Eczema is a condition that often shows up in babies and causes the skin to become inflamed, MayoClinic.com says, resulting in dry, red, itchy patches of skin. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema can cause discomfort for infants and its appearance can sometimes alarm parents. Parents can help their babies experience relief from eczema in several ways.
Reduce Exposure to Irritants
It's important for parents to identify substances that may be irritating their infants' skin, says MayoClinic.com, and to reduce the babies' exposure to those irritants as much as possible to treat eczema. Some substances that commonly irritate the skin on infants include harsh soaps and rough fabrics on clothes and linens such as blankets.
Apply Moisturizers
Parents can treat eczema by moisturizing their babies' skin with mild ointments, lotions, creams or bath oils, according to MayoClinic.com. This will help lock in the skin's natural moisture, increasing hydrations and bring infants relief from the dry, itchy patches of eczema.
Apply Medications
A variety of medications can help treat baby eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments, or topical prescription medications that don't contain steroids. MayoClinic.com recommends that parents who choose to use nonprescription corticosteroid medications inform their pediatricians so their babies can be monitored. Long-term or repeated use of such medications can lead to side effects such as infections, skin thinning, skin discoloration or irritation, and stretch marks.
Give Bleach Baths
If parents bathe their babies in water with a small amount of bleach added, that may help treat eczema by killing bacteria that live on the infants' skin, MayoClinic.com says. Parents can prepare the bath by adding half a cup of bleach to a 40-gallon bathtub of warm water. After soaking babies in the bath for 5 to 10 minutes, parents can dry their infants' skin and apply a moisturizer in a thick layer over their skin. MayoClinic.com warns not to give bleach baths more often than twice a week, to avoid drying out the skin too much. Also, bleach baths are most effective at relieving eczema when parents combine them with other eczema treatments, such as applying moisturizers and medications.
