How to treat ECZEMA in babies? what causes them?
Monday, September 21st, 2009 at
11:58 am
my almost 6 month old baby has eczema on her ear, face, arms and legs. Sometimes it doesn’t show but most of the time it does. She has very dry and sensitive skin. What’s the best treatment that’s safe for babies’ delicate skin? What causes eczema?
Filed under: Eczema Causes
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Eczema is a common problem of infancy and many mother have spent many anguished moments dealing with itching, squirming, unhappy infants with abnormal skin. The problem often appears on the face as patches of reddish, scaling skin.
As eczema worsens, the skin becomes more itchy, red, thickened, and grooved, and may blister, weep, and crack.
The typical distribution of eczema is on the face, behind the ears, on the fronts of the elbows, the backs of the knees, the hands, neck, and trunk.
Nocturnal restless, irritability and crying are prominent. When the child begins to crawl, the exposed areas especially the extensor aspects of knees are affected. Diaper rash is a common association and may be severe.
The eczematous infant has food allergy until proven otherwise. If formula-fed, then the formula is to blame and needs to be changed. Cow’s milk is a common cause and switching to soya based formulas may help.
If the infant is breast fed, then mothers diet contains the problem food and need to be changed. A decision has to be made based on the severity of the infant’s conditions. If the eczema is mild and the infant is otherwise health and happy, the best decision will be to use steroid cream sparingly to control the skin eruption and monitor the child carefully for further symptoms.
If the eczema is more severe, especially if other health problems are associated, then mother should consider doing the Alpha Nutrition Program herself.
She retreats to Phase 1 foods for 10 days or longer – until her breast-fed infant settles and the skin begins to heal. It takes several weeks for the skin to heal completely and unfortunately, if mother indulges in small treats the infants skin may react strongly and postpone healing for more weeks.
When is is time to introduce solid foods to the infant, the phase 1 list of Alpha Nutrition foods serves as the guide to first foods. If the infant does well with mother eating phase 1 foods we are more optimistic that these foods will be well-tolerated when they are fed to the infant directly.
Eczema is caused by the body’s hypersensitivity reaction to alot of different allerigans, and itself
A lot of the time it is inherited from the parents.
Take the baby in to the pediatrician/ or dermatologist.
There are a variety of creams for the babies these days.
Steroid and non steroidal
Such as Elivel
Also, use Aveeno babyproducts, such as the oatmeal bath for bathtime to help sooth.
dont bath your baby everyday. It actually dries out their skin. Moisturize 3 times daily with a non perfumed gently moisturizer. Both my children have had eczema since birth. It can be hereditary.
have her tested for allergies. I don’t know if you are breastfeeding or feeding her other foods besides formula yet but I have a friend whose baby had really bad eczema from birth- she tested allergic to milk, dairy and eggs- my friend was breastfeeding and had to cut htose things from her diet because they were affecting her baby. Besides this she also tested allergic to synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Her child is 3 now and still allergic to mil- she gets no milk or dairy in her diet and she wears only 100 % cotton and her eczema is under control now. She has had doctors tell her that eczema did not have to do with food allergies and other doctors told her it did. She had been given medication but opted not to go that route- the removal of the allergens has made a big difference. My daughter had mild eczema- most of the time it was not a big deal- she is 13 and we recently found out she had food allergies- wheat, gluten and eggs amongst some other things- since she has been off of those foods she has had absolutely no eczema
Eczema is just a term for dry skin. Your baby will most likely outgrow this, it is very common in babies and young children. The only thing you can do is make sure you are using a very very mild and moisturizing soap, and apply baby lotion or a dab of baby oil. You can also add a dab of baby oil to her bath water. My daughter is eleven and still has very dry and sensative skin. I constantly have to remind her to put a little lotion on. My family uses dove soap, recommended by my physician, it is very moisturizing and it doesn’t irritate her sensative skin. I would also make sure your detergent that you use for washing her clothes is free and clear of dies and scents. ALL makes a great detergent for sensative skin. Good luck.
Eczema is red, dry, patchy areas of skin. I is common with children and a large group out grow it. The only thing you can do it treat it, there is no cure. I have psoriasis which is similar, the main thing is moisturize! A great soap is Cetaphil, it’s not harsh and won’t dry out the skin like most soaps. Cerave is a great lotion, it doesn’t contain a fragrance or other things that dry out the skin. There are steroids that are anti-inflammatory like Clobetasol Propionate (ointment), but that’s far to strong for and kid.
