Eczema : Diagnosing Eczema in Babies
Ray Lam
Eczema sufferers are believed to have a problem with their immune system which causes the condition but as yet no-one has discovered how this occurs. This skin complaint is usually triggered by an adverse reaction to a substance, foodstuff or chemical etc. Although eczema can occur on many parts of the body, with baby eczema, it is usually first noticed on their face. In the United Sates of America, up to one in every five infants will be affected by this skin condition.
In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. A small percentage of children will not be this fortunate and will experience this condition when they are adults and it will sometimes become a chronic complaint. Almost anyone can be affected by this problem at any time in their life but it is babies that are most likely to suffer. Unfortunately most people have suffered with this since they were at least five years of age but around 33 percent will have contracted the condition by the time they reached their first birthday.
Atopic eczema is the most common form of baby eczema and can be recognized by red, scaly looking skin on their arms, legs and scalp which make the baby want to scratch themselves. Strangely, atopic eczema is also hereditary and often starts when the baby's skin is not moisturized regularly. Washing powder is also known to trigger attacks but fabric conditioners can also have a similar effect. It has also discovered that baby eczema was more likely if the mother gave up breastfeeding early which could mean that breast milk may contain something that protects the infant.
Other medical conditions, such as respiratory infections, may also act as triggers. It has also been found that if the baby's mother has asthma, they are more prone to suffer with this condition but other contributing elements include food allergies and allergic rhinitis. The number of childhood cases where food is responsible for the condition is considerable at almost 30 percent; discovering the foodstuffs responsible should be a relatively simple matter, which once this is done, can be removed from the diet completely. Although the process of diagnosing which food is responsible is often a case of trial an error, there are some that are often found as the cause including:
*Marine foods including shellfish *Cream and other milk products *Bread *Products containing eggs *Meals or foodstuffs where peanuts have been used in the preparation
Baby eczema is often the result of antibiotics given to the baby when it is born, as many doctors will attest. Infants, in particular babies with the condition need to be washed gently in lukewarm water using proprietary lubricating creams. Once they have dried, they need to be dressed in soft natural clothing made from cotton. A baby's nails should be kept short or covered with mittens to prevent itchy skin from becoming further damaged or infected from excessive scratching. Unfortunately, baby eczema sometimes needs further help and in these cases, the doctor might prescribe the use of antihistamines to relieve the itching; steroid creams can also be used for a short period to help heal the skin. In babies, despite being very common, it is still a difficult condition to treat and conquer.
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