Why Is It Important To Control My Childs Eczema
When eczema is not well controlled, it can affect a childs quality of life and health. It increases the chance of skin infections, and it can also be painful. Itching and scratching can be distressing for your child and for you as a parent to watch. Physical comfort, sleep, social interactions and self-image can all be affected. Good control allows your child to feel well and stay focused on childhood activities such as learning and playing.
Some new research shows there may be an additional benefit to keeping eczema under good control. Good control might help prevent food allergy. This is especially good news for parents who have babies and toddlers who are at increased risk for food allergy.
Seborrheic Dermatitis In Children
Seborrheic dermatitis on an infants scalp is known as cradle cap.
Seborrheic dermatitis occurs in areas of the body where there are a lot of oil-producing glands such as the scalp, nose and back. In infants, seborrheic dermatitis usually appears on the scalp and is commonly known as cradle cap. In older children and adults, seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp is typically called dandruff.
The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of factors including genes, yeast that lives naturally on the skin, stress, chemical irritants and/or dry, cold weather that causes the skin to overproduce oil. In infants, researchers believe seborrheic dermatitis is triggered in part by hormones from the mother.
Unlike other forms of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis is not the result of an allergy.
Baby Eczema Natural Remedies
Since babies have extra-sensitive skin, its natural to want to treat it, well, naturally. But, Bender says, even natural products have the potential to cause a worsened rash called contact dermatitis, so check with your doctor first before applying something new to babys skin. Furthermore, Bender advises testing a new product before first-time use, and opting for gentle products with simple ingredient lists. Here are a couple natural baby eczema remedies that are safe for baby:
Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer. Medical grade honey can help shallow cuts and prevent a local skin infection, Benjamin suggests. A home remedy for baby eczema is wet wrap therapy . Bathe your child, and then apply a thick moisturizer to the slightly damp skin. Dampen a pair of cotton pajamas in warm water, wring them out and slip them on baby, right over the thick layer of moisturizer. After that, put on a second dry pair of cotton pajamas. Keep baby wrapped like this for a few hours or longer.
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How Common And Who Gets Atopic Dermatitis
Many think of Atopic Dermatitis as common eczema because it affects the most number of people globally. According to the National Eczema Association, about 31 million people have eczema in the US and of that, 17.8 million people have Atopic Dermatitis. It usually starts in childhood, with approximately 60% of the people affected experience symptoms getting milder or completely goes away by adulthood. According to the American Academy of Dermatology , 90% of people with AD get it before age 5. Its rare that somebody will be diagnosed with AD if they didnt have it as a child. There seems to be a genetic component to AD as people with AD typically have a family member affected by AD, allergies, or asthma. People dealing with Atopic Dermatitis frequently also have asthma and hay fever and many people with Atopic Dermatitis have all three conditions.
There are five additional types of eczema besidesNummular Dermatitis and Atopic Dermatitis.
Does Baby Eczema Go Away On Its Own
Baby eczema needs treatment to go away completely. The best treatment is using moisturizer daily or several times each day to keep your babys skin hydrated.
Most cases of baby eczema clear up by the time they start school, around age 4 or 5. Sometimes eczema can go away or reduce in severity as your child reaches adolescence or by the time they turn into adults. As your child grows, they may have sensitive skin or flare-ups of eczema symptoms throughout their life.
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Emollients And Fire Safety
Lotions, creams or ointments used to moisturise your childs skin are also known as emollients.
Emollients are very effective at treating chronic dry skin conditions, such as eczema.
But it is important to be aware of the fire risk linked with them.
Emollients won’t cause a fire on their own. But if there is a build-up of emollient residue on clothing and bedding, this can quicken the speed of a fire.
Do not smoke near your baby or allow them near naked flames:
- while they are wearing emollient
- if they are wearing clothes or bandages that may have emollient on them
There is a fire risk with all paraffin-containing emollients. There may also even be a fire risk with paraffin-free emollients. There might also be a fire risk with other products that you put on skin over large body areas for more than a few days.
Washing clothing or fabric at a high temperature may reduce emollient build-up. But it might not totally remove it.
Is Baby Eczema Contagious
While eczema isn’t contagious, it can make your baby more prone to skin infections. The reason? People with eczema have less of the protein filaggrin in their skin. Normally filaggrin acts like a sentry maintaining a strong barrier to keep viruses and bacteria out, so with less of it, nasty germs can more easily sneak through, boosting the risk of infection. Plus, dry skin associated with baby eczema can crack, allowing bacteria, viruses, and other germs to get inside your little ones body.
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What Is Hydrocortisone Cream
Lets talk about what hydrocortisone cream is. Officially, its classified as a corticosteroid.
Dont be afraid of the steroid in corticosteroid. This isnt the same kind of steroid that you hear about in the news, taken by athletes as performance-enhancing drugs.
