Baby skin eczema
How to Eliminate the Primary Cause
of your Child's Eczema

Baby skin eczema is often the result of a very dry and sensitive skin.

Eczema is a very distressful and sometimes painful condition for babies.

There are various types of eczema but the most common is atopic dermatitis. It can occur at any age but can start as early as 2 to 3 months of age.

Baby skin eczema causes.

Baby skin eczema on the face.

Why babies get eczema is still unknown. Studies show that atopic dermatitis in infants appears to be the result of interactions between environment, skin barrier defects, family history and the immune system.

Family history.

For parents suffering from atopic dermatitis or other allergic conditions as asthma or hay fever there is an increased risk that their child will get eczema.

The infant’s immune system.

Eczema is thought to be caused by an overactive response of the immune system to unknown triggers.

Skin barrier defects.

In eczema the irritant causes changes in the structure and function of the layers of the skin. As a result the normal barrier of the outer skin layer is partially lost. Harmful substances are able to penetrate the skin and bacteria are able to cause infections of the skin. Water loss causes the skin to become very dry and flaky.
Scratching of the skin also destroys the natural barrier function of the skin.

Environmental factors.

Many factors in the environment can trigger a flare up baby skin eczema. For example house dust mite protein, animal dander, moulds and weed spores can come into the lungs and set off the immune system there, resulting in reactions in the skin.
But also fur, dander (dried skin), urine and saliva of pets can cause eczema flare ups in young children.

The incidence of baby eczema is rapidly growing around the globe with 10 to 20% of all infants under one year of age suffering from this itchy skin condition.

Symptoms of a baby eczema rash.

Baby eczema scars.

Eczema can leave ugly white or pink patches on the skin or even a sandpaper like texture of the skin.
Because scratching increases the risk of eczema scars it is vital you keep baby’s nails short. You can prevent your baby from scratching during the night by letting him wear mittens or special pajamas that cover your baby’s hands.

Preventing atopic dermatitis in children.

Prevention is always better than trying to treat a breakout of a baby skin eczema.

Use baby friendly products.
Avoid fragrances and fabric softeners.
Dress your baby in breathable cotton clothes.
Avoid too warm bath water or bathing too often. This will dry out the skin even more.
Use moisturizers and emollients to seal in the skin’s own moisture.
Avoid hot and humid weather that causes excessive sweating. But cold and dry weather can also trigger a flare up because it makes the skin extremely dry.

Fortunately most cases of Baby Skin Eczema are mild, and can be treated with moisturizers, emollients and topical steroids. Most infants will outgrow it before they are 2 to 3 years old. However there are some children that have serious and chronic eczema.

Back to baby skin rash page.

You can learn more about baby skin eczema treatments
in the book;

* Caring for your Child with Eczema*

This Eczema Guide by Audrey Lynn has helped many parents to get a better understanding of baby eczema.

It explains how to to safely treat the root cause of your child's eczema, not just the symptoms.
Foods and drinks a child MUST avoid.
How to safely stop your child's itching with natural home remedies.
And also how to identify and flush out allergens in your house that may be worsening your child's eczema.