It is not pleasant watching your baby suffer from eczema and even worse when you can’t control it. Although baby eczema looks the same as the eczema adult suffer from, the difference lies in the treatment of it. The baby can’t do much for itself, which means the parents have to manage the intervention, but the problem is the parents aren’t always around and baby doesn’t understand its condition so it just goes on scratching making the lesions worse. In this article you will learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment for baby eczema so that you can understand better what you are dealing with and how to get it under control.

The various trigger factors that cause baby eczema are similar to those that cause eczema in adults. Allergies, dry skin, physical irritants in contact with the skin, climate changes, certain types of cloth, etc. Babies have very sensitive and delicate skin which means they are much more prone to suffer from it. There are two types of eczema that only babies suffer from: cradle cap and nappy rash. Cradle cap is essentially seborrheic dermatitis which manifests around the scalp, brows and ears of the baby resembling a cap. The nappy rash is usually a result of urine and excrement irritating the skin in the nappy area. Sometimes it occurs in combination with a bit of thrush (yeast infection).

As far as the symptoms go, eczema in babies and eczema in adults present the same. Both display the typical dry, red and itchy skin with weepy and crusty lesions in more aggravated conditions.

When it comes to the treatment of your baby’s eczema, there are many things you can do to intervene to treat and prevent it. Here’s what you must do:

At bath time, avoid making the water too hot as this will make things worse. Keep the water luke warm. Bathe baby daily and don’t use any strong soaps, bubble bath or perfumes that could irritate the skin. After the bath, pat the skin dry gently until semi dry. Do not rub vigorously, as this will dry the skin out too much. Immediately after drying, moisturize all over with moisturizing cream or lotion to “lock in” in water from the bath.

Mosturise often. Dry skin is very prone to eczema, so you need to prevent skin form drying out. Don’t use scented products with complicated formulas or that contain alcohol. Stick to regular aqueous cream or baby lotion. Moisturise at least twice daily and especially after every bath as described above.

Certain foods can trigger eczema, so pay close attention to what your baby eats and how it reacts to the food. The usual suspects here are dairy products, nuts and eggs. When you identify a certain food that triggers your baby’s eczema, eliminate it or at least limit the intake.

Bedding and clothes: Clothing that makes baby sweat and irritate the skin such as synthetic clothing (like polyester) and wool can facilitate eczema. Pure cotton clothing and bedding is the answer to the problem here. It is natural and soft and is not conducive to making bay sweat too much.

Environmental factors: If you have air conditioning in your house, don’t allow the air to become too dry. Also vacuum your carpets frequently to keep the house free from dust mites, pollen and dust.

Prevent scratching at all cost. This is something that can make baby eczema treatment very difficult. Eczema is aggravated greatly with scratching. Adults understand this and can stop themselves from scratching. Babies scratch instinctively and do not understand that this makes matters worse and you are not always around to stop them. As proactive measures you can keep your baby’s nails trimmed and have it sleep with mits to prevent scratching.

Luckily babies usually outgrow their eczema. Some will continue to suffer from it, but with age also comes the understanding of eczema that makes controlling it easier. In severe cases topical creams or ointments with antihistamines or corticosteroids may be indicated, but always consult with your pharmacist or doctor before using them Preventing baby eczema is definitely better than treating it, and implementing the above points will make your life (and your baby’s) much easier.