Baby skin is extremely delicate and susceptible to infections and damage. One common skin condition is eczema and it affects babies at a very young age. However, before dwelling further in the subject, it is important to understand what eczema actually is? Eczema is attributed to dry skin and rashes which can cause a lot of itchiness. Put simply, it is a skin rash.
Conflicting opinions regarding the causes are argued upon where on one hand it could be due to allergies and on the otherr it may be genetic. It is so common that it has been given various names such as dermatitis, atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis.
Various studies show that the incidence of contracting eczema is higher in the children who are below five years. However, it has now been established that apart from the genetic angle, eczema is a combination of dry skin and allergies.
To understand why eczema occurs, we must understand what causes this skin condition. Most babies who develop these disorders are medically termed as atopic dermatitis baiesy. Atopic means that the baby has genetically acquired the tendency to develop eczema, asthma or hay fever, and dermatitis means inflammation.
Babies are prone to this skin disorder during their first year however, there is every possibility that they may outgrow it. The inherent aspect of this malady is the fact that the skin pores have poor ability to prevent the skin from becoming dry. Consequently skinbecomes prone to infection. The infection is visible in terms of patches which are noticeable on the scalp, face, legs or back of the arm. Eczema cannot be cured but it can be controlled through treatment.
Researchers are still in debate as to what the cause of eczema is. Here are some of the possible causes:
Genetics and the immune system dysfunction could be a factor contributing to baby eczema. Difficulties with the permeability of the skin and environmental exposures are the causes which could cause such skin irritation.
The risk is higher if parents have a case history of asthma or hay fever. This gives rise to the theory that other diseases increase the likelihood of a person being prone to eczema.
It is a well known fact that eczema is a combination of dry skin and allergies. The early symptoms of eczema in babies can be noticed by their skin being dry and rashes tend to appear and spread on the face, legs or arms. Such allergies could be transferred through breast feeding where the mother’s dietary habits could be responsible.
Eczema mainly affects the baby’s skin in flare-ups wherein the dry and itchy parts of the skin get aggravated during these flare-ups. This can also occur when the baby’s immune system overreacts to certain allergens. During such times, it is important to notice the signs that are being exhibited.
The initial observation will depend on the child’s age. The starting signs are patches on the face owing to the skin being dry and this could be a cause of irritation to the baby. The flare-up in rashes with oozing blisters with inflammation could be another indication.
Dry skin or hard skin formation due to excessive scratching could also be a cause of eczema. The intensity of the rashes could be noticed if there is bleeding in the affected area. Only tests will reveal whether it is due to genetics or is a case of an allergy. It is generally believed that babies outgrow these on reaching adolescence. A few of the symptoms can be easily identified on the baby
Some of the signs that a baby is suffering from eczema include:
The baby’s skin begins exhibiting blisters that are visibly flared up on the skin and are rough.
The yellow fluids are accumulated under the surface of the dry skin and begin oozing out when they get severe.
Due to the constant itching and scratching, the skin begins turning red in colour.
Blood not being able to flow turns to pus in some parts of the skin and start hurting the baby.
Since eczema affects the immune system to an extent, the baby starts exhibiting flu-like symptoms including coughing, sneezing and a rise in body temperature.
If any of these are noticed then treatment should commence without any time lapse. Consulting a doctor in extreme cases is also recommended.
Therapeutic treatment apart from the ones above include baby eczema natural remedies which can be tried at home:
The treatment for eczema rash depends on how severe the rash is. If the rashes have been spotted early then preventive action by applying lotions to suppress the itching can be recommended. It is essential to ensure that the rash doesn’t dry up, otherwise, the itching will result in flaking up the rash because of excessive friction.
There is conflicting opinion regarding food allergy as being the cause of atopic dermatitis. The opinions are debatable but researchers have been vociferous in their support for breastfeeding for six months as it has been known to give positive results. There is also consensus on the fact that food allergies trigger symptoms in younger children and environmental hazards could be the cause symptoms in older ones.
There is also unanimity in the fact that food allergy and atopic dermatitis are inter-related. Several studies conducted have shown that certain food ingested by children cause inflammation which include foods like processed and fast foods. Some items of food are responsible for aggravating infection in younger children though they have a tendency of outgrowing the allergy over time. It is always advisable as a routine precaution to obtain an allergy evaluation test.
Clinical diagnosis with pathological documentation will point to the relation between symptoms and a food item. To be more precise, the ingestion of an item can produce a symptom which can be observed. A process of trial and error should be conducted to help in identifying the allergy-causing food.
Baby eczema needs to be treated for dry skin and inflammation. As already stated, if this is due to genetic causes it cannot be prevented. The symptoms may start showing a year after the child’s birth. It can certainly be prevented from aggravation by administering therapies as suggested by the specialist. It would be beneficial to maintain a record (for the benefit of the doctor) as to what causes such allergies in your baby.
Here are a few ways to prevent eczema:
Some of the many questions about Eczema include:
A study conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm discovered that pre-adolescent girls are more susceptible than boys.
There is considerable debate as to what the exact cause is. While there are many who say it is genetics, there are others who believe allergies and environmental factors have a role to play.
No, as it is related to inflammation, it cannot be passed on to another individual by contact or otherwise.
It is very important to know the difference between a rash and infected eczema. Eczema becomes infected when fungi get into the infected and damaged skin. Incessant scratching could enhance the severity of the infection. This can also worsen the rash and exacerbate the infection.
Eczema warrants prompt attention and the process can be evaluated depending on the severity of the infection. A dermatologist can help reduce the severity of the infection and reduce its duration. He will medicate and provide therapy to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body. It has been observed that bacteria called staphylococcus Aureus is the main cause of flare-ups.
Due to its presence around the wound, it enters the rash when the patient scratches the affected area. For such occurrences, topical steroids and anti-bacterial ointments are prescribed. Depending on the extent of severity, oral steroids may also be given to provide relief.
Medication should be within the prescribed limits. What can be cured by a paracetamol should not be cured by antibiotics and where antibiotics can do the job, steroids should never be administered. Nevertheless, the use of oral steroid therapies should be administered based on the advice of your child specialist.
Topical steroids are harmless once they are prescribed with the correct strength. It is advisable not to take the onus of medication by references as a self-prescribed strong dosage and strength can cause irreparable damage to the tender skin of the baby. This could be harmful in the long run as the effect of the steroid when needed will not provide the desired result.
Though the exact cause of eczema is not known, there are appropriate methods through which the disease can be controlled. As it can spread to other parts of the body, early action can help reduce the discomfort that is felt by the baby.
Read this article in Arabic: الإكزيما عند الأطفال