There are a few main ways you can use hydrocortisone, but the primary option that most people are familiar with is topical, usually in the form of a cream. It can also be found as a:
- even insect bites or stings
Its readily available as an over-the-counter medication since you dont usually need a prescription to obtain it. You can easily find a topical 1 percent hydrocortisone cream in drugstores or the medication aisle of supermarkets and big box stores.
There are also stronger versions you can obtain, but youll need a prescription to do so.
Usually, the instructions recommend that you only apply OTC hydrocortisone cream for a maximum of 7 days. During that time, youre instructed to apply a thin layer to the affected area anywhere from one to four times per day.
However, it shouldnt be applied to broken skin or delicate areas, such as in your eyes, or taken orally. And most experts recommend that any area where hydrocortisone cream is applied should be left uncovered unless instructed otherwise by a physician.
If after 7 days your condition hasnt improved, you should stop using it and speak with a doctor.
Side effects from excessive exposure to hydrocortisone cream can include:
What Are The Possible Causes Of Baby Eczema Flare
Due to the weakened barrier function of the skin, allergens can penetrate the outer layers of the skin and are picked up by cells from the immune system, causing sensitization. This then results in eczema flare-ups. Different triggers cause eczema flare-ups depending on the environment of the baby. Common triggers include:
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Warm Bath With Moisturizer
Giving your baby a short warm bath is one of the most effective things you can do to treat and manage eczema at home. A daily warm bath for no more than 5 or 10 minutes is usually beneficial, as long as you immediately apply moisturizer to the babys skin after the bath.
Use lukewarm water in the bath. Stay away from any synthetic soaps or cleansing agents that are harsh or perfumed. Every child is different, so you should pay attention to how your infants skin responds to the frequency of baths. Some babies may respond better to baths every other day.
Its important to gently pat your baby dry after their bath, leaving a little moisture on their skin. Then apply moisturizer to their damp skin to help prevent the skin from drying out.
Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream 200 Ml
- The skin is nourished on the surface thanks to the contribution of constituent lipids of the protective skin barrier.
- Relieves itching and the sensation of irritation.
- Reduction of itching and erythema: 95%.
- Regression of skin dryness: 81%.
- Reduction in the frequency of outbreaks: 93%.
Product Details
Directions: Apply twice per day, on dry skin of face and body Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream 200ml is a soothing cream formulated especially for the babies and children having an atopic prone skin.
It allows to soothe and relieve effectively itchy skin. This emollient cream contains replenishing patented natural ingredients such as Sunflower Oil Distillate, with soothing properties, it provides lipids essential to the construction of the skin barrier.
It contains also Avocado Perseose which preserves the cellular richness of the skin, it moisturizes and protects the cutaneous barrier. From its application, it moisturizes in depth, restores the hydrolipidic film and soothes the skin of your child.
The cutaneous barrier is restored and the natural defenses of the skin are reinforced. Its fluid texture allows an easy and fast application, for instantaneous penetration of the cream on the skin. Fragrance free, paraben free, phthalate free, phenoxyethanol free.
Clinically tested. Hypoallergenic.
| Eczema |
Reviews From Real Customers
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Diagnosing Food Allergy And Eczema Flare
- Your childs doctor may suggest the steps listed below:
- Remove the suspected food or foods from your childs diet for 2 weeks. The eczema should greatly improve.
- Then give your child that food when the eczema is under good control. This is called a challenge.
- If the food is causing flare-ups, the eczema should become itchy and red. The flare-up should occur quickly within 2 hours of eating the food.
- If this occurs, avoid giving this food to your child. Talk to your childs doctor about the need for any food substitutes.
- If the eczema does not flare-up, your child isnt allergic to that food.
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What Does Eczema Look Like
In babies with paler skin, when eczema is flaring the skin is red and itchy. In babies with darker skin, the irritated, itchy areas may be red but are more likely to show as darker patches. They may also appear paler around the front or back of knees or elbows.
When an area of darker skin is treated for eczema, it may become lighter and may take several months to return to the babys normal skin tone.
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How Can Parents Recognize Eczema In Babies
Eczema flare-ups occur due to overreaction of the immune system when an allergenic substance comes into contact with the body. The immune response then produces inflammation and a rash on the skin. As mentioned earlier, the symptoms will usually depend on the form of eczema that your baby has, but most eczema forms have overlapping symptoms.
The following are the common symptoms of eczema in babies:
Recurrent flare-ups of severe itching cause children to scratch the skin, causing more inflammation and damaging the skin barrier. In fact, some dermatologists say that if it’s not itchy, it’s not eczema.
Rash: Most eczema skin conditions are characterized by the appearance of a rash on the body. Sometimes the rash might ooze, weep fluid or bleed when scratched. When the rash is painful, it is likely because of a skin infection.
