Although it is known that eczema is caused by a reaction to a substance and it affects the body’s immune system, the real cause is still to be discovered. Although it can be hereditary, it can also happen when a person comes into contact with something that causes the body to react by producing a rash. The condition of baby eczema cause distress to the child as the rash becomes more irritated leading to a scaly appearance and eventual cracking. in the USA as many as twenty percent of infants will be treated for this complaint at some point.

In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. Not every child is so lucky and it can follow them into adulthood when the condition may even become severe. Although this skin disorder can affect someone at any stage in their life, it is most prevalent in infants. As many as a third of all sufferers developed the condition before they were twelve months old,

Seen as a red, itchy and scaly rash, baby eczema is usually of the more common atopic eczema variety. A lack of moisture within the baby’s skin is often thought to be the trigger to atopic eczema, which is often a hereditary condition. Washing powder is also known to trigger attacks but fabric conditioners can also have a similar effect. In some instances it would seem that breastfeeding seems to protect the child from baby eczema as opposed to those mothers who stop this practice prematurely.

However, other problems the baby might have including those of a respiratory nature or an associated medical condition could also act as an asthma trigger. Studies have also shown that it may be more common in those infants who suffer from allergic rhinitis or food allergies, or whose mothers suffer from asthma. Food allergies are thought to account for up to 30 percent of childhood cases,if a particular food is suspected as the likely cause, that food can then be removed from the diet. some of these groups are mentioned below:

Marine foods including shellfishDairy products, especially milkWheatAny type meal prepared using eggsAny meals or candy etc.

Physicians are also aware that baby eczema can also be caused when the child is given antibiotics after their birth. Treating babies requires a little more thought as they cannot tell us what irritates them so only bath them in lukewarm water and use fragrance free, hypoallergenic creams.Once out of the bath they need to be dried off carefully and then clothed in a soft natural cotton fabric which should prevent irritation. Keeping the baby’s finger nails short is an important point not to overlook as they can inadvertently scratch inflamed skin making the situation worse. Antihistamines to ease the itching sensation can be prescribed by a pediatrician in more severe cases of baby eczema,steroid creams can also be used for a short period to help heal the skin. It is not yet possible to completely cure this skin complaint but at least a number of treatments can help ease the situation.