Baby Eczema

By Josh Riverside

Eczema affects between ten and twenty percent of all babies in the United States. In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. In some babies, eczema becomes chronic and may continue into adulthood.

In babies, the most common type of eczema is atopic eczema. This type of eczema is characterized by itching, and red, scaly skin on the scalp, face, arms or legs. Eczematous lesions may also affect other parts of the body. Atopic eczema often runs in families, and an episode may be triggered when a baby has poorly moisturized skin, is exposed to certain substances or types of clothing, or eats certain foods. Extreme temperatures may also trigger eczema. Some studies have shown a link between early weaning from breastfeeding and eczema.

Food allergies are thought to account for up to 30 percent of childhood eczema cases. If a particular food is suspected as the likely cause of a baby’s eczema, the food can be eliminated from the diet. The process of eliminating foods is usually one of trial and error; some commonly implicated foods are milk, eggs, wheat, fish and peanuts. In some babies, wearing clothes that have been washed in certain detergents or treated with fabric softeners may trigger eczema.

The treatment of eczema in babies involves bathing in lukewarm water, and proper skin lubrication with hypoallergenic creams. Dressing a baby in natural fabrics such as cotton, and using only fragrance-free products, can also help. To prevent itchy skin from becoming further damaged or infected from excessive scratching, a baby’s nails should be kept short or covered with mittens. In more severe cases, a pediatrician may prescribe antihistamines to relieve itching, and local steroid creams for a limited period to heal skin lesions. Eczematous skin lesions that become infected may be treated with either a local antibiotic cream or an oral or injected antibiotic.


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