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Baby Eczema: What you need to know about tending to baby's skin

7 min read
Baby Eczema: What you need to know about tending to baby's skin

Does your baby have sensitive skin? Here are 4 easy things that you can do to care for your little one's eczema at home.

Baby eczema is an unfortunate condition that can leave your baby’s skin red, raw, and irritated.

It’s not something you want to mess with.

So what causes baby eczema? Is there anything you can do to prevent it? And what should you do if you are in the middle of a flare-up? Here’s what you need to know.

Table of Contents

  • What is Baby Eczema?
  • What causes Baby Eczema?
  • What are the types of Baby Eczema
  • Eczema rash on baby’s face
  • Baby Eczema vs Acne
  • Heat rash Baby Eczema on the chest
  • Skin asthma in baby

What is Baby Eczema?

Baby eczema is a skin condition that causes redness, flaking, and itchiness in babies. It can appear on the cheeks, behind the ears, or on other parts of the body. The condition is most common in babies between 4 months and 2 years old.

Baby eczema is not contagious, but it may be related to allergies. Babies allergic to cow’s milk protein are more likely to develop the condition, but other allergens like dust mites or pet dander can also be triggers.

If you notice that your baby has developed redness or flaking on its skin, visit your doctor for an examination. If you think that your child may have an allergy to something in their diet or environment, your doctor may recommend an elimination diet where certain foods are removed from your child’s diet for several weeks. 

That’s before reintroducing them one at a time to see if any cause a reaction.

Baby eczema is a common skin problem that can be very uncomfortable for your baby. It’s also sometimes called atopic dermatitis.

baby eczema

Crying baby with eczema

What causes Baby Eczema?

If you’re wondering what causes baby eczema, a few different factors can play a role. Here are some of the most common causes:

  • Genetics: If one or both parents have eczema, there is a higher risk that their child will develop it.
  • Environmental: Changes in climate, moisture levels, and even stress can trigger an episode of eczema.
  • Infection: A bacterial or viral infection can trigger an episode of eczema.
  • Allergens: Exposure to certain allergens such as pollen or dust mites can trigger an eczema flare-up in some children who suffer from atopic dermatitis.

What are the types of Baby Eczema

There are many different types of baby eczema, and it can be hard to know what’s going on with your little one! Here’s a guide to the most common forms:

  • Atopic Dermatitis 

This is the most common type of eczema. It usually starts in early childhood and lasts into adulthood. It causes skin redness, itching, and dryness.

  • Contact Dermatitis 

Contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to an allergen or irritant such as nickel. It can also develop when the skin comes into contacts with chemicals like poison ivy oil or detergents.

  • Seborrheic Dermatitis

This type of baby eczema presents as flaky skin around the face, scalp, and neck in infants who have cradle caps at birth or baby acne later on.

  • Nummular Eczema

This form of baby eczema presents as coin-shaped patches of dry skin on the trunk or extremities that may become scaly if left untreated.

  • Irritant Eczema 

This is caused by a specific irritant—like soap or laundry detergent—and it usually appears on the hands and feet. This type of eczema isn’t hereditary, so if your baby has it, you likely won’t pass it along to any future children you have.

  • Neonatal Acrodermatitis

This baby eczema affects premature newborns (before 37 weeks gestation). It’s caused by an overactive immune system like you might have experienced if you had a terrible case of the flu. It’s also called “the cradle cap” because it looks like dandruff, but it’s dry skin flakes that can appear anywhere on the body.

baby eczema

Eczema rash on baby’s face

Eczema rash on baby’s face

When eczema develops on your baby’s face, it can be very uncomfortable for them and may even cause a rash. If you notice an eczema rash on your child’s face, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the discomfort and improve their skin.

Here are some tips for treating an eczema rash on your baby’s face:

Use a moisturizer: You should apply a moisturizing cream or lotion with aloe vera or vitamin E on your baby’s face twice daily to keep their skin hydrated and reduce redness. Moisturizers will help hydrate dry skin, making eczema worse if left untreated.

Avoid certain foods: You should avoid giving your child foods that may aggravate their eczema by causing inflammation, like eggs or nuts. If possible, try substituting these foods with others that contain fewer allergens, such as fruits and vegetables instead of meats; this may help reduce inflammation caused by allergies and inflammation caused by eczema (which is often related).

Baby Eczema vs Acne

Eczema and acne are two skin conditions that can cause your baby to break out.

Baby eczema is a skin condition that causes redness, inflammation, dryness, and itchiness. It’s usually found on the cheeks, forehead, and scalp. A build-up of oil causes baby acne in the pores of your baby’s face. Baby acne can appear as whiteheads or blackheads on their cheeks and forehead.

If you think your baby has either of these skin conditions, it’s important to talk to your pediatrician immediately! We know how frustrating it can be when our children have skin issues, but there are ways to treat them with medication or other therapies depending on the severity of their condition.

Heat rash Baby Eczema on the chest

Heat rash baby eczema on the chest is a common skin condition in children. It is caused by heat and sweat that irritate the skin, causing redness and irritation. Heat rash baby eczema on the chest can be treated with simple home remedies such as using a cold compress or a cool bath.

What causes heat rash baby eczema on the chest?

Heat rash baby eczema on the chest is caused by excessive sweating during hot weather or after exercising. This sweating irritates the skin and causes redness and irritation, which looks like patches of small pimples on the skin.

How do you treat heat rash baby eczema on the chest?

Heat rash baby eczema on the chest is easily treated at home with simple home remedies such as using a cold compress or a cool bath. You can also apply petroleum jelly over affected areas to soothe them until they go away.

Skin asthma in baby

Skin asthma is a skin condition that causes redness, inflammation, and dryness. The condition is most common in babies and young children but can also affect adults. The most common cause of this condition is eczema.

Signs & Symptoms:

  • Redness or rash on your child’s skin (typically on the cheeks, chin, arms, or legs)
  • Dry patches of skin that are itchy or painful to touch
  • Scaly patches of skin that are red and inflamed (also called “eczema”)
  • Skin blisters filled with clear fluid (called vesicles) that burst open, leaving raw patches of skin (called erosions)
  • Skin thickening (called lichenification)
If your child has any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor so that they can diagnose what’s causing the problem and recommend treatment options based on your child’s age and medical history.
baby eczema

Atopic dermatitis

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Updated by Pheona Ilagan

Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore

WebMD, Mayo Clinic, Kids Health

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

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