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Infant Eczema - Causes, Types, Risk Factors, and Treatment

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Infant eczema is a type of skin condition that can be seen in both adults and children. This condition starts very soon after birth.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Veerabhadrudu Kuncham

Published At January 18, 2023
Reviewed AtJune 19, 2023

What Is Infant Eczema?

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that becomes irritated, red, dry, crusty, flaky, and itchy. Some may also have skin sores or bumps. There are different types of eczema, and the most common among them is atopic dermatitis. Many infants with the condition grow with it. The symptoms may appear within a few months of the baby’s birth. Eczema is a common condition seen mostly in children but also in adults. It is non-contagious.

Recent studies show that about 13 % of children below 18 years of age in the United States suffer from eczema, particularly the most common type of eczema called atopic dermatitis. About 90 % of the population with eczema suffers from the condition before five years of age. 60% of the population with atopic dermatitis show symptoms before age one.

What Are the Causes of Eczema?

There is no research or studies that show the exact reason for the cause of eczema. But it is believed that genetic and environmental factors cause eczema. Family members with a history of eczema, hay fever, or asthma are more likely to develop eczema. And the same way, infants with eczema are more likely to develop conditions such as hay fever and asthma. Eczema is also caused due to immune system dysfunction, where the skin is affected and loses the ability to hold moisture. This results in dry, crusty, flaky skin.

What Are the Other Types of Eczema?

Eczema is of different types. The most common forms of eczema include:

What Are the Risk Factors for Eczema?

The risk factors of eczema include:

  • Weak immune system.

  • Genetic factors.

  • Mothers with severe stress during pregnancy have a high chance of developing eczema in children.

  • Racial differences, such as black children, are at higher risk of developing eczema than white in the United States of America.

  • Air pollution and meteorological conditions increase the risk of eczema in children. One study was conducted in a case where increased levels of carbon monoxide, ammonia, formaldehyde, lead, and particulate matter may impact skin conditions in babies and cause eczema.

What Is Eczema and Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap is a non-inflammatory skin condition most commonly seen in newborns aged two to six weeks. It appears as scaly, rough patches which are white or yellow in color. Patchy yellow flakes on an infant's scalp may be scary to parents, but it is generally harmless. It is also called infantile seborrheic dermatitis. It is mainly caused by the hormones from the mother which pass to the baby. These hormones result from excessive oil or sebum production in the fetus's oil glands or hair follicles. It does not cause itch or pain or does not cause any scars or hair loss. The cradle cap will disappear completely when the baby is at the age of 12 months.

The symptoms are usually self-diagnosable. The signs and symptoms of the cradle cap include:

  • There will be thick rough patchy, scaly crusts on the scalp.

  • The infant's scalp will be oily or dry, covered with flaky white or yellow crusts.

  • In some infants, there will be mild reddishness due to inflammation.

How Does Eczema Progress in Children?

Eczema in children is mostly seen in the cheeks, forehead, and scalp of the baby. The baby may look fussy and cranky, and most of the time, the baby keeps crying. Eczema can be seen in other parts of the body and sometimes even appear in the diaper area. When the baby starts crawling around six to twelve months of age, the baby starts developing eczema in the knees and elbows. Also, the surfaces in contact with the ground develop the condition. In severe cases, the rash becomes infected, resulting in the crust or small bumps of the yellowish pus discharge. After two years of age, small bumps appear on the sides of wrists, ankles, and hands. The skin tends to be drier, scaly, and thick.

How Is Infant Eczema Treated?

The treatment of infant eczema is mostly home remedies. The following precautions have to be taken in children with infant eczema:

  • The baby should not be given longer hot baths, and do not rub the baby's body with a rough cloth. Use a soft cloth and cover the baby with soft clothes.

  • The babies are recommended to be given diluted bleach baths twice weekly to reduce the risk of infant eczema.

  • Use soft and mild body washes.

  • Wear comfortable soft clothes.

  • Avoid too much exposure to cold or heat.

  • Immediately right after the bath, the baby should be moisturized well; at least moisturizer should be applied twice daily.

  • The use of cool compression may enable the child to prevent irritation due to the dryness of the skin.

  • Make sure the baby's nails are short and trimmed properly to avoid scratching the affected area.

Conclusion:

Infant eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that is most commonly seen in infants and is also seen in adolescents and adults. The symptoms include dry, scaly, crusty, and flaky, and sometimes redness, swelling, and pus discharge are also noticed in children when these bumpy sores get infected. Do not panic; use moisturizers and mild soaps and avoid prolonged bathing with hot water; the nails should be trimmed to avoid scratching and prevent the affected area from irritation. Using chemical-free moisturizers and unscented soaps reduces the risk of eczema.

Dr. Veerabhadrudu Kuncham
Dr. Veerabhadrudu Kuncham

Pediatrics

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atopic dermatitiseczemainfant eczema
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