Baby Eczema - What to Look For And How To Prevent Infant Eczema

By Claire Bowes

Dermatitis means any inflammation of the skin, and if that sounds like a broad category, well, it is. Inflammation can range from a mild discomfort to the really miserable bubbles that make you wonder whether you are about to boil over. And the causes are just as various, ranging from your own genetic makeup to food, air, sun, artificial products, natural substances, and just about everything else.

When dermatitis develops to the stage where you can see cracking, and oozing, it is generally diagnosed as some kind of eczema. But no matter what you call it, itchy, inflamed skin is something that everyone would like to avoid.

Infant Eczema

Some people start getting skin outbreaks in childhood, with flare-ups that may continue off and on throughout their lives. Called atopic eczema, this rash is probably inherited from the kid's parents, or other forebears who passed along the genes. The outbreaks can occur anywhere on the body, but the most common points of affliction are joint areas like the inside of the elbows or backs of the knees.

Infantile eczema, other term for atopic eczema, thrives more in children. The victims of this kind of skin disease usually have dry skin. Because of it, children are relatively more sensitive to irritation. Along with it, other atopic diseases branch out such as allergies, hay fever, and asthma.

The Causes

After some careful researches and studies, nobody can still identify the real cause of eczema in babies. Researchers can only associate the fact that most of the babies that suffer from infantile eczema have parents or relatives that have hay fever, allergies, or asthma.

The Symptoms

Usually, eczemas in babies appear at the second month and may last until the baby reaches 5 years old.

Upon diagnosis, health experts may identify the first signs of the disease. But for parents who cannot distinguish eczema from mere rashes, here is a list of possible symptoms that would indicate dermatitis resulting to eczema.

1. Prickly red inflammation on the cheeks.

Usually, babies who suffer from eczema have red rashes that run from their faces down to their neck. This itchiness may also appear on their legs as well as the arms.

2. Dry skin

The rashes are generally dry by nature. But since babies gets irritated fast that they tend to scratch the surface thereby making the skin susceptible to infections. Once infected, the rash will never be dry but may generate pus.

Once this condition is present, it is important that you bring your baby to the doctor immediately. The presence of pus is an alarming condition that seeks medical attention immediately.

3. Rashes behind the wrists, neck, arms, and ankles

As the baby grows old, the rashes will still continue to reappear after sometime. By the time the baby reaches the age of 1 and ½ up to 2 years old, the pattern of the symptoms is more identifiable.

Prevention

Prevention in eczema is the key to an itch-free development among babies. Hence, if a patch of eczema starts, the baby will invariably scratch, and the scratching damages the skin and makes the eczema worse, which causes more scratching. Once eczema is out of control like this, getting it under control is far more difficult especially if you are dealing with the babies.

Just keep in mind that even if the main cause of the disease is still identifiable, there are approximately 65,000 different substances that might cause contact irritant dermatitis in your baby.

Hence, it would be better to always use baby-friendly products so as to prevent possible irritation that may eventually lead to eczema.

As they say, prevention is better than cure, so, it is better to start avoiding things that might irritate your baby's skin.

Claire Bowes is the author and website owner of Eczema Causes and Cures where she is continually researching information on Baby Eczema to help answer your questions.

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