Eczema is a condition that causes patches of dry, red and itchy skin. Although eczema commonly affects babies, MayoClinic.com says that doctors don't know for certain what causes it. The National Eczema Association says that too many reactive inflammatory cells in the skin result in eczema, and even though researchers aren't sure what causes the cells to over-react, they've identified some factors that trigger eczema.
Dry Skin
Babies who suffer from eczema have a defect in the skin that prevents it from staying moist, according to the National Eczema Association. That problem worsens when infants are exposed to dry air, such when the humidity drops outside or when parents heat indoor air during the winter. Babies' dry skin can also become worse if parents bathe them too often or fail to apply moisturizers such as ointments or creams to their infants' wet skin immediately after bathing.
Allergens
Eczema often develops in people who suffer from allergies, says MayoClinic.com. It tends to run in families in which relatives have allergic diseases such as asthma or hay fever. Children who have eczema early in life sometimes later develop asthma or hay fever. Some allergens that commonly trigger eczema include harsh skin care products and food, the National Eczema Association says. Less common allergens include pollen and dust mites; it can prove difficult, however, to pinpoint which specific type of allergy is triggering baby eczema. Parents can try eliminating their babies' exposure to one suspected allergen at a time to see if that relieves the eczema rash.
Irritants
Substances such as rough fabrics on bedding or clothes and harsh soaps or detergents can irritate babies' skin and trigger eczema, says the National Eczema Association, which urges parents to avoid exposing their children to any substances they suspect may be irritating their infants' skin.
Infections
A variety of different types of infections may trigger eczema in babies and children, the National Eczema Association says, and those include bacterial staphylococcus infections that tend to appear as oozing or crusted bumps on arms and legs and viral molluscum infections that often show up as small bumps that are colored white in the center. The National Eczema Association says that other kinds of infections that can trigger eczema are herpes infections that manifest as cold sores or fever blisters, and fungal infections such as ringworm or athlete's foot.
