You’ve probably heard it all… that your baby will outgrow eczema, it will get better soon, or try a certain remedy, or try that remedy. “No really, THIS WILL WORK – it worked for my baby!”
You’ve probably tried it all – medication, allergen free clothing and change of diet and food, humidifying the air, topical creams and home remedies. So you’ve been through it all, yet your baby is still in distress and is uncomfortable.
So, what do you do? How do you (too) get through the years of eczema with your child? It’s upsetting for the entire family and takes some adjustments in routines and your lifestyle. In the beginning your baby doesn’t know what is making him feel uncomfortable. It’s heart-breaking for any mom to see her baby in discomfort overlooking a crying child. You’re at your wits end some days, aren’t you?
While you eagerly try to find solutions for your little one, and you probably did your home work, googled endless amounts of symptoms & solutions; and got doctors advice for remedies and cures… is there really a life during and after eczema! To know this we have to understand why eczema occurs and what we can do to prevent breakouts.
Why and when does eczema occur?
- The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it’s thought to be have something to do with an overactive response by the body’s immune system to an irritant and this causes inflamed skin or rashes as the symptoms of eczema.
- Eczema is commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma. Also, defects in the skin barrier could allow moisture out and germs in.
- Itch and scratch cycles happen just before baby falls asleep at night and sometimes on the hour, throughout the night. This occurs, because REM cycles cause baby to wake for a bit, become aware and fall asleep again. So you manage these cycles with this knowledge.
- You learn which weather patterns and seasons are triggers, so you are better prepared.
- As time goes by you will learn to manage the condition and triggers, knowing what causes an outbreak and what to avoid.
- Baby’s skin starts to slowly heal with regular moisturisation and hydration.
How to keep skin eczema free
Basically, when dealing with eczema in babies, you will need to seek medical treatment and/or avoiding irritants that’s causing the skin to breakout. Here’s some methods on how to avoid skin breakouts.
- Keeping skin clean, free from allergens and triggers.
- Use a mild soap or aqueous cream to bath baby.
- Keeping skin moisturised with a very good hypoallergenic cream like Baby & Kids Epizone A or Epizone E ointment, and topical cream when required.
- Staying out of the sun helps and use an oil free SPF40 Sunscreen.
- Keep away from pools as the chemicals (chlorine) used can cause irritation, if this is what baby’s skin needs.
- Maintain a healthy diet for baby and for mom when breastfeeding. Breastfeed for as long as possible as breastmilk contains natural elements that can heal eczema and is light on baby’s tummy.
When will you see results?
If you are maintaining the above, the eczema bouts become fewer and farther in between. Then (it seems) almost overnight, you discover a huge improvement. Suddenly you find fewer red and irritated patches. Baby becomes happier and less agitated. It may happen during the first few months, or it may happen in the first few years. Don’t give up hope and continue maintaining what works, because that is key.
Keep calm and carry on, day by day is the only way!