How Does Baby Eczema Affect My Childs Skin
Baby eczema makes your babys skin dry, itchy and sensitive. This happens because your babys protective barrier on the outermost layer of their skin is weak and doesnt work as expected. Their symptoms can last for a couple of weeks each time theres a flare-up of symptoms.
Baby eczema is a chronic condition, where it can come and go unexpectedly. Some children grow out of the condition when they reach adulthood but will still experience symptoms of dry skin or mild flare-ups throughout their life.
Will My Baby Have Eczema All Her Life
In some babies with atopic dermatitis, the condition stays put. But, fortunately, eczema clears up in many babies by the time they turn 4 years old.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When Youre Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Also Check: Is Eczema A Medical Condition
Wrap Up In Cold Weather
Cold, harsh winter winds can dry out the skin and cause eczema flares.
Keep the skin covered when temperatures are low. Also, consider covering the face with a scarf if eczema occurs in this body region.
While many home remedies are suitable for babies and children, always speak with a doctor before using them.
The following home remedies and tips may help:
Recommended Reading: Over The Counter Treatment For Ear Eczema
Navigating Natural Remedies For Baby Eczema
Eczema can cause quite a bit of stress for parents. If you are suffering from eczema or having to watch your child suffer it is a good idea to see a naturopathic doctor and get a treatment plan tailored to you.
Eczema is something that can be overcome usually with some fairly simple interventions. But the key to managing eczema and especially treating baby eczema naturally is to understand your childs unique triggers. Please speak to your health care provider before starting any new medication or supplements.
Want more guidance on finding the eczema solutions that are right for your child? Explore our Eczema Eraser Workshop a 2.5-hour workshop designed to help you understand common eczema triggers and develop a personalized plan for managing your childs eczema without steroids.
You May Like: Can You Join The Military With Eczema
Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Help My Child’s Eczema
- It might be worth keeping a diary to see if you can identify what triggers your child’s eczema and discussing it with your doctor.
- Some experts believe that exposure to some foods can aggravate eczema. Reactions to individual foods can obviously be helped by avoiding that food, but don’t change your child’s diet drastically without talking to your doctor.
- Some doctors believe that house dust mites trigger some cases of eczema, though there is no firm evidence that this is the case. As it is impossible to remove dust mites completely, many doctors believe it is better to concentrate on treating eczema.
- Cotton clothing may help, whereas woollen and synthetic fibres may make your baby too warm, and make his eczema worse. You could try dressing your baby in layers to keep him warm. In the winter, wearing cotton inners under any woollen or synthetic clothing can help prevent direct contact with the skin.
- Keep bedding and clothing light and layered, so that you can adjust your baby’s temperature easily.
- Keep your baby’s nails short to help prevent skin irritation from scratching.
Also Check: Baby Eczema Vs Dry Skin
Use These Natural Remedies For Baby Eczema And Help You Baby Find Relief
Mama, I know its hard to see your baby suffering from the discomfort of eczema. Its especially hard when they are experiencing severe itching or widespread inflammation. But even a small flare-up should be addressed so that it doesnt get worse.
Remember, its important to try to figure out the root cause of your babys eczema to keep it away. However, the 7 natural remedies for baby eczema discussed here will help get your babys skin clear and comfortable quickly.
Do you have an additional tip or natural remedy youve used for your babys eczema? Share your success below!
Is There Anything Else I Can Do
- Avoid irritants such as soaps and synthetic clothing. Recently, it has been found that many natural remedies have irritants within them. You should consult your doctor before using any such products.
- Breast-feed exclusively for the first four months of life, if possible, as it has been shown to protect against the occurrence of eczema.5
- Allergy testing is occasionally needed if your doctor suspects an underlying cause of the skin irritation.
- Short nails can reduce the severity of your babys scratching and reduce the chance of infection.
Don’t Miss: Cream For Eczema On Legs
Natural Remedies For Babies With Eczema
Most often, creams, balms, butters and oils are recommended to treat baby eczema. Its important to be aware that lotions do not protect and seal in moisture well enough to work effectively as an eczema treatment. They are simple too thin.
Lets dive into my top seven recommendations for natural baby eczema remedies.
The Difference Between Child And Adult Eczema
There is very little difference between child eczema and adult eczema. The main difference is the frequency with which flare-ups occur. As your child grows older, their skin becomes thicker and less sensitive. And with the right ongoing treatment, the occurrence of eczema flare-ups can be reduced.
So now that you know a bit about eczema, what causes flare-ups, and the difference between baby, child, and adult eczema, lets turn our attention to treatment and prevention.
You May Like: Products For Eczema On Scalp
Baby Eczema And Cradle Cap Symptoms
- Darkened skin on the eyelids and around the eyes
- Changes to the skin around the mouth, eyes, or ears
Cradle cap causes symptoms not commonly seen in other types of infantile eczema, such as greasy yellow scales on the scalp that sometimes appear in a thick layer covering the entire top of the head. Over time, the scales become flaky and rub off.