Dry skin is caused by the weakening of the skin barrier function, leading to excessive moisture loss, leaving the skin dry.
Redness and swelling of the skin iscaused by inflammation and are a result of excessive scratching of the skin.
However, symptoms of eczema might overlap with those of other skin conditions. It is crucial that you consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Once you have a clinical diagnosis of baby eczema, you can start treatment and management.
Never Leave Baby Alone:
Make sure never to leave your baby alone even for a single second. Even if you are using a bathtub make sure to keep your hand on the baby every time.
At the age of 2 months, your baby cannot support himself. If you have to leave the room, ask any other elder to attend the baby, or take him with you.
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How Does Baby Eczema Differ From Dry Skin
Dry skin is a symptom of eczema. Your pediatrician can diagnose eczema by examining your baby’s skin. He or she may send you to a pediatric dermatologist for confirmation and treatment if the condition is severe.
In general, dry skin can be handled at home with some moisturizer and isnt as bothersome as eczema. However, babies with darker skin tend to have drier skin than those with lighter skin making moisturization even more crucial.
Don’t Forget About The Feet
Shoes can even be a concern. Thermoplastic, rubber-boxed toes, and the chemicals used in the shoe-tanning process can cause flare-ups around your baby’s ankles. Look for genuine or eco-leather shoes that are made of chrome-free leather. This will let your baby’s foot breathe easily, leading to fewer irritations.
Brand that Works for Ethan: Bobux. Their shoes are made from eco-leather and are chrome-free.
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How Do You Care For Eczema
The first thing we do when taking care of eczema is to try to help the skin act as a better barrier. We use moisturizers to help create this barrier. All moisturizers should be fragrance-free, since fragranced products can be very irritating to people with eczema.
The best moisturizers are thick, greasy ointments like petroleum jelly. The next best thing are thicker creams that are scooped out of a tub. The best time to put on moisturizers is right away after a bath which helps seal in the moisture from the water.
It’s best to use moisturizers several times a day. For infants, it’s a good idea to keep a tub of cream at the diaper changing area and put on moisturizer each time you do a diaper change.
What Is Baby Eczema
Eczema is a dry, itchy skin rash that can appear anywhere on the body, but it commonly appears on the face and limbs. Anyone can have eczema, including infants.
Eczema in babies is very common. It affects 25% of children, 60% of whom develop it in their first year of life. While the condition can be lifelong, some children outgrow it.
Some things tend to make people more prone to developing eczema, including:
- Family history of eczema
- Family history of hay fever, allergies, or asthma
- Living in a cold, damp climate
- Exposure to environmental irritants
- Having an overactive immune system
Black children in the United States are 1.7 times more likely to develop eczema than White children. It is unknown why eczema disproportionately impacts Black children, but theories include disparate access to health care and that darker skin may mask the rash, resulting in later diagnosis.
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Is Eczema Different For Infants Or Toddlers Than It Is For Older Children
A painful, itchy rash on a babys face, torso or body may be eczema
Eczema looks and acts differently in infants and toddlers than it does in older children. The location and appearance of eczema changes as they grow, so its important to know what to look for during every stage of your infant or toddlers life.
Symptoms Of Atopic Eczema
Atopic eczema causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and sore.
Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread inflamed skin all over the body.
Inflamed skin can become red on lighter skin, and darker brown, purple or grey on darker skin. This can also be more difficult to see on darker skin.
Although atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.
People with atopic eczema usually have periods when symptoms are less noticeable, as well as periods when symptoms become more severe .
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What Else Should I Know
Sometimes seborrheic dermatitis in the diaper area or skin folds can get infected. Talk to your doctor if the rash gets worse or there are any signs of infection .
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually get better by 12 months of age. Seborrhea may come back around puberty as dandruff.
How Long Does Baby Eczema Last
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, while some babies may continue to experience eczema through adulthood, many will outgrow it around age 4.
Baby eczema may also evolve as your little one gets older. According to the National Eczema Association, it might appear on babys face in early infanthood but pop up in key areas like the knees, elbows and hands as they get older. As they approach big-kid territory, eczema often hides in knee folds or elbow creases and other sweat-prone spots.
Whether eczema is an acute or perpetual problem for your child, its reassuring to know that there are many baby eczema treatments and preventive measures you can take to reduce the symptoms and alleviate the itch.
No one likes to see their baby in discomfortand the appearance of any rash can be disconcerting. But if you recognize eczema, you can rest assured that its common and treatable.
About the experts:
Anna Bender, MD, is a pediatric dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian in New York City. She received her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Latanya Benjamin, MD, FAAD, FAAP, is a Florida-based pediatric dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon and Society for Pediatric Dermatology board member. She earned her medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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