Eczema—a condition that causes red, dry and itchy patches of skin—affects about 10 percent of all infants, the National Eczema Association says. Although the exact cause of eczema hasn’t yet been pinpointed, the condition likely results from a combination of heredity and a variety of factors that can trigger its appearance on babies’ skin, according to the National Eczema Association.
Heredity
Eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis, often runs in families in which the relatives also have asthma or hay fever, according to the MayoClinic.com, and sometimes babies who have eczema later develop either asthma or hay fever. The National Eczema Association says that children who have one parent with eczema, asthma, or hay fever run about a 50 percent risk of having one or more of those conditions themselves. Children whose parents both have one of those diseases stand an even greater chance of developing one of the disorders themselves. However, the National Eczema Association also says that as many as 30 percent of children with eczema don’t have any family history of it.
Dry Skin
Babies with eczema have a defect in their skin that prevents it from staying moist, says the National Eczema Association, so parents of infants with eczema should minimize the amount of time they bathe their babies and make sure they consistently moisturize their infants’ skin to avoid causing the eczema to become worse when the skin is dry.
Allergens and Irritants
A variety of allergies can trigger eczema in babies, including food allergies and allergies to dust and pollen, according to the National Eczema Association. While doctors can often make the connection between a specific type of allergen and acute eczema, it often proves difficult for doctors to pinpoint the exact allergy that’s triggering chronic eczema. Eczema can also develop in babies when they’re exposed to substances that merely irritate their skin without causing allergic reactions, such as rough fabrics or bubble baths, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Sweating
Sweating can trigger eczema and worsen its symptoms, especially the itching, says the National Eczema Association. Parents of infants with eczema can minimize the effect of this eczema trigger by reducing the amount of time their babies spend in heat, thus decreasing the amount of sweat that reaches their skin.
