Are There Likely To Be Any Complications Of Eczema
It’s important to control your child’s eczema – uncontrolled eczema can lead to poor sleep which can have long-term effects on learning and behaviour.
Children with eczema are more likely to get skin infections.
Eczema makes the skin dry and cracked and increases the chance of infection by bacteria and viruses . Infected eczema may be wet, crusted or painful. See your doctor for treatment.
If your child’s eczema gets worse or becomes infected, you will need to take them to your doctor. Sometimes, a hospital stay may be necessary.
It’s important to control your child’s eczema. Uncontrolled eczema can lead to poor sleep which can have long-term effects on learning and behaviour.
Should I Worry About Using The Topical Steroids Prescribed By My Healthcare Professional
No, you dont need to worry, as long as you follow your healthcare professionals specific instructions. Topical steroids are first-line treatments for babies with eczema. These creams have been used to treat eczema for more than 50 years, so there is a good understanding of how they work.
If you dont treat the eczema promptly and adequately, skin damage is far more likely to occur through scratching into the deeper layers of skin.
Eczema Causes And Risk Factors
Experts arenât sure what exactly causes eczema. Things that may make it more likely include:
- An immune system response to something irritating
- Problems in your skinâs barrier that let moisture out and germs in
- A family history of other allergies or asthma
Know more about the link between allergies and eczema.
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Avoid Triggers And Treat Infection
Stay cool
Getting too hot from clothing or heating can make eczema worse – stay cool.
Avoid soap and fragrances
Soap and fragrances are the most common triggers of eczema. Only use skin care products designed for eczema. Many are available on prescription from your doctor or nurse prescriber.
Prevent skin infections
Eczema is made worse by infection such as from:
- school sores
- the cold sore virus which can cause severe painful infection of eczema
Avoid contact with cold sores. See your family doctor urgently if your child gets an infection from cold sores.
Removing foods from your child’s diet does not usually help eczema
Removing foods from your child’s diet does not usually help eczema and can be dangerous, leading to anaphylaxis.
Please talk with your doctor about this.
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Skip The Long Hot Baths
Baby eczema is not an easy thing to deal with, but there are some things that can make it less severe. Parents who find that their child has eczema might want to avoid doing things like giving them long baths that are very hot. They should give them warm or slightly cool baths instead. In addition, when they are bathing their baby, parents should try not to rub their childs skin a lot, since that is not good for eczema. Furthermore, they should not use rough things like towels or loofahs on their babys skin. Washcloths can be really rough as well, so parents should be picky about which ones they use on their children.
What Causes Eczema In Children
Researchers dont know exactly what causes baby eczema, but they believe its most likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Eczema is not contagious.
Infants are more likely to develop eczema if family members have a history of eczema, hay fever, or asthma.
While these conditions don’t cause one another, infants are more likely to develop hay fever or asthma if they already have baby eczema.
Scientists believe eczema results from an immune-system dysfunction that affects the skin barrier and its ability to hold in moisture.
Eczema is a general term to describe a number of inflammatory skin conditions. Aside from atopic dermatitis, other types of eczema that commonly affect children include contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema , and seborrheic dermatitis, or scalp eczema .
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What Can Make It Worse
Each baby is different. But there are some common eczema triggers to avoid, including:
Continued
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. Its not certain, but some experts believe that removing cows milk, peanuts, eggs, or certain fruits from a childs 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.
Which Foods May Trigger Eczema
When you have a food allergy, your body reacts to a harmless treat as if it’s a dangerous germ and attacks. Symptoms — like swelling — are side effects of your body’s defenses.
Eczema doesn’t seem to be an allergic condition, but reactions from food can make it worse in some kids. Itâs more likely in babies and young children.
Some foods are more likely to bring symptoms. The common offenders are:
- Milk
- Shellfish
- Soy
While trigger foods can make eczema worse, experts don’t think theyâre really the original cause. Instead, it seems to result from “leakiness” in the outer layer of skin that lets in irritants, germs, and allergens.
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What Is Eczema In Babies
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes itchy skin, rashes, dry skin, scaly patches, and skin infections, says Dr. Elizabeth Mullans, M.D., Board-Certified Dermatologist, and founder of Uptown Dermatology in Houston, Texas.
While there are seven different types of eczema, atopic dermatitis is the most common among childrenaffecting up to 25%, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Not only does this type of eczema affect each child differently, but its also common for the location and appearance of eczema to change as a child gets older.
