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More than one new mother has felt panic when first noticing the dry, red, itchy skin condition developing on their infant, symptoms of a skin condition commonly known as eczema or atopic dermatitis.
About one out of every ten infants develops eczema between the ages of two and six months. Usual starting places include the cheeks, forehead and scalp, where the skin turns red, dry and ultimately very itchy and uncomfortable. The eczema may then spread elsewhere on the infant’s body, including the creases of the elbows, knees and wrists, along with the stomach, arms and legs. Infants can’t resist scratching, which further inflames the irritation and causes the skin to bleed or crust over.
There is no specific cause for infant eczema, although children in families where allergies are rampant seem to be most susceptible. Although there is no cure for eczema, eventually infants will outgrow the condition and there are effective treatments that can help to alleviate the discomfort and prevent the eczema from spreading or getting worse.
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Effective Treatments for Infant Eczema
Twice a day bathing in lukewarm water (around 85 degrees) is a soothing treatment for infant eczema, with no use of soaps or detergents or any rubbing of the skin. Take the infant from the bathwater and while the skin is still damp, apply a moisturing cream or petroleum jelly on the affected area to keep the eczema moisturized. It’s important to use moisturizer on the skin every day, even when the eczema has lessened or gone into remission.
Wrapping the area affected by eczema in cotton cloth soaked in a mixture of warm water and table salt is another effective infant eczema treatment. Allow the infant to stay wrapped and keep warm under a blanket for about 30 minutes before removing the cloth and applying moisturizing creams or ointments.
If the eczema is a severe case, consult a dermatologist about obtaining a prescription for steroid cream or ointment. Often over the counter hydrocortosone creams will do the trick. Steroid creams should be applied at least once a day while the eczema is fully active, but can be eliminated once the skin has healed.
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Certain foods such as eggs, milk and peanut butter can trigger eczema flare-ups, as can stress, tight-fitting rough-fibered clothing, and exposure to certain chemicals in soaps and detergents. Prevening these occurences serves as a good preventative treatment for infant eczema.
Treating infant eczema requires consistency and patience and usually clears up within one to two weeks of an outbreak.