Guide: Baby Itchy Skin 101 (Remedies Included)

Statistics recently reported in the Dermatitis journal alleged that 13% of American children under 18 years old have atopic dermatitis, a skin condition more commonly known as eczema.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), 90% of these children contract it before turning five years old, while 60% develop the condition within their first year of life.

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is characterized by red rashes that make the skin itchy, dry, and scaly.

Other signs include:

• red small bumps that might ooze fluid
• a darker skin around the eyes and eyelids
• thickened skin
• swelling

The condition can range from a manageable inconvenience to severe irritation.

The dryness of the skin can cause itching all over the body. The location of the dryness can grow and change over time, developing in areas like under the elbows, the knees or on the face.

Fleshy, dome-shaped lesions that are itchy with a dimpled centre are likely to be signs of Molluscumcontagiosum virus, and while its symptoms are relatively mild, great care should be taken as it’s considered to be highly contagious.

Causes of skin itching/eczema

Eczema is triggered by irritants, allergens and other substances that cause the immune system to react as though it has come across a harmful substance.

These include things like:

• allergenic foods
• certain scented products
• cigarette smoke
• dry air in air-conditioned rooms
• dust mites
• emotional stress
• mould
• pet dander
• pollen
• wool
• skin infections
• sweating
• synthetic materials used for clothes

Exactly what causes eczema in some people remains unknown.

However, it’s understood that when normal skin bacteria like staphylococcus gets lodged in the cracks of dried skin it causes an immune response.

As such, the appearance of eczema is actually the skin fighting back.

Baby Itchy Skin Remedies

The itching associated with eczema is a stubborn condition, partially because it can be dormant for years and then all of a sudden flare-up.

Clinically there is no cure, but in children, the condition usually grows less severe as they get older.

Treatment methods are typically aimed at reducing the skin’s dryness, which is what accelerates flare-ups and inflammation.

The combination of a few lifestyle modifications with the right clinical treatment methods provides sufferers with their best chance of beating eczema.

Here are the steps you can take at home:

Low potency steroidal creams

Stubborn scaly patches that don’t improve after proper moisturizing may require the application of 1% hydrocortisone cream, which is available at most pharmacies.

Do not use hot water

Use lukewarm or cool instead of hot water when bathing your baby or cleaning his/her face. Stay away from rough loofahs, towels and washcloths.

The natural oil of their skin acts as a protective layer.

While hygiene is, of course, important, consider reducing their full baths to four times a week.

Moisturize regularly

After bathing them, be sure to moisturize your baby’s skin with dye-and fragrance-free lotions, creams, and ointments like Little Innoscents and Four Cow Farm.

It’s imperative not to use alcohol-based lotions as they dry out the skin.

Oils such as jojoba oil and coconut oil are easily absorbed into the skin and possess certain healing properties, making them good options if you are unable to find alcohol and fragrance-free creams at your pharmacy.

Loose clothing

Dress your baby in soft cotton or smooth silk apparels that are loose and allow space to “breath”.

Wool fabrics should be avoided as their fibres poke the delicate, smooth skin surface of your baby, causing itching and irritation – not to mention a histamine response and ripple effect itching as well.

Wool also sometimes contains a skin irritant called lanolin.

Other materials to be avoided are synthetic fabrics such:

• polyester
• rayon
• nylon

These retain heat and promote eczema.

Make sure your baby’s fingernails are always short to prevent your infant from scratching their skin, potentially leading to more infections and inflammation.

Doing so will prevent microbes and germs from entering the skin in the event your child’s scratching opens a wound.

Additional protection

The changing seasons can greatly affect your child’s eczema.

In summer, the sun, salt, and chlorine (from swimming pools) can cause your little one’s skin to dry.

Always apply quality sunscreen with a high UV to protect your child from the sun’s potentially damaging rays.

Throughout the winter months make sure to install a humidifier in your child’s bedroom.

This will help keep the right amount of moisture in their room, preventing the dry winter air from causing an eczema outbreak.

How To Treat Baby’s Itchy Skin Medically?

• Antihistamines
• Non-steroidal medications for inflammation control — including topical calcineurin inhibitors.
• Oral medicines for suppressing the immune system
• Topical corticosteroids
• Antiviral, antifungal or antibacterial skin infection drugs

A baby’s skin is delicate, their immune systems simply aren’t as developed and strong like those of adults.

As such they’re particularly vulnerable to viruses, easily picking them up, even from people with no visible symptoms or signs of carrying such viruses.

Make sure if anyone in direct contact with your child gets sick to insist that they thoroughly sanitise their hands before touching your child, or ideally, to stay at a distance until they’re better.

It’s important to remember that infants with eczema won’t necessarily live with it for the rest of their lives.

Most people outgrow the condition as their immune systems mature and get better at fighting irritants and allergens.

References:

1. Caring For A Child With Eczema | American Academy of Dermatology
2. Can’t Stop Scratching? 10 Skin Care Tips To Ditch The Itch | Zwivel