Eczema is a skin condition that is sometimes also referred to as dermatitis. It is not dangerous, but it does cause red, swollen and itchy skin. Individuals may suffer from eczema as a secondary effect of other diseases or as an allergic response to an irritating substance. Physicians have also found that individuals who have a family history of eczema are more prone to suffering from eczema. While it cannot be cured, many parents are able to help prevent outbreaks in their infants by avoiding irritants, stress and allergens.
Atopic Eczema
According to MayoClinic.com, atopic eczema is a long-lasting and chronic condition that can be accompanied by asthma or other allergic responses, such as hay fever. While it often starts in infancy and childhood, it can continue into adulthood. Classic symptoms appear on the arms and behind the knees. It flares periodically and then subsides, often responding to self-care measures, such as avoiding allergens, irritants and applying creams to relieve the itching. According to KidsHealth.org, atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema and infantile eczema all refer to the same condition.
Contact Eczema
According to the Cleveland Clinic, contact eczema is an inflammation or rash that appears on the body when the skin is touched by chemicals that cause an allergic reaction. Contact eczema can occur in infants, children and adults and is also called contact dermatitis. Children will have reddened, dry, scaly skin in patches or all over the body, blisters that ooze, sun sensitivity or skin that appears dark and leathery.
Infantile Seborrheic Eczema
It is uncertain whether infantile seborrheic dermatitis is the same condition as seborrheic eczema in adults, says DermNet NZ. This condition arises in newborn babies up until the age of six months and usually begins as cradle cap. However, infantile seborrheic dermatitis will spread beyond the head and affects skin in the creases of the body, such as the armpits and groin. Some infants will also experienced non-itchy, pink flaky patches on the face, trunk and limbs.
