Information on Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash
July 29, 2008
Eczema sufferers are believed to have a problem with their immune system which causes the condition but as yet no-one has discovered how this occurs. It is widely believed that it is triggered by some external allergen which causes the skin changes typically found on sufferers. With baby eczema, the skin becomes red, flaked and cracked normally on the child’s face. In the United Sates of America, up to one in every five infants will be affected by this skin condition.
In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. There are some cases though that do not clear up, even becoming serious enough to continue when they become adults. Almost anyone can be affected by this problem at any time in their life but it is babies that are most likely to suffer. About one-third of all patients develop symptoms before their first birthday, and almost all develop symptoms before five years.
Atopic eczema is the type most often found in baby eczema, where the child suffers with an itchy rash that is more often located on the arms, legs, face and head. This type, atopic eczema, tends to run in families and is often triggered when the baby’s skin isn’t moisturized correctly. Often the trigger mechanism is either the detergent or fabric conditioner used to wash the baby’s clothes and this can also be the trigger for the condition in adults as well. Other studies carried out on baby eczema have linked early weaning to be a causal effect.
Other medical conditions, such as respiratory infections, may also act as triggers. Studies have also shown that it may be more common in those infants who suffer from allergic rhinitis or food allergies, or whose mothers suffer from asthma. In fact almost a third of all childhood cases are thought to be as a result of a food allergy; once the foodstuff causing the problem is discovered, it is just a simple matter of taking out of the child’s meals. Unfortunately, the process of eliminating foods is usually one of trial and error; some commonly implicated foods are:
* Fish from either freshwater or the sea * Products with milk as an ingredient * Bread * Products containing eggs * Any meals or candy etc. that contain peanuts
The treatment with babies involves bathing in lukewarm water, and proper skin lubrication with hypoallergenic creams. To ensure they are comfortable they only dressed in natural cotton clothing once they have been bathed. A baby with this condition can easily cause infection to damaged skin if their nails are not kept short because they will undoubtedly scratch themselves constantly. For infants with more serious baby eczema, antihistamine cream may be prescribed which should help stop the itching; steroid creams can also be used for a short period to help heal the skin. This is a difficult medical condition to not only control but overcome despite being a common complaint.
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