Why you baby get Eczema?

If your baby's smooth skin is marred by a bumpy red rash, it could be eczema. Eczema is common in infants–about 20 percent of young children develop the aggravating skin condition. Here's why it happens and how to relieve the itch.

 

Why babies get eczema
There are many causes of dry or irritated skin in babies, says Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician in Atlanta, including cold or dry air, sensitivity to lotion, soap or clothing, too much bathing, baby acne and eczema.

 

Your baby is at a higher risk for developing eczema if he has a close relative with the skin condition. Eczema can be triggered by allergens in your child's diet, as well as irritants like wool, heat, changes in temperature or chemicals in soaps, lotions and detergents.

 

What infant eczema looks like
Eczema is a skin rash that usually appears as dry, thickened, scaly skin that doesn't go away. The rash may also have tiny red bumps that can blister, ooze, or become infected if scratched. 

 

The rash often appears on a baby's forehead, cheeks or scalp, but it can spread to the arms, legs, chest or other parts of the body.

 

Does Your Baby Have Eczema?
Although there is no cure for eczema, it can be controlled and usually disappears before age two. Here are some general guidelines for dealing with infant eczema:

1. Give it a little time. "Sometimes dryness will improve if you simply stop using soap or rough washcloths," says Dr. Shu. Try adding non-allergenic oil to your child's bathwater and switching to gentle, fragrance free shampoo and body wash.

2. Make it wet. Apply a gentle, unscented, sticky moisturizer (such as Aquaphor, Eucerin and Vaseline) frequently during the day, she says. Products marketed as "baby eczema creams" may also help. "If you've just bathed your baby, apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp," says Dr. Shu. "If your baby is prone to dry skin and eczema, you may need to apply moisturizer regularly to prevent it from flaring up again."

3. Soften rough spots. If a moisturizer isn't doing the trick, you may need something stronger, such as an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (which comes in 0.5% and 1%), says Dr. Shu. "These can be used for a few days to treat the most red or irritated areas, which often clear up within a week of twice-daily applications." After that, applying a moisturizer at least once daily can keep the skin from getting worse. If it doesn't get better, see your doctor so you can try something else before the irritation worsens.

4. Do some detective work. Is your baby scratching or has he tried a new food or product recently? "Certain foods, exposure to some animals, detergents, or fabrics can cause skin problems," says Dr. Shu. "If your child's dry skin seems to come and go, keep a diary so you can look back a day or two from when the irritation started." Also, keep your baby's nails clean and short so he'll be less likely to infect any broken skin.

5. Stay cool. Make sure your baby's bath is lukewarm and dress him in loose cotton fabrics to avoid overheating.

6. Try bleach baths. A 2009 study in the journal Pediatrics found giving children diluted bleach baths significantly reduced the severity of their eczema and prevented flare-ups by killing the bacteria on the skin that causes the infection. Researchers at Northwestern University used about half a cup of bleach for a full, standard-size tub and children soaked in the bleach baths twice a week for about five to 10 minutes. (The study was so successful that researchers ended it early so the placebo group of children could experience the benefits of bleach baths too.)

7. Call for help. It's easier to treat dry, irritated skin when the condition is still mild, says Dr. Shu. "As soon as you feel your efforts aren't working, get your doctor's advice."