Eczema Causes

Eczema: Causes and Remedies for Babies With Eczema

Eczema sufferers are believed to have a problem with their immune system which causes the condition but as yet no-one has discovered how this occurs. This skin complaint is usually triggered by an adverse reaction to a substance, foodstuff or chemical etc. Although eczema can occur on many parts of the body, with baby eczema, it is usually first noticed on their face. In the United Sates of America, up to one in every five infants will be affected by this skin condition.

With most babies, this skin complaint has all but cleared up by the time they are 24 months old. However, in a small number of cases, the condition doesn't clear and becomes a chronic condition which may even carry on into adulthood. Although many believe the condition only starts in childhood, this is only partially true; it is just more common in babies and infants. Although statistics vary, almost all sufferers will have experienced bouts of this condition since their fifth birthday but almost one third before they were a year old.

Atopic eczema is the most common form of baby eczema and can be recognized by red, scaly looking skin on their arms, legs and scalp which make the baby want to scratch themselves. Strangely, atopic eczema is also hereditary and often starts when the baby's skin is not moisturized regularly. Washing powder is also known to trigger attacks but fabric conditioners can also have a similar effect. It has also discovered that baby eczema was more likely if the mother gave up breastfeeding early which could mean that breast milk may contain something that protects the infant.

Other medical conditions, such as respiratory infections, may also act as triggers. It has also been found that if the baby's mother has asthma, they are more prone to suffer with this condition but other contributing elements include food allergies and allergic rhinitis. The number of childhood cases where food is responsible for the condition is considerable at almost 30 percent; discovering the foodstuffs responsible should be a relatively simple matter, which once this is done, can be removed from the diet completely. Although the process of diagnosing which food is responsible is often a case of trial an error, there are some that are often found as the cause including:

*Sea and freshwater fish *Milk *Products using wheat as an ingredient *Egg based meals *Foods where peanut oil may have been used

Doctors also know that baby eczema can also be the result of the antibiotics received by the baby at 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 they have dried, they need to be dressed in soft natural clothing made from cotton. A baby with this condition can easily cause infection to damaged skin if their nails are not kept short because they will undoubtedly scratch themselves constantly. Unfortunately, baby eczema sometimes needs further help and in these cases, the doctor might prescribe the use of antihistamines to relieve the itching; when required it is not uncommon for the child to have steroid cream applied to the affected area but this cannot be done for very long. Whilst this may be a common complaint around the world, at the present time, easing the symptoms of the condition is the best we can do.

About the Author:
Cure Your Child's Eczema while learning about Stasis Dermatitis by visiting http://dermatitiscure.info, a popular website that provides free dermatitis cure information, tips and advice for you.

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