Eczema or atopic dermatitis
is a very common condition and 65% of patients develop
symptoms during the first year of their life when they
are babies. This means that 10% of all babies and young
children will experience symptoms of this condition.
Although the causes of baby eczema are not known, this
condition appears to result from a combination of genetic
and environmental factors and stress is known to make
the condition worse.
Dryness of the skin is the main problem associated
with eczema and this dryness is aggravated by hot,
dry conditions or extreme cold or sudden changes in
temperature. High humidity causes increased sweating
and may result in prickly-heat type symptoms. Low
humidity dries the skin, especially in the winter
months when homes are heated and often over heated.
The first signs of eczema in a baby usually begin
at 9 to 12 months although symptoms can appear as
early as 3 to 4 months. The condition usually starts
on the face, followed by the hands and feet. Older
children are often affected in the elbow and knee
creases, neck, wrists, ankles and feet. When eczema
appears in the first year of a baby’s life,
there is a 50% chance that it will have disappeared
by the time he has reached the age of 5 and fewer
than 5% will still have a problem with eczema once
they have reached adulthood.
Eczema is very itchy, making the baby want to scratch
which in turn causes further rawness of the skin and
possibly allowing other infections to take a hold.
The area affected is red with a grainy appearance
caused by tiny fluid–filled blisters under the
skin. If these blisters burst, fluid can ooze out
giving a weeping appearance which then dries to form
a crust.
There are ways to help your baby if he has this condition:
• Use a natural healing product made from essential
oils which eliminates the itching while repairing
the skin. Such a product is completely safe for use
on children of all ages.
• Give your baby a warm bath every day so that
his skin can soak for 15 to 20 minutes and absorb
moisture. Aqueous cream should be used instead of
soap while avoiding any scrubbing. The skin should
be dried gently by patting with a towel. While his
is still damp, apply emollient cream for added moisture.
• Use cotton mittens on your baby’s hands
whenever he starts to scratch and when he is sleeping.
Some eczematous rashes completely disappear without
any treatment if you can just prevent scratching.
When the skin is healthy and unbroken, it presents
the best defence against skin infections. Unfortunately
when a baby has eczema, he becomes more prone to bacterial
and viral infections.
