Baby Eczema: Types of Eczema, How to Identify Eczema and Tips for Parents to Manage it

Infant eczema is also referred to clinically as infantile atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic skin disease caused by a variety of internal and external factors such as genes and environment. Generally, it starts from the face and gradually spreads to other parts of the body, appearing in pieces, most of which are symmetrically distributed. The skin is red and rough, scaling, accompanied by severe itching and even cracks, water seepage, and finally scabs. Due to the itchy nature of eczema, eczema may be manifested as rubbing of the body in younger babies, while older babies may actively scratch their bodies.

Types of infant eczema

Dry type (mild) is more common in infants from 6 months to 1 year old. Common in spring and winter, due to dry weather or dry air, the baby’s skin is severely dehydrated. The skin lesions manifested as papules, redness, swelling, hard chaff-like scales, and scabs, which were common on the face, trunk, and lateral extensions of the limbs.
Exudative type (moderate) is more common in infants 3 to 6 months old, especially obese infants. It is common in the joints of the neck, legs, and underarms. Symmetrical red papules of small rice grains, small blisters and erythema, edema at the bottom, flaky erosion, and yellow serous exudation can be seen.
Seborrheic type (severe) is more common in infants within 3 months. The skin of the child’s forehead, cheeks, and eyebrows is flushed, with yellow greasy scales, and there may be thick yellow liquid scabs on the top of the head. In severe cases, there may be chafing, flushing and exudation under the chin, nape of the neck, axilla and groin.

Eczema identification

Contact dermatitis (saliva)

Age: 0~6 years old

Location: The place where the skin comes into contact with the sensitizer

Appearance: local skin becomes itchy and red or even small blisters

Care: Avoid repeated contact with irritants, similar to eczema care.

Infant seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap, muddy head)

Age: 3 weeks to 3 months baby, most will subside within 6 months

Parts: head, face (eyebrows)

Appearance: The skin is slightly reddened with greasy yellow thick lint, forming a layer of scab, generally not itching or slight itching

Care: Clean the skin with water, use oils (olive oil, baby touch oil) to soften the mud, and apply moisturizing cream to make the skin moist.

Newborn acne

Age: within 3 months of birth, the most common around 2 weeks

Location: Forehead and cheeks

Appearance: small raised red rash, “acne”-like skin lesions, but generally no acne

Nursing: Usually disappears naturally within 3 months after birth, no special treatment is needed, and no scars are left.

Heat rash (heat rash, prickly heat)

Age: All age groups

Parts: neck, back, chest, etc.

Appearance: A small raised rash caused by sweat accumulating on the skin

Care: Clean skin with clean water, appropriate amount of clothes, reduce sweating.

Baby eczema care tips

Infants and young children have delicate skin. If a rash appears and the diagnosis is infant eczema, what are the tips for home care?

Skin moisturizing: moisturizing! Moisturizing! Moisturizing! The important thing is said three times. Moisturizing is the most basic and most important home care for eczema. It should be used not only when it is sick, but also should be used routinely. If the baby’s skin is dry, apply it once every three hours and apply a sufficient amount. It is recommended to use moisturizer (without fragrance or pigment) to moisturize. If it is in autumn and winter and the indoor environment is dry, choose a thick moisturizer or cream, which has better moisturizing and durability; if it is in spring and summer, consider For comfort, choose a moisturizer with a thinner texture. For mild to moderate eczema, you can choose a moisturizer (milk) containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramide and other ingredients that help the skin moisturize and repair the skin barrier; for moderate to severe eczema, under the guidance of a doctor, choose to contain antimicrobial peptides and other inhibitors. A moisturizer (milk) with a special effect of bacterial ingredients.
Rational use of medication and ointment: According to different causes of inflammation, use drugs rationally under the guidance of a doctor. It is difficult to tolerate the skin, and antihistamines are recommended. Recommendation: Cetirizine drops, Loratadine syrup; Not recommended: Calamine (the skin will be drier after use and increase itching).Anti-infective treatment is needed when the skin is broken and infected. Bacterial infection: Mupirocin ointment or erythromycin ointment; Fungal infection: Pevisone. For moderate to severe eczema, topical glucocorticoids are the first to be used under the guidance of doctors. Parents become nervous as soon as they hear the hormones. The eczema guide recommends: Hormone ointment is the first-line treatment for eczema, and the rational use of hormone ointment will not affect the child.
Hormone ointments are divided into products with different strengths, such as weak, medium, and strong. When choosing, they should be used according to different body parts and used in accordance with the doctor’s advice. For example, skin folds and eye areas have a relatively high absorption rate of ointment, so weak drugs should be used as the mainstay.
The dosage is measured by the first knuckle of the index finger, and squeeze the ointment to the fingertip. The eczema area corresponding to one fingertip unit is about the range of two palm surfaces (adults). Parents are advised to convert it based on this area. The approximate amount of medicine your child needs.
It is safe to use it for no more than 2 weeks continuously on the face and no more than 1 week on the folds and sensitive parts of the perineum. For eczema on the limbs and trunk, it is no problem to use it until the eczema subsides. During the gradual improvement of eczema, the dosage should be gradually reduced under the guidance of a doctor. It is best for parents not to reduce the medication or stop using it.
It is recommended to apply ointment first, then moisturizer. Parents can gently massage when applying ointment to the baby, and observe that the ointment is absorbed and then apply moisturizer without waiting too long.
Clothing: Wear pure cotton, loose, soft clothing for your baby. Avoid wearing chemical fiber fabrics, wool fabrics and wool sweaters. Try to wear as little as possible without catching a cold.
Bathing: Take a bath once a day. The water temperature should not be too high, preferably not higher than 36℃. The bathing time should not exceed 10 minutes. Choose a mild shower gel and use it 1-2 times a week. Frequent use will aggravate the baby’s skin dryness. Do not use a towel to bathe, so as not to damage the skin barrier. Use moisturizer within 3 minutes after bathing to lock in moisture.
Diet: Most infant eczema has nothing to do with diet, and there is generally no need for excessive taboos, but those with clear eating tests should be avoided as much as possible. Breastfeeding mothers also do not need to blindly taboo, they can observe and record their own diet, if they find that eating a certain food, the child’s eczema is significantly worsened, stopping will reduce, then consider it may be related to this kind of food, it is recommended to stop Try again about 3-6 months; but if you say that no matter what the mother eats, the child’s eczema does not change, there is no need to avoid it. Pay attention to balanced nutrition during lactation.
Avoid scratching: Cut your baby’s nails short to prevent scratching the skin.
Milk protein allergy: The most common for babies is milk protein allergy. If eczema occurs repeatedly and the area is large, it is recommended to try to replace deep hydrolyzed milk powder or amino acid milk powder. During this period, breastfeeding mothers should stop eating milk and its products.
If the baby’s eczema is very serious: it is recommended to go to the respiratory specialist outpatient clinic to rule out whether there is congenital immune disease.

Hope you will all find the above helps you with finding the right solution to get to the bottom of your little one’s eczema issue. If you have any other suggestions to share with fellow parents, do drop a comment or email to [email protected].

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