What Causes Cradle Cap
The exact cause of infant seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. Overproduction of your babys oil-producing sebaceous glands or a type of yeast in the oil may contribute to your babys condition. The glands are on the babys scalp. Scientists think the changing hormone levels in the mothers body during pregnancy may cause a babys sebaceous glands to overproduce. Normal skin cells are naturally shed in a process called desquamation. However, the cells will remain stuck to the scalp if there is an abundance of oil. This causes no harm to your baby.
Most Common Types Of Baby Rashes
Noticing small red bumps popping up on your babys body? Are you worrying slightly and wondering what it might be?
Chances are, its something completely harmless that will resolve itself within a few days.
But its still important to keep an eye on it. There are many types of rashes a baby could develop. It can, at times, be difficult to know specifically what caused it.
In this guide, well show you the most common types of baby rashes, and look at each one in detail.
Will My Baby Outgrow Eczema
Many babies who develop eczema in their first year eventually outgrow eczema by the time they start elementary school. Other children outgrow it by their early teens. Still others dont completely outgrow eczema by these ages, but notice that their eczema is less severe as they get older.
But eczema, especially chronic eczema, can also be lifelong. Some babies never outgrow eczema, and have the condition for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, theres no cure for eczema, and no way to tell whether your little one will outgrow it.
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What Is Infantile Atopic Dermatitis
__Infantile atopic dermatitis, often called atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema or baby eczema, is a very common skin condition in children. __
People with this condition suffer dermatitis due to allergies or having skin which is sensitive to certain substances. It tends to affect children before they turn five. The typical symptoms are a red, itchy rash and scaly, dry skin. These symptoms tend to flare in response to certain triggers. Treatment involves keeping the skin moist and using creams or medications to soothe the skin and treat the inflammation. Many children with atopic dermatitis will find that their condition improves over time, and may not have any symptoms by the time they are teenagers.
Can My Baby Grow Out Of It
One of the most common questions parents have for pediatricians is whether their baby will outgrow their eczema. If you are wondering the same thing, rest assured. Most babies who develop eczema in the first few months of life outgrow it by the time they begin school at age 4 or 5. However, a small percentage of babies who develop eczema will not outgrow it. Unfortunately, there is no way to confirm whether a baby will or will not outgrow eczema in a few years but the chances of the condition staying increase if the condition runs in the family.
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Differences In Rash Appearance By Age
The appearance of atopic dermatitis may depend on your age. In fact, one of the biggest differences between childhood and adult eczema is how it looks on the skin:
- Infants tend to have rashes on the scalp and face, particularly on the cheeks, chin, scalp, and forehead. Skin usually looks weepy and red.
- Babies between 6 months and 12 months often develop eczema on their knees and elbows because of irritation from crawling.
- Toddlers also experience irritation around the knees and elbows but may develop a rash on their ankles, hands, and wrists. A rash around the eyes and mouth is also common in kids under 5. The rash is also more likely to appear scaly.
- Children over 5 typically have rashes behind the knees and in the folds of the elbows. At this age, some people have rashes only on their hands.
- In adults, rashes may appear in these areas but are more common on the hands and eyelids. People who have had lifelong eczema may have thick patches of skin that are darker or lighter than other areas.
Symptoms Of Eczema In Newborns
Eczema in newborns typically affects the joints of arms and legs, as well as the cheeks and chin. Sometimes it can even develop in the diaper area. It appears as patches of red, dry skin and may look similar to a rash. Because of its similar appearance, infant eczema is often confused for baby acne or cradle cap.
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Moisturizing Ointments And Creams
Using a moisturizing ointment or cream to keep the skin soft and moist is key to tacklingbaby eczema. Moisturizers are classified according to their oil and water content, withthe most effective moisturizers containing a higher amount of oil.
Ointments and barrier creams should be applied to the skin in a thick layer at least twiceper day and immediately after bathing. They can be bought over the counter at the pharmacyor be prescribed by a doctor.