When To Speak With A Doctor
It is advisable to speak with a doctor if symptoms become more severe or if it is difficult to manage the condition at home. If eczema is beginning to impact a childs everyday life, such as disrupting sleep or there are frequent infections from scratching their skin, a parent caregiver can consider contacting a doctor.
Don’t Miss: Why Does My Eczema Flare Up At Night
What Can Make It Worse
Each baby is different. But there are some common eczema triggers to avoid, including:
Dry skin. It can make a baby’s skin itchier. Low humidity, especially during winter when homes are well-heated and the air is dry, is a cause.
Irritants. Think scratchy wool clothes, polyester, perfumes, body soaps, and laundry soaps. These can all trigger symptoms.
Stress. Children with eczema may react to stress by flushing. That can lead to itchy, irritated skin. And that, in turn, ramps up their eczema symptoms.
Heat and sweat. Both can make the itch of infant eczema worse.
Allergens. Itâs not certain, but some experts believe that removing cowâs milk, peanuts, eggs, or certain fruits from a childâs food may help control eczema symptoms. Remember that your baby can get exposed to these foods if their mother eats them before they breastfeed. Find out the connection between food and eczema flares.
Gentle Soaps And Detergents
Laundry detergent can contain harsh chemicals that aggravate eczema.
Many body washes and cleansers contain detergents, which help provide a soapy lather. Detergents and other lathering agents can dry out the skin, especially in people with eczema.
Bar soaps can also be harsh on the skin because of their alkalinity.
Try using a gentle, no-lather, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid products with rough particles for scrubbing or exfoliating, as these can further irritate the skin.
Many people with eczema also find that switching to a more gentle, fragrance- or color-free laundry detergent can help improve symptoms.
Additionally, try skipping fabric softener, which lingers on clothes and often contains fragrances and chemicals that can irritate the skin.
Sitting next to a fireplace or near a furnace may feel good, but it can worsen eczema symptoms. The hot, dry air can dehydrate the skin and aggravate the itchiness of eczema.
Use a humidifier during the dry winter months and avoid getting too close to heaters and fireplaces.
Also Check: What Herbs Will Help Eczema
Try To Reduce The Damage From Scratching
Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin.
But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur.
The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching.
Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.
Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead.
If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.
Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching.
Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.
Cure : Natural Remedies
Oatmeal
Oatmeal serves to be one of the best baby eczema natural remedies. Its soothing properties help alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Your child is going to love the oatmeal bath. Prepare the oatmeal bath for your kid as mentioned below
How to use:
- Add lukewarm water to the tub
- To it, add a cup of the oatmeal powder
- The water would feel soft
- Soak your baby in the bath for ten to fifteen minutes
- After that pat him dry
- Apply a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer on his skin
- Oatmeal cleanses the skin and eases inflammation
Benefits of oatmeal
Oatmeal helps in binding the surface and forms a protective layer called the skin barrier that keeps the bodys moisture intact and does not let the skin dry. It will help to soothe his body and provides effective relief from itching.
Recommended Reading: What Flares Up Eczema In Toddlers
How Long Does Eczema Last In Babies
Eczema is a common skin condition that often occurs in babies before the reach the age of one.Babies tend to start showing symptoms of eczema at around 2-3 months, which can continue for several years and sometimes even into adulthood.It can be a stressful time for both babies and parents when a child develops eczema, so its normal to want it to go away as quickly as possible.However, eczema tends to be a chronic condition that varies from person to person.
What To Do About Itching
Try to keep your baby from scratching their itchy skin. Scratching can make the rash worse, lead to an infection, and cause the irritated skin to get thicker and more leathery.
Trim their nails often, and then take the edge off of them with a file if you can. Some parents also slip “scratch mittens” onto their little one’s hands. Others try long socks, tucked in under a long-sleeved shirt, so they’re harder for a baby to remove. View a slideshow to get more eczema skin care tips.
Don’t Miss: Pompholyx Eczema How To Treat
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Eczema
The signs of eczema :
- are mainly dry, itchy skin. Because it is so itchy, it is often called “the itch that rashes.”
- include redness, scales, and bumps that can leak fluid and then crust over
- tend to come and go. When they get worse, it is called a flare-up.
- may be more noticeable at night
Symptoms can vary:
- Infants younger than 1 year old usually have the eczema rash on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp. It may spread to the knees, elbows, and trunk .
- Older kids and teens usually get the rash in the bends of the elbows, behind the knees, on the neck, or on the inner wrists and ankles. Their skin is often scalier and drier than when the eczema first began. It also can be thicker, darker, or scarred from all the scratching .