For infants and young children, the dry patches are typically found on the face, as well as the parts of the body that get more frictionsuch as the babys elbows and knees . As they get older, eczema often moves to the hands, feet, arms, and the back of the knees.
Two Types Of Eczema Your Baby Could Have: Atopic Dermatitis Or Contact Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is the type of eczema that runs in the family. Food allergies, hay fever, and environmental allergies may be related to flare-ups of atopic dermatitis.Contact dermatitis occurs when an irritant or allergen comes into contact with your babyâs skin, causing an allergic reaction in the form of a rashâin other words, eczema.
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Identifying Baby Eczema On His Face And Body
So what does baby eczema look like? With eczema, your babyâs skin will look dry and scaly or bumpy with red patches. The condition usually starts on the face, especially on the cheeks, forehead, or scalp.
In many cases, the rash goes away on the face before spreading to other areas, such as the bends of the elbows and the area behind the knees.
The patches caused by eczema can be mild and small, but they can also be extremely itchy, which can make your baby irritable. If this is the case with your little one, speak to your healthcare provider.
Keep in mind that eczema on your babyâs head might look a little like cradle cap, which is another skin condition that can affect some babies. Your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose the condition.
Researchers Identify Subtype Of Eczema Tied To Food Allergies
Other studies, though, have had contradictory findings. For example, one study of American children published in August 2016 in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology suggested that a hot and sunny climate combined with high particulate matter and ozone levels actually appears to protect against eczema.
A small Australia-based study, published in March 2019 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found an association between ultraviolet sunlight exposure in early infancy and lower incidence of eczema by 6 months of age.
The scientists, though, caution against intentionally exposing babies to direct sunlight until researchers better understand this complicated issue.
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What Are The Complications Of Eczema
Affected skin can be very itchy. The itchiness can cause sleep difficulties for your child or infant and scratching can also lead to breaking of the skin.
Broken skin may become infected with bacteria that commonly live on childrens hands. Bacterial infections may cause inflamed blisters which can weep and form crusts.
Warts and herpes can also infect eczema rash. Infection with herpes can cause serious problems and is an emergency which needs to be treated urgently. If someone has a cold sore, make sure to keep a distance from a child with eczema.
Will My Baby Grow Out Of Eczema
Sadly, it is impossible to predict whether your baby will have eczema for life or for just a short time. So far, there is no cure for eczema. Eczema is a chronic condition with periods of flare and periods of remission, and most people with a history of eczema still have problems with dry and itchy skin. If your child has a difference in their filaggrin gene, they will not grow out of it. Even if your baby appears to grow out of their eczema, it may return during the teenage years or in adulthood.
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How Do I Prevent My Child With Eczema Having Flare
The goal of treating eczema is to prevent and minimise flare-ups, as well as maintain skin health between flare-ups.
Moisturisers should be used between flare-ups to keep the skin in good condition, reduce the itch associated with dry skin and reduce the chance of infections. It is important to moisturise after showering or bathing once the skin is dry.
People with eczema have sensitive skin so irritants should be avoided. This includes many soaps and moisturisers. Your pharmacist can help you choose products suitable for eczema.
Trying to avoid triggers is worthwhile. Food allergies are not common eczema triggers. It is important not to put your child on a diet without medical advice, as nutrition for children shouldn’t be compromised unnecessarily.
Tips For Soothing Your Babys Eczema This Winter
While theres no cure for eczema, dont say goodbye to your dreams of snuggling that baby-soft skin quite yet.
Eczema among babies is common and very treatable, explains Dr. Mullans. There are several approaches to treating eczema, from topical moisturizers and ointments to hypoallergenic baby products and clothes.
Remove bath time irritants
As cute as it may be to see your baby surrounded by bubbles in the bath, these products often contain harsh ingredients that can dry and irritate the skin. Stick with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
You should also limit time in the tub to no more than 10 to 15 minutes, followed by gently patting your babys skin with a soft towel.
Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!
Its important to moisturize immediately after the bath to seal in hydration and avoid drying out your babys delicate skin. Use a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer over their entire body. Reapply at least 2 to 3 times throughout the day to add a little extra boost to their dry skin.
Typically, a thicker cream or ointment is more effective for soothing your babys eczemaopposed to thinner lotions or oils. Be aware that just because a product claims to be natural or organic doesnt mean its hypoallergenic. Natural products can still cause skin reactions. Start by testing any new moisturizer on a small part of your babys body to ensure they respond well.
