How to do HOME REMEDY FOR INFANT ECZEMA

Infantile eczema, a dry skin condition affecting up to 20 percent of children, is believed to have a hereditary component, according to the National Eczema Society. The American Academy of Dermatology says infant eczema sometimes goes away by the time a child turns 2, but it may continue for a few years into childhood. While medications may be necessary for extreme or frequent eczema flare-ups, home remedies can usually successfully prevent, manage and treat infant eczema.

• Step 1
  Avoid foods and environmental items that can trigger infantile eczema breakouts. BabyCenter.com, a parenting website, explains that while eczema isn't an allergic reaction, certain foods can aggravate the condition. These commonly include dairy, soy, nuts, wheat and seafood products, but vary among individuals. Dress and surround your baby with natural fabrics that breathe, such as cotton, while avoiding scratchy materials like wool.
• Step 2
  Use only unscented versions of products such as soap and laundry detergent, and BabyCenter suggests not using dryer sheets when doing your child's laundry. Dryer sheets and other products with fragrances are common irritants of skin conditions like eczema.
• Step 3
  Bathe your infant once daily with lukewarm water. While bathing is important for providing the skin with moisture, excessive bathing and hot water will dry out the skin, explains BabyCenter.
• Step 4
  Use a gentle, moisturizing, lye-free soap rather than traditional soap when bathing your infant. Regular soap strips the skin of moisture and can promote eczema flare-ups. Moisturizing soaps, which aren't technically soap, are less damaging but just as effective at cleansing, says the National Eczema Society.
• Step 5
  Add a sprinkle of baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to your infant's bath, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic. This helps clean and hydrate the skin. You can also add a mild emollient baby bath oil.
• Step 6
  Rinse soap and shampoo off your infant right at the end of the bath so the child isn't sitting in soapy water, suggests BabyCenter. This can prevent irritation and drying out of the skin.
• Step 7
  Pat, don't rub, your child dry after a bath. Apply a gently baby moisturizer shortly after the bath to lock in moisture. Emollients should be lightly applied in the direction of hair growth, explains the National Eczema Society, to avoid irritation and blocked pores. The emollient should be used liberally, and periodically throughout the day as well.
• Step 8
  Keep the atmospheric temperature moderate and steady. An environment that's too warm or rapid changes in temperature can stimulate eczema flare-ups, according to BabyCenter.
• Step 9
  Prevent your infant from scratching dry skin, as it will only aggravate the condition. A bandage over affected areas can prevent scratching, as can cotton mittens if your child doesn't mind wearing them.
• Step 10
  Run a humidifier in your infant's bedroom during naps and at night. The Mayo Clinic recommends this step to help keep the baby's skin well-hydrated. This is particularly beneficial when atmospheric humidity is low and when you're using an indoor heating system, which can rob the air of moisture.