Eczema—also called atopic dermatitis—often shows up in infancy, says BabyCenter.com. About 10 percent of all babies suffer from this skin condition that causes red, dry, itchy patches of skin, according to the National Eczema Association. There are several eczema treatments for babies that parents can implement.
Moisturizers
The best kinds of moisturizers parents can put on their babies’ skin to treat eczema are ointments such as petroleum jelly as they lock in the body’s own moisture, the National Eczema Association says. But if thick ointments cause infants too much discomfort, parents can also use creams. Parents should apply moisturizers to wet skin immediately after bathing, says the National Eczema Association.
Special Baths
Parents of babies with eczema should talk with their pediatricians about how best to bathe their infants. BabyCenter.com. says that a bleach bath treatment may help clear up eczema in children aged 6 months and older. The treatment involves diluting bath water with 1/2 cup of bleach per full, standard-size bathtub and soaking the child’s skin for 5 to 10 minutes twice a week in the bleach bath. For regular baths, BabyCenter.com cautions against making bath water too warm, since very warm water can dry out skin and worsen eczema.
Reduce Allergens and Irritants
If parents suspect that their babies’ eczema is triggered by a specific type of allergen—such as pollen or dust—or irritant—such as rough fabrics or soaps with fragrances—they should try to reduce their infants’ exposure to those substances as much as possible. When trying to determine whether or not a particular type of food is causing an allergic reaction that triggers eczema, the National Eczema Association recommends that parents systematically eliminate one specific food for at least one week at a time from their babies’ diets to see if their infants’ skin clears up as a result. If the skin does clear, try the eliminated food once again and watch babies closely over the next two hours to see if signs of eczema such as redness or itching return. Cow’s milk has been linked to allergies that trigger eczema, says the National Eczema Association. BabyCenter.com reminds parents not to give babies cow’s milk until they’re at least 1-year-old or even older if they’re prone to eczema.
Topical Steroids
Doctors may prescribe topical steroids for parents to apply to their infants’ skin when treating severe cases of eczema. The National Eczema Association says that these steroids can prove quite helpful in clearing up eczema, but that parents should use a mild form—such as hydrocortisone—whenever possible to avoid side effects such as skin thinning and stretch marks.
