Baby Eczema is a common disorder among toddlers two to three months old.  It usually manifests itself as dermatitis, or very dry red itchy skin that occurs mostly on the face, arms, neck, and in folds of the skin.  The baby will want to keep scratching these areas, but that may make the rashes worse.  The causes can be hereditary or as the result of an allergic reaction.  There’s no medicinal cure for eczema on babies, so the only real treatment is to try to mitigate the symptoms.  But with the help of some websites and possibly a visit to your doctor, you should be able to effectively treat the symptoms and rest easy knowing that your baby is feeling better.

Causes of Eczema in Babies

There is often nothing that you can do to cure the source of baby eczema.  Many times the condition is hereditary, so if you know you or your partner suffered from it as a child, the chances are greater that your baby will suffer from it as well.  It can also be caused by an allergic reaction so try to remove any possible allergens from around your baby.  This includes, but is not limited to family pets, clothing, and anything else that can come into contact with your baby.  Make sure to dust, vacuum, and air out your house as often as you can to try to remove anything from the air, floor, or carpets that may be causing your baby trouble.

Diet may also be a cause of eczema, so if you recently switched you child to more solid foods keep close track of what they are eating and see if anything tends to make their rashes worse.  If you suspect they might be allergic to some food, remove that food from the baby’s diet.

Treatment for Baby Eczema

Unfortunately, your baby may just have to grow out of their condition. However, there are lots of things that you can do to mitigate the symptoms of it. The cause of eczema isn’t the baby being unclean, so do not wash the baby more than normal, as this may dry out their skin and further exacerbate the problem. Instead, after every bath apply some moisturizer to your baby. This prevents dry skin which can cause more irritation. Also make sure to wash the baby’s clothes and sheets often in very gentle detergent. Also opt for clothing and bedding that is cotton, since wool and other substances may cause more itching.

Even with this, your baby’s natural reaction will always be to scratch the affected area. To stop this, cut your baby’s nails short so they can’t do as much damage. If they insist on scratching still, you might consider having them wear gloves or mittens. Another effective tactic may be to give them something playful to take their minds off of the itching, if only for a short time.

If the baby eczema is a fairly bad case, you may also want to consider using some over the counter antihistamines to combat it. But consult with your doctor first before giving any medicine to your baby, he may be able to suggest other treatments.

Baby eczema may be difficult for both you and your child.  The hardest part for both of you may be that you can’t cure the disease; you simply have to let it run its course.  However, there are many things that you can do to alleviate the symptoms and keep your baby as comfortable as possible until he or she does grow out of the condition.  This, in combination with the advice your doctor can give you, should allow you to successful steer your baby through its case of eczema.