Almost 10 to 20 percent of all babies in the United States of America are affected by the dreaded skin problem called eczema. Baby eczema is one of the pre-dominant conditions which is making the rounds over the past few decades. But most of the baby eczema conditions become resolved by the time the baby reaches the age of 2 years. There are a few cases which are spaced out far and between where the baby eczema problem becomes chronic and continues well into adulthood.

The most common condition of eczema which affects babies is atopic eczema. In this case, the skin becomes dry and reddish due to incessant itching. The babies develop scaly skin on the scalp, arms, face and the legs. This is a very painful condition in which sometimes, the entire body of the baby may get affected by eczematous lesions. Baby eczema occurs due to myriad reasons, primary among which are genetic problems, allergy to some types of clothing, food habits and the like.

When the skin of the baby is badly moisturized, then symptoms of baby eczema may develop. Also, if the temperature is too extreme, then the sensitive skin of the baby faces problems in acclimatizing to it. There are some cases, which are few, in which there is link between giving up on breastfeeding at a very early stage and eczema. The majority of baby eczema cases are supposed to be an extension of food allergies. In these cases, the digestive system of the baby is not able to handle certain food items and thus develops this condition.

If your baby has been diagnosed with eczema, then a safe solution is to eliminate the foods which pose problems in the digestive system. Some of the commonly implicated food items are peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat and fish. Of course, it has not been scientifically proved that there is a direct co-relation between the two but it has been observed that a controlled diet usually prevents baby eczema. There are a few cases also in which infants develop eczema when they wear clothes which have been treated with detergents or clothes softeners.

Though there are no proven methods of treatment, some of the generally effective methods include bathing the baby in lukewarm water and keeping the skin moisturized. Wearing light clothes which help in ventilation also helps to some extent.

When you suffer from eczema and want to get rid of it, it can be tempting to shower frequently or take a couple of baths a day. This is not the best approach as drying out the skin and stripping it’s natural oils will only aggravate the eczema condition. How should you care for you skin when it is broken out in red patches and eruptions due to dermatitis?

First of all, you should not neglect showering or bathing in order to preserve the body’s natural oil composition. However, it is best to take brief showers using warm or tepid water, rather than hot water. When you are in the shower or bath, use a soap made for sensitive skin problems. This often will state that it is dermatologist recommended. It is fine to use natural oils in the bath such as olive oil or coconut oil, but don’t add in bath oils as they may have fragrances or chemicals that can increase the rash and spread it.

Be sure to not rub the skin hard with a wash cloth and definitely refrain from using a loofah brush on the body. Gentleness is important with eczema to assist the healing process. Putting oatmeal into the bath is good for your skin and will reduce the itching from atopic, contact dermatitis, nummular eczema and other related problems. As a side note, try to gather this up as you drain the tub to not clog anything.

After the shower or bath, put on a moisturizer or use a natural oil immediately while your skin is still slightly wet. Moisturize again a second time during the day as well. Proper cleansing of the skin is important to prevent bacterial infections (especially if someone is scratching). However, keep the showers or baths brief so your skin will stay hydrated.