Another important thing to remember is not to let them scratch the rashes as it may lead to infection.
- Keeping Skin Moisturised: This is key when it comes to eczema-prone baby skin. The best time to moisturise is after a bath or when you notice that their skin is getting dry. Use a mild, fragrance-free moisturiser such as Deep Moisturising Baby Cream, that relieves dry, itchy skin and leaves your baby’s skin hydrated for hours. Most importantly, it it’s made of 99.7% natural ingredients and is EWG verified, Ecocert certified & cellularly proven.
- Limiting Bath Time: Long baths can strip off moisture from your baby’s skin, leaving it dry. Hence you should shorten their baths and use lukewarm water for the same. Use a gentle cleanser specially formulated for baby’s skin and once the bath is over, apply a deeply nourishing moisturizer.
- Using Topical Corticosteroids: Consult a dermatologist to find the best corticosteroids that will suit your baby’s skin. These work by relieving inflammation & itching. But be mindful that prolonged usage of corticosteroids may thin out the baby’s skin.
- Taking Oral Medications: Anti-allergy medications such as antihistamines can ease discomfort and help babies sleep better.
- Bleach Bath Therapy: A bleach bath is a diluted solution of household bleach mixed with water. It can help relieve the symptoms of eczema. However, make sure to consult a doctor before trying it out for your baby.
Conclusion
While there is no immediate cure for baby eczema, being aware of its causes, symptoms & management can help you stay in control. The best thing that you can do to relieve itching is to keep their skin regularly moisturised. It’s also worth knowing that some cases of baby eczema get better or even go away as the baby reaches their teenage years. If symptoms worsen or the rashes show signs of infection, consult a doctor immediately.
FAQs
Q1. How To Treat Eczema In Babies?
There is no treatment for baby eczema. But the symptoms can be managed by avoiding triggers & using deep moisturiser on your baby’s skin. Furthermore, topical or oral medications can be given as per the doctor’s advice.
Q2. Can Baby Eczema Go Away?
Yes, babies can outgrow their eczema by adolescence.
Q3. Is Baby Eczema Painful?
Yes, baby eczema can be painful, itchy and annoying.
Q4. Is Baby Eczema Contagious?
No, baby eczema can’t spread from person to person.
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