New parents have a lot to worry about, and looking after their newborns skin is one such concern. Eczema in infants is fairly common and although some types may be unavoidable, it may be possible of minimising the risk of developing a form called contact eczema.

What is Baby Eczema?

Baby eczema can come in two forms; atopic eczema meaning it can occur regardless of your best efforts and may be linked to genetic factors, and the other is known as contact eczema.

Both forms begin as a skin irritation resulting in area of redness, dry patches that are itchy and inflamed and may develop to being sore, weepy, cracked or bleeding.

What Links Exist Between Baby Eczema and Allergies?

Although experts tend to agree that eczema is not necessarily an allergic reaction, it is thought that some forms may be related to specific products that act as allergens. These typically include dietary sources, reactions to certain chemicals found in many soaps, washing detergents and fabric softening products (though these claims are currently being researched), or in fact from being too warm or because of the nature of the fabric that is in contact with their skin.

Avoiding Allergy Related Flare-ups

In the first instance it is worth refraining from using fabric conditioners for a while and changing your washing powder to a non-biological brand that is softer to your baby’s skin as they contain less or no enzymes that can irritate the skin. If your baby also tends to suffer from regular bouts of sickness and diarrhoea, you may want to speak to your health visitor about a possible change in their diet. Common food products that can trigger eczema include cow’s milk, soya and wheat products. By gradually eliminating each type of these foods (making sure you find a safe and suitable replacement) you may be able to find out which your baby is most sensitive to.

If your baby tends to get quite warm, try dressing them more suitably; perhaps you could exchange a woolly jumper with a softer fleecy top or cotton sweatshirt. Also by making sure that baby is dried properly after bathing, their skin is less likely to become sore and inflamed. Take extra care when drying around their creases and face as these are the areas that may suffer a flare-up. Using appropriate moisturisers carefully after their bath will also help; avoid scented or coloured products that contain unnecessary and unneeded chemicals that can aggravate episodes of dryness in your baby’s skin. The best fabrics for both your baby’s clothes and their bedding, is soft clean cotton items that are soft and non-irritant to the skin. Baby eczema can develop very quickly and can deteriorate from a patch of redness to a very sore and angry looking area equally as quickly so it is important to try and prevent the occurrence before this is permitted to occur when able.

Washing and Bathing

A newborn baby does not necessarily need to be bathed every day unless of course your baby enjoys it and you find that bath time is a great way of bonding with your baby. Every other day or even Every three days (unless of course baby has an accident that warrants a full body wash) should be sufficient as you can simply wash your baby in between. A baby should be given a top and tail wash every morning and in the evening if needed. A small bowl of warm water should be enough to wash your baby’s face, hands, creases, naval and groin. Start by wiping over the baby’s face and drying thoroughly. Follow by washing baby’s hands making sure that you get in between the fingers as milk and saliva can build up in these areas.Baby’s can sweat a lot, or you may find that milk has trickled into the creases such as under the arms, right under the chin or within any folds of body fat and skin. These should be wiped over and dried properly. The navel area can be wiped over to make sure that it is kept clean and to encourage the stump of the cord to be released. Do not put pressure on the cord or try and pull it off as this will occur naturally when it is ready. It is vital that it is kept dry after the wash to special attention should be paid to this.Lastly the groin can be cleaned. Although you may have cleaned the area several times during the day when you are changing the nappy, it should be done again as part of the wash and incorporated into the daily routine for life. Again drying is important. There is no need to buy wash cloths or other wise for carrying out a newborn baby wash as some cotton wool balls are ideal as they are disposable and very soft to the baby’s skin.

The Importance of Drying Properly

Equally as important as maintaining baby’s hygiene is making sure that your baby is dried properly after the wash. This is because any dampness left will result in your baby getting chilly, increasing the chances of infection and sores developing. Try not to rub your baby’s skin, instead simply pat it with a soft clean towel. Make sure the room in which you are bathing baby is warm enough for baby to be naked in during the bath or wash as babies lose their body heat very quickly and may get cold and it will also help to make the experience more enjoyable for both baby and you.

Using Talc

Not all new parents use talc and often it is not necessary, however sometimes it can help if it is used on the bottom or in the creases after they are dried to make sure baby doesn’t get sore from any build up of moisture that may develop. Do not however use talc if your baby is sore already, has a rash or has any areas of broken skin as the ingredients may make it worse and cause discomfort. In these instances, plain warm water is the best option.

created feb 2010