What Are The Signs Of Cradle Cap
- Redness, and crusty brown or yellow scales on the scalp that resemble fish scales.
- Scales feel fragile and flaky, or waxy and greasy, to the touch.
Note: Cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis that is limited to your babys scalp. If your baby has redness and scaling on their eyelids, in the folds of their neck and armpits, behind their ears, and on their face and diaper areas, this is called seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea and should be brought to the attention of your healthcare provider.
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What To Know About Eczema
Eczema is a condition in which patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, cracked, and rough. Some types can also cause blisters.
Different types and stages of eczema affect 31.6 million people in the United States, which equals more than 10% of the population.
Many people use the word eczema when referring to atopic dermatitis, which is the most common type. The term atopic refers to a collection of conditions that involve the immune system, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and hay fever. The word dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin.
Certain foods, such as nuts and dairy, can trigger symptoms of eczema. Environmental triggers can include smoke, pollen, soaps, and fragrances. Eczema is not contagious.
About a quarter of children in the U.S. have the condition, as well as 10% of African Americans, 13% of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 13% of Native Americans, and 11% of people who are white.
Some people outgrow the condition, while others will continue to have it throughout adulthood. This article will explain what eczema is and discuss its symptoms, treatments, causes, and types.
Treating Eczema In Babies
The first thing that you should do if you think your baby has got eczema is to take him Newborn eczema usually follows the below-mentioned line of treatment depending upon age, symptoms and general health.
- Healing the itchy, blistered skin and then maintaining it
- Preventing further growth of eruptions
- Treating them as soon as they appear, so that the condition does not reach to the worst condition
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How Does Baby Eczema Differ From Dry Skin
Dry skin is a symptom of eczema. Your pediatrician can diagnose eczema by examining your baby’s skin. He or she may send you to a pediatric dermatologist for confirmation and treatment if the condition is severe.
In general, dry skin can be handled at home with some moisturizer and isnt as bothersome as eczema. However, babies with darker skin tend to have drier skin than those with lighter skin making moisturization even more crucial.
Newborn Baby Eczema Tips: How To Treat Newborn Baby Eczema
There are many ways to soothe your little one’s discomfort when dealing with a baby eczema flare-up, which can be incredibly reassuring as a new parent. These newborn baby eczema tips apply whether your little one is dealing with baby eczema in winter or as a reaction to an allergen. You’ll be relieved to discover there are lots of things you can do for your baby and the skin condition they’ve developed.
Here are some top tips on how to treat newborn baby eczema:
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Baby Eczema Emollient Balms And Creams
If youre familiar with the term emollient, you might be under the impression that its just a fancy name for a moisturizer. At the most basic level, youd be correct: an emollient does help moisturize your babys skin.
But the best emollients, like Mustelas Stelatopia Emollient Cream and Emollient Balm, do so much more than just moisturize. For example, Stelatopia products contain gentle ingredients that act as occlusives, humectants, and lubricants.
Occlusives
An occlusive acts like a layer of oil on the surface of your babys skin to slow down water evaporation. Common occlusives you may already be familiar with include petroleum jelly and olive oil.
Humectants
A humectant absorbs water from above and below it. When spread on your babys skin, it absorbs moisture from the air and from the dermis and hypodermis .
This trapped moisture benefits your babys epidermis by keeping it hydrated. Common humectants you may already be familiar with include glycerin and urea.
Lubricants
A lubricant reduces the friction between your babys skin and anything that may rub against it. This keeps clothing or blankets or even the touch of your fingers from damaging your babys atopic-prone skin and causing a flare-up. Many occlusives and humectants also act like lubricants.
