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Eczema : Diagnosing Eczema in Babies

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Written by Ray Lam

Thursday, 15 May 2008

by RayLam

Why some people are more susceptible to dermatological conditions than others is still unknown. Typically, contact with some external allergen triggers an allergic reaction, leading to the typical skin symptoms and changes seen in sufferers. For baby's, eczema can be an awful condition where the rash is followed by flaking skin that can easily become cracked, causing a great deal of distress. In the United Sates of America, up to one in every five infants will be affected by this skin condition.

With most babies, this skin complaint has all but cleared up by the time they are 24 months old. However, in a small number of cases, the condition doesn't clear and becomes a chronic condition which may even carry on into adulthood. Although many believe the condition only starts in childhood, this is only partially true; it is just more common in babies and infants. Although statistics vary, almost all sufferers will have experienced bouts of this condition since their fifth birthday but almost one third before they were a year old.

Atopic eczema is the most common form of baby eczema and can be recognized by red, scaly looking skin on their arms, legs and scalp which make the baby want to scratch themselves. Strangely, atopic eczema is also hereditary and often starts when the baby's skin is not moisturized regularly. Washing powder is also known to trigger attacks but fabric conditioners can also have a similar effect. It has also discovered that baby eczema was more likely if the mother gave up breastfeeding early which could mean that breast milk may contain something that protects the infant.

Respiratory conditions can also trigger attacks but other medical complaints may also cause this too. Mothers who have asthma are also more likely to have a baby that has the condition but allergic rhinitis and food allergies can also play a part. In fact almost a third of all childhood cases are thought to be as a result of a food allergy; however, once the food responsible is discovered, it can be taken out of the child's diet. Removing the guilty foods comes down to trial and error although there are some common foodstuffs that should be looked at first including:

*Sea-Food *Food containing milk *Foods containing wheat *Food prepared using eggs *Meals or foodstuffs where peanuts have been used in the preparation

Often, the cause of baby eczema is attributed to antibiotics given to the child when it was born. Infants, in particular babies with the condition need to be washed gently in lukewarm water using proprietary lubricating creams. When they are dry, the use of fragrance free products is highly recommended and only natural fabrics like cotton for example. To stop a baby form scratching the irritated skin it is important to ensure they have their nails short and wear mittens which should help stop further infection. For more sever cases of baby eczema, the pediatrician may suggest the use of antihistamines which can help relieve itching; steroid creams can also be used for a short period to help heal the skin. It is not yet possible to completely cure this skin complaint but at least a number of treatments can help ease the situation.

About the Author:

Cure Your Child's Eczema while learning about Contact Dermatitis by visiting http://dermatitiscure.info, a popular website that provides free dermatitis cure information, tips and advice for you.

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