Eczema in infants is referred to as infantile eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that infantile eczema often resolves itself by age 2. If it doesn't go away by then, it develops into childhood eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that eczema affects between 10 percent and 20 percent of children.
Symptoms
Up to 2 years old, baby eczema often is present on the scalp, forehead, face and especially the cheeks. Your baby may have the eczema in all of these areas or just in specific spots. The rash is itchy and red.
Types
You can help your baby with his eczema condition by keeping his skin clean and moist. According to Complete Natural Skin Care.com, you can use olive oil as a natural moisturizer. Olive oil is an ingredient used in many ointments and balms.
The site also indicates that certain essential oils help treat eczema symptoms. You can use chamomile oil, which has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Evening Primrose Oil is also used in home remedy treatments for baby eczema. Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory and tissue healing properties. Another ingredient you can add to an oil is aloe vera gel, which has a long history of skin care uses. The site advises that you do a small skin test when trying a new oil for your baby's eczema and do the patch test on unaffected healthy skin. Although many home remedies suggest using essential oils to help with baby eczema, there isn't enough medical evidence to support the safety and effectiveness of using essential oils for this purpose.
Applications
The essential oils for baby eczema are often mixed into a base of olive oil and calendula, then applied to the skin as needed. Essential oils are strong and should never be applied directly to the skin.
Warnings
Because there isn't enough medical evidence to support the use of essential oils in treating baby eczema, take caution when considering this option. If used incorrectly, essential oils can further irritate your baby's eczema.
Side Effects
Essential oils and bath oils may cause an allergic skin reaction, known as contact dermatitis. Symptoms of contact dermatitis are red rash, itching, dry patches, blisters and pain.
Benefits
If you can find a bath or essential oil treatment that works for your baby, you can avoid using potentially harmful steroid lotions. Steroid lotions and ointments have side effects and are not often prescribed for children younger than 2. Many oil treatments are designed to be non-irritating and work to relieve your baby's eczema symptoms and alleviate their discomfort.
