Baby Eczema: What is it?

Posted on January 20th, 2009 in baby eczema

One of the most common childhood complaints for small children and babies is eczema which can show up as nappy rash, atopic eczema or cradle cap. It can strike at any age starting at newborn but usually babies will grow out of it by the time they are two or three.

It shows up as red, inflamed dry skin on your baby and can appear on any part of their body. It is very irritating (just like adult eczema) so make sure your child canâ€™t itch it as this can make the condition worse.

Fortunately most cases of baby eczema are fairly mild and can be treated with a cream or lotion specifically for babies but some natural therapies also are effective.

For the more severe cases it is worth seeing a doctor as many other conditions such as asthma and hay fever may accompany it and will need special care and attention.

In caring for baby eczema the first thing you need to do make sure their environment is clean and healthy. Watch out for the types of creams and lotions that your baby comes into contact with and use a non-allergy washing powder to wash their clothes and bedding.

Keep their skin hydrated with a cream that contains no fragrances or additives and wash them in lukewarm water without soap (soap can dry and irritate the skin further).

Although it is not curable there are a lot of things you can do to either keep it under control or lessen the severity of their eczema.