Welcome! If you have an itchy baby you’ll know that eczema in babies, toddlers and children can be incredibly distressing for both you and your baby.
Our experiences with eczema inspired us to set up Itchy Baby with the aim of providing information, support and a place to chat for parents of babies suffering baby eczema.
It’s a website that has evolved over the years as more parents have share their experiences. It contains information, suggestions and products that people have found helpful in reducing the symptoms of eczema in little people and I hope you find nuggets of wisdom that will help you help your little one.
We hope you find the information on this website useful. If your baby is suffering from eczema then we’re sure you will want to jump straight to treatments, but at Itchy Baby we would encourage you to spend some time reading some of the other informative sections of this site.
You’ll discover news,and research into eczema, information on eczema triggers, a shop with products we have found particularly helpful in managing eczema, useful links to charities and other information resources and perhaps most importantly of all, a forum where parents share their experiences, their advice, their frustration and the joy that children bring.
Treatments for Eczema
Eczema Creams, Emollients and Moisturisers
Choosing a cream for baby eczema is really about personal preference. If there is no sensitivity to a chosen cream then regular application is more important than what you apply.
In many ways it is easier to outline what shouldn’t be in creams than what should; added ingredients are likely to cause reactions. Perfumes and colours are completely unnecessary and should always be avoided. Preservatives although needed in some creams, like those containing water should be kept to a minimum, additives like parabens and surfactants (detergents) are common causes of skin irritation and should be avoided.
Petroleum jelly and other pure mineral based emollients are unlikely to cause a reaction even in the most sensitive of people but these creams are frequently full of preservatives and additives, they also do little to actually nourish and moisturise the skin. Creams derived from plant oils or butters still have the benefits of the living plants in them and when well chosen can have many advantages over mineral based emollients.
Moisturising is so very important that it’s great to make it an enjoyable part of you and your baby’s routine. It can be a lovely time to make eye contact, smile, kiss and bond with tiny babies. Try to make it a special time for you both, older toddlers will love the attention too, even if they are a little harder to keep still!
In wet eczema skin is so inflamed and sore it is weeping fluid or blood. When the skin is like this it requires different management to the dry or itchy stage and it can become infected. If your itchy baby develops wet eczema stop moisturising and consult your doctor quickly for appropriate treatments.
Baby’s faces, cheeks and chin are very vulnerable to eczema breakouts. There are several reasons for this. Faces are often damp with drool meaning they are in wet contact with any irritants in clothing or toys. Messy eating means food gets onto there sensitive skin, they also instinctively chew hands and toys bringing bacteria to the skin.
Add to this a tendency too flush easily when warm, teething which can increase the blood supply to the cheeks and make their dribble more acidic, and the fact the face is always exposed to the elements and you’ll soon understand why they’re lovely faces need lots of special attention!
It’s worth keeping a pot of cream near the highchair, pop a layer on as a barrier before meals. When the meal is over clean the face thoroughly and apply more cream, covering checks, chin, hands and wrists before you get them down.
We are never far from a pot of cream, I pop some on at any signs of redness several times a day and this keeps his eczema at bay. He frequently goes bright red but we tend too avoid any soreness or itching.
Medications
There are numerous things that doctors can prescribe to help in the treatment of eczema. None of the treatments will cure eczema, but they aim to help to control the symptoms and bring the flare ups back under control as quickly and safely as possible.
Creams and bath oils are often prescribed.
Steroid creams have been used to treat eczema for many years and when used correctly are pretty safe. Doctors aim to use the lowest strength cream necessary and for the least amount of time needed to bring the flare up back under control. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about how best to use the cream if you are uncertain. It’s normally a very thin smear of the cream onto the affected skin twice daily – to be used long enough to return the skin to normal. It’s important to still emolliate the skin whilst using the steroid and continue to emolliate for several weeks after treatment, as even though the skin looks better it is still very vulnerable to another flare up.
If the skin is infected your doctor may prescribe a cream with a mix of antibiotic and steroid in. Again check with them how the cream is to be used and how long for.
In severe cases systemic antibiotics or steroids may be needed in the form of medicine or injections. Ask your healthcare professional to explain why they are using the treatment and ask about any side effects if you’re concerned.
There are also some other prescription creams, Immunomodulators, which are non steroid creams that act on the immune reaction occurring in the skin during break outs of eczema. These creams shouldn’t be used in children under 2 years and although they do seem to help some people there are currently questions over long term safety of their use and the boxes carry a warning.
Antibiotics are prescribed by doctors to control infected eczema, while antihistamines are often given to help with the itching and aid sleep.