Infant Eczema

Infant eczema is a topical skin rash, most frequently showing up any time after birth on the face, arms and legs but rarely in the diaper area. The rash can look like chapped, scaly skin or tiny red bumps that can blister or ooze, and are incredibly itchy. Eczema patches can be spread by scratching so it’s important to keep scratching to a minimum.

Causes of Infant Eczema

Your baby may have a hypersensitive skin that is triggered by:

• Inhalant triggers: Asthma, dust mites, mould, pet fur and pollen.
• Food Triggers: Wheat foods, dairy (cow milk), seafood, pulses, eggs, nuts, soy products, citrus fruits, honey, caffeine, chocolate and processed foods which contain preservatives and colourings.
• Skin Triggers: Lotions, synthetic fibres, perfumes in laundry detergents and soaps, sun exposure.

Treatments for infant eczema

• Keep your house a cool temperature by letting in some fresh air.
• Wash all bedding frequently and use a double rinse on any of baby’s clothing or bedding items.
• Breastfeed your baby as much as possible to pass your anti-bodies onto your baby.
• If breastfeeding, consider an elimination diet to see if any items in your diet are contributing to your baby’s eczema.
• Increase essential fatty acids in baby’s (if eating solids) or your diet. Fish oil, olive oil, avocado oil or sunflower oil are all good choices.
• Only dress your baby in well-ventilated natural fibre clothing.
• Avoid overdressing your baby.
• Avoid over-stimulating situations and crying as much as possible.
• Avoid prolonged sun exposure.
• Use only lukewarm water when bathing your baby.
• Use only a gentle, natural baby soap that doesn’t remove necessary skin oils or contain unnecessary scents or ingredients.
• Gently pat your baby’s skin mostly dry and then begin your moisturizing routine quickly to trap moisture from the bath in the skin.
• Moisturize the skin often, apply an appropriate cream or oil several times throughout the day

TIP

A great remedy for itchy skin is to add 1¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and 1¼ cup of cold-pressed oil (try sunflower) to your child’s bath. Pat your child dry to retain some of the oil on her skin.