Baby eczema can be exacerbated by skin allergens including numerous household chemicals. Laundry detergents, shampoos, fabric conditioners, and soaps can all cause contact eczema, or dermatitis, in some children and preventing baby eczema may be possible where a specific trigger is the cause of the symptoms.
Baby eczema may, however, co-exist with contact eczema and be present to some degree whether the specific allergen is present or not.
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Dry, cracked heels are a common complaint and can prove painful and embarrassing. This condition often gets worse during winter, and may be diagnosed as hyperkeratotic xerosis or hyperkeratosis with ichthyosis vulgaris.
While the latter condition is incurable, there are effective treatments to help manage symptoms. These include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and emollient and humectant moisturising creams to help reduce dryness and scaling for skin that looks healthier and feels happier. Continue reading
Infant eczema is a common skin condition, affecting around 1 in 5 young children. Eczema is linked to childhood asthma and food allergies and many theories have been proposed to explain the development of atopic eczema.
One of these theories suggests that the microflora in the gastrointestinal system of infants influences immune system activity, thereby triggering or contributing to skin reactions and allergy symptoms. A significant amount of research backs up this theory, including a recent review that adds weight to the idea that prebiotic supplementation of infant formula or breast milk can help in preventing eczema in infants up to 2 years old. Continue reading
Can growing up with a dog or cat affect your baby’s risk of developing eczema? According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, living the first four years of life in a dog-free zone can make a big difference to childhood eczema risk! Man’s best friend could help protect your baby in ways you’d never even imagined.
Cats, it seems, couldn’t care less about your kids’ health.(Just kidding!) Continue reading
Eating a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds can help provide vitamins and minerals for skin health but when it comes to beating acne, psoriasis, eczema and other common skin conditions there are some nutrients that are a little more important than others.
In some cases the emergence of a skin disorder can itself signify a deficiency in a particular vitamin vital for naturally healthy skin and when such symptoms arise it is often the case that health problems also exist internally. Continue reading
Infants born to mothers who smoked in pregnancy are at an increased risk of baby eczema according to research presented at a recent conference. The scientists presented their findings at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology following investigation into smoking in pregnancy and passive smoking in pregnancy and the association with baby eczema.
Both atopic eczema and dermatitis are thought to be increased risks as smoking in pregnancy impairs the immune response of the growing foetus. It is not yet clear why this happens, or why babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more susceptible to atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), but the researchers suggest that oxidative stress may play a role in the condition. Continue reading