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[safehealthmedicine]

It’s soft, cuddly, and downright immaculate: baby skin can be a sight to behold. All of a sudden, it may turn red, itchy, and irritated.

For all one knows, it’s not just simple rash. It may be eczema, an inflammatory condition of the skin. Among babies, eczema appears as conspicuously ruddy, irritated patches on the mouth, cheeks, and scalp, although it may also be found on the chest, legs, arms, elbows, back, feet, and knees. Baby eczema may worsen to become prominent bumps on the skin.

There could be any number of causes attributed to baby eczema. Genetics, more often than not, plays a hefty factor. Eczema is more likely to occur in babies of families with a history of the condition.

Eczema typically tips off an immune system compromised by allergy or asthma. Or it may simply have to do with an overly sensitive baby skin. Either way, eczema doesn’t develop in babies until a month or so.

It is not contagious, but it can be hard to identify which irritant triggers the condition. Irritants may consist of certain food, such as milk, fish, wheat, and eggs, or materials like animal dander, grass, and dust. Treatment, then, involves identifying the irritant and keeping them away from the baby.

If the doctor confirms a baby eczema, he or she may prescribe topical medications, usually containing corticosteroids. Sometimes the doctor may prescribe antihistamine pills. At most, the doctor may recommend ultraviolet light therapy for severe cases.

As an upshot of sensitive skin, baby eczema is preventable. Guardians should only use mild skin products, if at all, for their wards. It also pays to apply emollient cream, moderately, on baby skin.

Guardians may also try limiting baby baths. Excessive water can strip away the skin’s natural oil, making it susceptible to eczema and rashes. Baby baths should be short and sweet, the bathwater not too cold but not too hot. Soft towel must be used to dry baby skin.

Babies should wear soft cotton clothes. Wool may irritate baby skin.