No one really knows what causes eczema. However, we do know that people with eczema have skin that is different.
Normal skin pretty much takes care of itself, never really causing us too much trouble. It’s the largest organ of your body, flexible, relatively waterproof, keeps you warm or cool by regulating body temperature, and protects you from tiny organisms and infections.
Skin affected by eczema is often dry and cracked, the protective outer layer of skin damaged. As a result, skin affected by eczema loses a lot of water, which interferes with the natural healing process.
Stop using any kind of detergent or soap on the baby’s skin. A nine month old will come nice and clean with olive oil. When you can get it pure lanolin will also work–if it is pure it has to be warmed to become liquid. Both of these will hold moisture in the skin and help it heal. Try washing the baby’s clothes and bed clothes with Nature’s Concentrate. Let this child have moderate amounts of morning and evening sunshine on naked skin–sometimes this clears it up quite rapidly. If there is a possibility that fungus has grown in the skin the sun will certainly make things better. Try natural fibers rather than synthetics–hard to do in store bought baby clothes. -
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I have learned many babies with eczema are allergic to milk. A local Peds Allergy Specialist takes baby eczema patients off all dairy for 1 week, just to see if that is the problem. My son had eczema from age 1-3 until I tried this, and it worked. -
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My daughter had baby eczema while she was breast feeding and we didn’t find out until she started eating food other than breast milk that she was severely allergic to all dairy, eggs and nuts. I had been eating all of those food while breast feeding. She was diagnosed by an allergist to have these food allergies. She then developed asthma as she grew older and the allergist said that is the usual progression from eczema then if the allergies are still present it will be followed by asthma. I took her off all dairy, eggs and nuts for 7 years, and had her retested for these food allergies and the skin tests showed no allergy to the dairy and eggs. So we slowly introduced both foods back into her diet and she can tolerate eggs well and a little bit of dairy now and then. I also put her on supplements for allergies as soon as I could mashing them up in applesauce until she could swallow pills. They have helped a ton. –
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During the last trimester of pregnancy women tend to become very low in zinc. When this occurs the women tend toward yeast infections, and they have problems keeping their blood sugar stable. They are also the ones that may have thyroid problems at the end of pregnancy and are unable to loose the weight after the baby is born. Low levels of zinc suppress thyroid function.
These same women tend to have babies that develop cradle cap, thrush, or eczema. Because zinc is needed for enzyme production, and for keeping yeast under control the babies are more prone to stomach upset, colic, and poor digestion in general. I recommend you try adding a couple zinc per day, and taking food enzymes when you eat to make sure you are not passing any undigested proteins thru to the baby in your milk.
When eczema is present, so is yeast on the skin. It is likely the baby’s level of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract is low. Babies are supposed to get their Bifidophilus from the breast milk when they first start nursing, but if the Mom is low in friendly bacteria she can’t pass it on. You could start by taking about four Bifidophilus Flora Force daily, in order to pass it thru to the baby in your milk. Also essential fatty acids are very important for clearing up eczema. You could take 1 Tbs. twice daily. -
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I have worked with breatfeeding Moms and given then chlorophyll and the baby’s skin has cleared up, it might be a good supplemet for the baby directly as it cleanses and strengthens the blood at the same time.
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Try Chlorophyll liquid internally and collodial silver externally on areas. Also, determine the root cause which is probably an allergy, whether it be to formula, food, something touching her tender skin (e.g. soap, detergent clothes are washed in, etc). Also, giving her probiotics will be very beneficial. I believe that even vaccinations and antibiotics may have a contributing cause in some children. I pray this helps in some way.
For baby, eczema can be an uncomfortable and distressing condition. The cycle of mild skin irritation followed by scratching and uiltimately infection is all too common. There is no cure for eczema as such, however for some lucky individuals the condition disappears after a couple of years. For others a lifelong treatment routine is the only answer.
Generally health professionals recommend the use of emollients as a first-line treatment. Emollients are products which moisturise and soften the skin. They restore the elasticity and suppleness and help to reduce the itching and scratching. Emollients are safe and should be used frequently. Emollients include:
a bath/baby oil*, with regular once or twice daily baths
a soap substitute, such as aqueous cream
a moisturiser applied liberally to all areas of dry skin, at least twice daily and if possible more frequently.
The application of prescription medication to aid in the reduction of inflammation is also recommended in some cases. Because of baby’s low body weight and intolerance to certain drugs and chemicals, advice should be sought from a health care professional before the application of any strong medication.
