Eczema In Infants: Tips For Effective Management
Eczema in infants is a common skin disorder that requires serious attention. In fact, about 90 percent of all eczema cases start during this early stage of childhood. It is characterized by rashes, dryness, swollen red patches on the skin, redness, flaking and scaling, itchiness, cracking, bleeding, and oozing of the skin. In infants, the eczema rash is often found on the infant’s face and can persist until childhood. In rare cases, the eczema could persist up to adulthood.
Infants are especially susceptible to eczema due to the fact that their bodies are still not mature enough to protect itself from any outside threat. A baby’s skin is a lot thinner than those of children and adults. It’s also very sensitive and can easily become irritated or injured. Their immune system is still developing at this point. It’s still trying to figure out how to protect itself from pathogens, how to respond to threats, and how strongly it should respond. That’s why sometimes direct contact with seemingly ordinary and harmless household object can sometimes irritate your baby’s skin and result in eczema.
Eczema in babies can be very upsetting both for the baby and their families. Babies with eczema are often irritable, difficult to soothe, and are more prone to becoming sickly. While parents of infants with eczema are often at a loss on what they should do and what they can do to help make their babies feel better.
The only way to get rid of eczema in an infant is to recognize the triggers that cause it and keep your baby from it. Easier said than done, but don’t worry. Below are a few tips that can effectively relieve the symptoms of eczema in your baby and speed up the skin’s healing process.
- Breastfeed your baby. It’s been scientifically proven that babies who have been breastfeed are less likely to develop eczema and allergies. Applying breast milk on the affected skin can also promote skin healing because beast milk has natural antibodies and antiseptic properties.
- Keep a trigger diary. Take note of the times and dates you baby gets eczema, along with what your baby ate and what he came in contact with. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to see a pattern that could help you determine what triggers your baby’s eczema. A trigger diary can also help your pediatrician figure out exactly what type of eczema your baby has and the best way to treat it.
- Cut your baby’s bath time to no more than 20 minutes. A bath can help soothe the itch and sting, but bathing your baby longer than 20 minutes can do more harm than good. That’s because when the skin it soaked for long periods of time, it starts to wrinkle which makes it less efficient in retaining moisture. Keep your baby’s bath as quick as possible to prevent her skin from drying out and limit their exposure to the elements.
- Be mindful of what soaps or cleanser you’re using when bathing your baby. Make sure the products you are using are hypoallergenic, gentle, and moisturizes your baby’s skin. Avoid soaps and cleansers that are too strong, have too many colors, fragrances and preservatives. Those types of products can dry your baby’s skin and make it prone to irritations.
- Regularly apply moisturizers and emollient on your baby’s skin. Apply baby lotion immediately after bathing and as often as needed to soothe the skin affected by eczema. Keep applying moisturizers even if eczema patches in your infant are no longer visible; this can help prevent eczema recurrence.
- Use baby clothes made from organic materials. Organic fabrics are great for babies with eczema because they’re manufactured with fewer chemicals. As much as possible, go for organic cotton. It’s is an excellent choice for baby clothes because its breathability will help keep your baby from perspiring and the soft texture will not irritate your baby’s skin.
- Minimize the factors that make your baby perspire. Factors such as room temperature, humidity, the clothes or the baby’s blankets can promote sweating which can intensify itchiness. By controlling these factors, you can help prevent eczema flare ups and soothe eczema symptoms. Getting a humidifier for your home is a good idea since it will help keep your baby’s skin cool and moist.
- Once your baby starts eating, be on the lookout for food that may trigger eczema. Pay attention to your baby’s diet since foods like dairy and eggs are common food triggers for eczema.
- Trim your infant’s fingernails regularly. Long, sharp fingernails can scratch your baby’s skin and make their eczema worse. You can protect your baby by keeping her hands inside mittens while she’s a newborn and until she’s 3 month old. Once she’s older, cut, file, and buff your baby’s fingernails to keep their nails and skin healthy.
- Minimize your baby’s exposure to common allergens around the house. Use a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom or mop when cleaning. Regularly change mattresses, bed sheets, pillow case to minimize contact with dust mites.
These helpful tips can only do so much to help manage eczema in infants. Regular visits to your dermatologist are still the best way so your baby’s eczema can be properly assessed and effective treatment can be provided.
Eczema is also a common condition among toddlers. Click here to learn how you can
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