Keep your baby cool + comfortable
Protect your baby against scratching
Be proactive
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Help Your Child Avoid Personal Irritants
Some substances can irritate skin and start the cycle of itching and scratching. If you notice that your child’s eczema gets worse after being exposed to something, help your child avoid it. Irritants are not the same for all children. If a common trigger does not bother your child, there is no reason to avoid it. Here are some examples of possible triggers that can cause eczema flare-ups in some children.
Perfumes and fragrances, including the skin care and bathing products that contain them
Harsh soaps
Bath salts or bubble baths
Rough clothing, including wool fabrics
Temperature extremes, including hot and cold, dry air
Skin Infections
Children with eczema often have more bacteria on their skin. Even when it does not cause an infection, the bacteria can make the skin more irritated and can make the eczema worse, so keeping clean is important.
Babies and children with eczema are also prone to skin infections. Infections make the eczema even worse and need to be treated by a doctor. An oral antibiotic, antibiotic cream or very small amount of bleach added to bath water might be prescribed. Bleach should not be added to bath water without guidance from your child’s doctor. Signs of possible infection include: increased pain, tenderness or swelling, hot skin, fever, pus, or red streaks extending from the affected skin.
Stress
Environmental allergens
Foods that are not allergens
What Are The Symptoms Of Eczema
Eczema is a chronic condition which causes red, itchy areas on the skin. Sometimes the itching is very severe. When skin is scratched it can break open, ooze and then crust over. Symptoms of eczema can come and go. Babies with eczema often have it on their cheeks, forehead and scalp. Older children often have it on their hands, wrists, ankles, feet, and on the inside folds of their elbows and knees.
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How Can Good Eczema Control Help Prevent Food Allergy
Since healthy skin acts as a barrier, it also helps prevent substances like food allergens from getting into the body through the skin. Healthy skin helps protect the immune system from being exposed to food allergens. When your child’s eczema is under good control, your child’s skin is better at preventing food allergens from getting in.
New research suggests that when your child’s skin is scratched open, food allergens can get into the body more easily to make contact with the immune system. Direct contact between open skin and food, such as peanuts, may increase the chance that an allergy will develop to that food. The immune system may be more prone to developing a food allergy if the first exposures to the food are through scratched open skin.
The opposite may be true if the immune system is first introduced to the food by eating it. If the first exposure to a food is through the digestive tract, the immune system may more likely tolerate the food.
For more information about controlling eczema, please refer to the section on the next page called: How can I help control my child’s eczema?
What Caused My Babys Eczema
There is no single cause of atopic eczema. Eczema is a complex condition it is genetic but also involves an overactive immune response to environmental factors, which cause eczema flares. Because the atopic gene is hereditary, it runs in families, and is responsible for three conditions: eczema, asthma and hay fever.
Fifty per cent of people with eczema have an additional genetic element a difference in a skin protein called filaggrin which leads to further problems in the skin barrier. All atopic conditions can be linked to allergies in some people, but there are also many universal irritants, such as soap and heat.
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What Should I Do If My Babys Eczema Gets Worse
If your baby has wet, weepy skin and their eczema is not getting better with steroids, their skin may be infected and they may need antibiotics. If your babys eczema flare does not get better with the standard treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence , your GP should refer them to a dermatology specialist. If they suspect an allergy, they should refer them to an allergist or joint dermatologyallergy clinic.
Does Breastfeeding Prevent Baby Eczema
There is some evidence that breastfed babies may be less likely to develop eczema. Although unproven, the antimicrobial properties in breast milk have also been studied as a type of treatment when directly applied to an eczema rash. To try this, rub a few drops of your liquid gold onto the rash regularly for a few days and watch for any reduction in symptoms.
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Can Food Allergy Cause Eczema
Although food allergy is more common in children who have eczema, they are separate conditions.
Food allergy does not normally cause eczema, but having eczema may increase the chance that a food allergy develops. For a description of how eczema may increase the risk of food allergy, please refer to the section on the next page called: How can good eczema control help prevent food allergy?
Key Points To Remember About Eczema In Children
- eczema is a dry, itchy skin condition
- you can usually control your child’s eczema by using lots of moisturiser, a bath once a day and using steroids when your child’s skin has active eczema
- avoid things which irritate your child’s skin, especially soap
- go to your family doctor as soon as possible if your child’s eczema doesn’t improve after treatment or becomes infected
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