The Advantages of Using Emollient Balms And Creams
The combination of the above ingredients offers many benefits for your babys skin:
What You Can Do
You can help reduce your child’s discomfort by:
- keeping their fingernails short to reduce the damage to their skin from scratching
- washing them with aqueous cream instead of soap – ask your pharmacist about aqueous creams and always follow the instructions on the product
- using non-biological detergent and a double rinse cycle when washing their clothes or bedding
- avoiding herbal, ‘natural’ or alternative creams – these can make eczema worse, as they may contain bacteria or high doses of steroids
- rinsing and drying them well after swimming
- dressing them in cool, breathable fabrics like cotton
- keeping them away from anyone with a cold sore – as the cold sore virus can cause eczema to become infected
- using extra moisturiser on areas your child scratches a lot
- avoiding anything you know that causes your childs eczema to get worse
Around 6 out of 10 children with eczema will grow out of it by the time they’re teenagers.
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The Atopic March Food Allergies And Eczema
Eczema and food allergies are very closely related. They are both considered allergic conditions, and they are both part of a progression known as the atopic march.
What is the atopic march? According to the atopic march, children with one allergic condition are at increased risk for others, and allergic conditions often appear in a certain order. In other words, one condition usually marches in front of the other, in a fairly predictable lineup.
Eczema comes before food allergies in the atopic march. This means babies usually develop eczema before food allergies, and babies with eczema are at the highest risk for food allergies.
But even though food allergies and eczema are closely related, and even though some symptoms may look similar, eczema rash is not the same as a food allergy reaction.
Food allergy rashes appear as raised bumps, which look different from the red, scaly rash of eczema. Learn more about how to tell the difference between a food allergy reaction and an eczema flare-up.
What Is Cradle Cap
If you notice that your infants scalp is flaking, your baby may have cradle cap, also known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is common in the first three months of life. Like peeling skin, it usually resolves on its own without any treatment. If it starts to get worse or lasts longer than a few months, talk with your pediatrician.
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What Causes Eczema In Infants And Children
Eczema is brought about by the complex interplay of a genetic predisposition and the childs environment. Many things from the climate to possible allergens can cause eczema to flare. We know that eczema tends to run in the families with a predisposition to other atopic diseases, such as food allergies, asthma and hay fever. Individuals with atopic dermatitis may lack certain proteins in the skin, which leads to greater sensitivity. Parents with eczema are more likely to have children with eczema. However, the exact way it passes from parents to children is still not known. Most children who have eczema will show signs of the condition in the first year of life. It tends to wax and wane in severity.
Causes And Triggers Of Baby Eczema
The causes of baby eczema are unclear, though it is generally agreed that the conditionstems from a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Knowing what triggers babyeczema can be useful in keeping the condition under control. Common triggers include:
- Dry skin: When the skin becomes too dry it becomes susceptible to rashes and flare-ups of eczema.
- Moisture on the skin: From sweat, milk, saliva or wet diapers.
- Chemical irritants: Natural or artificial chemicals found in everyday products canmake an outbreak of eczema more likely. These chemicals can be found in products such asshampoo, soap, laundry detergent and disinfectants or surface cleaners.
- Dust mites: Some research shows that prolonged exposure to dust mites increases thelikelihood of an infant developing eczema. Further research in the area suggests thatreducing the number of dust mites in the home makes little difference to the frequencyand severity of eczema flares after the first diagnosis.
- Stress: Babies can become extremely irritated by eczema which can in turn exacerbatethe condition further.
Don’t Forget About The Feet
Shoes can even be a concern. Thermoplastic, rubber-boxed toes, and the chemicals used in the shoe-tanning process can cause flare-ups around your baby’s ankles. Look for genuine or eco-leather shoes that are made of chrome-free leather. This will let your baby’s foot breathe easily, leading to fewer irritations.
Brand that Works for Ethan: Bobux. Their shoes are made from eco-leather and are chrome-free.
Difference Between Cradle Cap And Eczema
Eczema shows up as itchy, rough patches of red or dry skin. The cradle cap is much less red and scaly. It usually appears on the scalp, but can also appear on the sides of the nose, eyelids, eyebrows, and behind the ears. Most often, the cradle cap will clear up by itself in the first few months of life. Also, as a general rule of thumb, if it doesnt itch or irritate your child, it probably isnt eczema.