*NOTE: When choosing a baby oil it is best to choose one made from natural oils as many commonly available baby oils are made from liquid paraffin which is a derivative of crude oil. Recent critical claims by various manufacturers and authorities have seen a decline in the use of paraffins in cosmetics.
Keep them cool. Use cool, light bedding, loose clothing and always keep the bedroom somewhat cool at night.
Keep the skin moist. Keep skin well moisturized, even when the rash is not present. This will help to prevent ‘flare-ups’ of the condition.
Use 100% cotton clothes and bedding. Avoid nylon and wool. Wash clothes and bedding in a mild detergent, avoid bleach and fabric softeners, and rinse clothes twice.
Pets. Avoid pets – contact with fur and feathers can irritate the skin.
Pests. Dust mites, fungus, and mould can irritate eczema. Try to keep the bedroom as free of these irritants as possible. There are a number of products available to help manage these. Using special high-powered vacuum cleaners and allergen/dust proof mattress and pillow covers can control these microscopic creatures. Having hardwood floors and washing bedding frequently at high temperatures can also help.
Keep fingernails short and clean. If necessary, use cotton gloves or mittens at night to prevent scratching during sleep.
Diet. Changes to diet may be effective for some children if food has been identified as a trigger factor. Only do this with advice from your doctor or a dietician.
Emollients/moisturizers. Make sure the moisturizer/emollient you choose does not contain alcohol, which will dry your child’s skin. While the skin is still damp, apply moisturizers to create a barrier against water loss. Make sure any moisturizers or emollients you use are rich enough (has a high oil to water ratio) to help keep moisture in the skin.
Bathing. Bathe your child in tepid, not hot, water for 5 to 10 minutes. If necessary, use mild cleansers free of perfumes and harsh irritants. Pat the skin dry, then apply a moisturizer to the child’s entire body sealing in the moisture from the bath.
Be patient. Eczema is a chronic disease and must be managed daily. Find a routine both you and your child can live with and stick to it. Remember, you are not alone, and there is support.
Involve your child. It’s important for your child to feel involved in their own skincare. It helps them achieve a sense of control over their disease and helps them feel good that they can do something about the awful itch.
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I went through the same thing with my son. I had to have a topical ointment perscribed for him. It’s been so long ago now, that I can’t remember the name of it but, it worked great!
While the really long answer comes close to what I understand, I don’t see an answer that says it succinctly, so here goes. In our intestines we carry yeast (Candida fungus). It helps us digest food. However, it can overgrow and go into other organs, and thus, get transmitted to a baby. Check out http://www.hufa.org for basic information. Eczema is one skin condition that can be caused by yeast. Psoriasis is another.
If you are breast feeding, you may want to consider eating yogurt (plain, unsweetened, no fruit added), or feed it to the baby. The acidophilous bacteria in the yogurt is apparently a natural enemy of the yeast.
Best wishes.
Your baby has dry skin. More than likely due to what you are using to bathe her. Stay away from soaps with perfume in them. Stick to Johnson’ s baby soap, baby cream, not baby lotion, powders without perfumes such as caldescene. If this does not help you need to mention it to the peditrician there could be an underlying problem with her sweat glands or ability to sweat. Also make sure your baby drinks water between meals.
you can assist your immune system to heal your skin naturally by avoiding using soap (shampoo, detergent, etc.). Instead, try to find a colloidal oatmeal containing soap-free wash for body and face and a shampoo containing the same ingredient. Aveeno or Equate both make those type of products. The other thing is to reduce your exposure to hot water. That means short (5 mins max) showers and no baths. Soap and hot water combine to remove sebum from the pores of the skin and deep into the sebaceous glands, inhibiting sebum production causing dryness and itchiness. Sebaceous glands are controlled by hormones and the immune system, which wheatgrass appears to strengthen naturally. Apply the Dr Wheatgrass Recovery Cream twice daily or more often if necessary. As well as strengthening the skin’s immunity, biological actives from the wheatgrass are absorbed into the body and in time, the patient’s immune status becomes stronger. Please see the website for more information or ask Dr. Reynolds a question regarding your specific symptoms.
The Dr Wheatgrass Recovery Cream or Spray cream/spray derived from organically grown wheatgrass. The products work wonders and very effective. Dr. Reynolds invented the product and has been successfully treating this patients since 1995 with these products. As far as allergic reactions go, this product is made from wheatgrass, the same thing that bread is made of. It’s also gluten free. I believe it’s approved for people of all ages (from infants to adults) because it’s a natural product. You can check out his website for more information and testimonials.