What Causes Baby Eczema
A combination of genetic and environmental factors causes baby eczema. These factors include:
- Skin irritants and allergens: Several things in your babys environment can bother your childs skin. If your child has an allergy, symptoms of eczema can flare up on their skin. Common environmental irritants and allergens include fabrics, soaps and certain foods.
- Immune system reaction: Your babys immune system defends against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses that can make your child sick. If your baby has eczema, their immune system can overreact and confuse healthy skin cells and small irritants in your babys environment as a foreign invader. As a result, your babys immune system will attack your babys skin cells which can cause symptoms of eczema.
- Genetics: During conception, the egg and sperm cells meet to give your child the building blocks of their body, which are their genes. Sometimes, changes to your babys DNA happen , which can affect how your babys body functions and develops. An eczema diagnosis could cause a lack of proteins in your babys body that are responsible for maintaining their skins protective barrier. If your childs protective barrier in their skin isnt working as expected, they could experience symptoms of eczema.
You May Like: Herbs That Are Good For Eczema
Benefits Of Coconut Oil
The antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of coconut oil make it quite useful for treating eczema in babies. The presence of lauric acid and Vitamin E and K help in reducing skin inflammation and promote its healing.
Precautions
Always do a patch test as babies skin is susceptible and might get flared up by any trigger. Look for organic and pure coconut oil for a better result.
Natural Eczema Treatments For Babies
Seeing little ones suffer from baby eczemacan be extremely heartbreaking. Between trying to find the right treatments fortheir sensitive skin, limiting their scratching and getting them to not wake upduring the night , it can be both anexhausting and emotional journey.
Babies with eczema can experience a varietyof symptoms, but the most common seem to be:
Often, babies with eczema can experience thesesymptoms on their elbows, knees, face, neck, hands and in severe cases it can cover the entire body.
Careful attention should be given to baby skin,as it is more sensitive. Irritation can also cause small pus bubbles or lead to a staph infection, particularly with scratching.
Although many parents look to steroids forimmediate eczema relief, there are a variety of natural treatments that canhelp as well.
Here are our top 5 natural eczema treatments forbabies:
Also Check: What’s The Best Laundry Detergent For Eczema
Natural Remedies For Baby Eczema: Which Ones Work A Review Of The Evidence
Calendula cream has been used to promote healing and treat skin conditions for centuries. While it has not been scientifically proven as effective for baby eczema, the results of small-scale studies are encouraging.
We know from experience that watching your child suffer the constant itch and irritation of baby eczema is frustrating. It doesnt help when you feel there is little you can do to make the itch go away and while the doctors have a cupboard full of conventional remedies, they dont always work as quickly, or well as we parents would like.
A combination of natural remedies and the prescriptions from our doctor really helped us to control our kids scratching, especially during the all to frequent flare-ups. To make sure we were really helping our son we did some research into which traditional and other natural remedies for baby eczema actually make a difference.
Here is our run-down of the evidence supporting the most popular natural remedies for baby eczema:
Evening Primrose Oil And Borage Oil
For a while, taking supplements of these oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids, was thought to help reduce eczema symptoms. But recent studies have cast doubt on their effectiveness. Although there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they can make a difference, the practicalities of giving these supplements to babies and children coupled with inconclusive evidence suggests that its probably best to stick with a good, varied diet.
Recommended Reading: Cetaphil Pro Restoraderm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer
Also Check: Home Remedies For Severe Baby Eczema
How Is Eczema Diagnosed
There is no specific test used to diagnose eczema. The doctor will look at the rash and ask about symptoms, the child’s past health, and the family’s health. If family members have any atopic conditions, that’s an important clue.
The doctor will rule out other conditions that can cause skin inflammation, and might recommend that your child see a dermatologist or an allergist.
The doctor may ask you to ban some foods from your child’s diet, switch detergents or soaps, or make other changes for a time to see if your child is reacting to something.
When To Visit A Doctor
Theres often no need to visit a doctor or pediatrician at the first sign of an eczema flare-up. In most cases, applying an emollient cream or balm multiple times throughout the day should be enough to treat the flare-up.
Its also important to inspect your childs environment to see if any triggers are present. Does a new piece of clothing rub the wrong way or is it too rough? Is it time to give your childs room a thorough cleaning? Identifying and removing these triggers can help decrease the duration of the flare-up.
If the eczema flare-up is still present after seven days despite using an emollient product, or if you notice a yellow or light-brown crust or blisters on top of the flare-up, call your doctor as soon as possible.
This could be a sign that your child has a bacterial infection. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine or an antibiotic. These medications will reduce the swelling, irritation, and itchiness that are causing your child so much discomfort.
With the flare-up gone, your child will feel better, sleep better, and be happier overall.
Don’t Miss: Pics Of Eczema On Feet