Living with Baby Eczema - Practical Tips

Living with baby eczema – Practical tips

Life with a baby is hectic and full of differing emotions. When a baby is not well life becomes more hectic and the emotions more mobile.

A baby with eczema will be uncomfortable and unsettled on an ongoing basis leading to many sleepless nights, for both parents and baby, and considerable stress for the parents as they strive to relieve their baby’s discomfort and control the condition.

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the skin. A red rash develops on the skin, which becomes very dry and itchy. The most common form of eczema in children is atopic eczema, which is allergy based and has a genetic component.

Living with your baby’s eczema on a day to day basis can be very stressful and draining for the rest of the family. Not only is it upsetting to see loved ones uncomfortable but the symptoms of eczema can be very difficult to control.

Eczema and dry skin go together

Babies with eczema have very dry skin (xerosis) which, if controlled will significantly minimize the discomfort experienced by the condition. The easiest way to control dry skin in babies is to add a bath oil to their bath water and allow them to soak in the water for several minutes each day.

It is widely believed that babies should only have a very quick bath on every other day because the water will dry out there skin. Whilst this is true the drying effect of the bath water is reversed when a bath oil is added to the water. Allowing them to soak in the water becomes very beneficial.

Eczema best known for the itch

The itch (pruritis) is possibly what eczema is best known for. Of all the eczema symptoms the itch causes the most discomfort and has the potential to cause the most damage to the skin. Young children cannot control their itching. It is up to their parents/carers to control the itch thereby reducing the scratching.

A good quality eczema cream designed specifically to control the symptoms of eczema will be needed to control the itching. There are many of these creams available. It is a matter of trying different creams until you find the one that suits your baby’s skin and controls their symptoms. Eczema creams are best applied directly after the baby’s bath as the skin is soft and moist at this time and the cream will be most effective.

Minimize scratching and reduce skin damage

Other ways to control the itch and protect the skin from damage due to scratching are to keep the nails short and cover the hands when the baby is sleeping. Scratching whilst asleep is very common.

Young babies who are not yet old enough to play can have their hands covered all of the time as an extra safety measure. Some baby garments have little mitts attached to the end of the sleeve. If not separate mitts or even socks over the hands will reduce the damage caused by scratching.

Cotton is best

Also ensure baby only wears natural fibers that are not scratchy or irritating. Cotton is best. Cut off clothing tags and turn undergarments inside out so the seams do not irritate the skin.

Always wash new clothing before it is worn and ensure a mild detergent is used. Always rinse clothes thoroughly. Putting washing through a double rinse cycle is advisable, as it is the residue from the washing detergent that causes much of the irritation from clothing.

Scratching leads to infection

Continued scratching will cause the skin to break. This will increase pain and irritation but most importantly it will leave the skin prone to the development of infection. Broken skin needs to be cared for carefully to ensure the wound heals without complications. A doctor should be consulted if the skin becomes broken and especially if signs of infection become apparent.

When selecting toys for a baby with eczema it is also advisable to choose toys that do not have sharp edges that could scratch the skin and toys that are made from non irritating, easily washable fabrics. Dust mites are also a common allergen that may trigger an eczema flare up and increase itching so toys and bedding should be washed regularly.

Diet may trigger eczema

http://www.epismooth.com/a-diet-and-eczema.php

Diet is another factor that may trigger eczema in many children. When a baby with eczema is being introduced to new foods it should be done slowly and one food at a time. This allows for the baby’s reaction to each individual food to be assessed. If multiple foods are introduced at a time it is difficult to determine which foods are the culprits in causing the eczema flare up.

A baby with eczema will often be more unsettled and demand more attention than a healthy baby. This is only to be expected, as crying is the only way for a baby to communicate its discomfort. Spending the time to control the symptoms and remembering to be patient will make life a lot easier.