Patches of red, dry, and itchy skin on babies may mean eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become inflamed. Eczema, which develops in babies more often than in older people, can irritate infants and cause concern for their parents. However, several reliable options exist for treating eczema in babies.
Apply Medications
Eczema treatment is most successful when a combination of different therapies are used on the skin, as this tends to increase each particular medicine's effectiveness and reduce side effects, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The types of medications most frequently prescribed are topical steroid creams and ointments, which treat localized patches of eczema on a baby's skin to reduce inflammation, clear infection, loosen and remove lesions, reduce new lesions and control itching. Skinsight.com cautions that parents be careful about how much steroid medication they use when applying it to areas where their infant's skin folds, since too much of any topical steroid can cause a baby's skin to thin out. In severe cases of eczema, doctors may prescribe oral antihistamines to decrease itching, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Apply Moisturizers
Parents can decrease eczema symptoms in their babies by applying moisturizers to the infant's skin. The benefits of using moisturizers, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, include reducing irritation and dryness, increasing the skin's ability to protect the body from infection, and raising the effectiveness of topical steroid medications. Parents should either add moisturizers to their baby's baths or apply moisturizers directly to infant's skin immediately after bathing to lock in moisture.
Apply Cool Compresses
Cool compresses are simply cloths that are dipped in cold water, wrung out, and then applied directly to the skin. Parents can use them to relieve both inflammation and itching, explains the American Academy of Dermatology.
Minimize Exposure to Irritants
A wide variety of substances may irritate the sensitive skin of babies who suffer from eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology states, including soaps, laundry detergents, wool fabrics, plants, lotions, perfumes and bubble bath. Skinsight.com urges parents to treat their baby's eczema by reducing the infant's exposure to irritants that may worsen it, which means using non-soap cleansers and choosing laundry detergents that do not contain fragrances.
