Baby’s First Winter: How to Battle Winter Eczema

Baby's First Winter: How to Battle Winter Eczema

Winter brings up images of holidays, family meals and evenings spent by a cosy fireplace. Unfortunately, for a small baby, winters can be problematic. The harsh cold weather can lead to extremely dry, scaly and itchy skin, a condition called eczema.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a type of skin rash that tends to appear in babies under the age of 5. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, children usually suffer from this condition during the first year after birth. The condition leads to dry and scaly patches on the baby’s skin and can appear on the cheeks, scalp, forehead and face. Regardless of where it appears, your baby will feel extremely itchy and try to rub their skin against the bed or the carpet for relief. Unfortunately, scratching will most likely lead to skin infection.

What Causes Atopic Dermatitis?

This condition can affect people of any race and 90% of people get it before the age of 5. A child’s risk of contracting this condition increases if one of the parents has/has had asthma or hay fever. Children can contract all 3 diseases and will do so before the age of 30.

The location in which the child resides, for example, a region with high levels of pollution or cold climate, also increases the risk of eczema. Interestingly, the older a mother is at the time of delivery, the more likely the child is to contract eczema. Also, females are more susceptible to this condition than males.​

Researchers have found that this condition is not contagious. However, eating certain foods such as dairy items, including yogurt and cheese can worsen the condition. It’s important to speak with your child’s dermatologist before stopping any specific foods though.

How Do Dermatologists Treat This Condition?

Although no cure for atopic dermatitis exists, dermatologists can help control the condition. Treatment can prevent the condition from worsening, while also relieving the itching, which can reduce the chances of infection in babies from scratching too much. Timely treatment can also stop the skin from thickening. This is critical because thick skin often itches constantly, even without an eczema flare up.

Treatment for this condition includes medicine, skin care and lifestyle changes, which should help in controlling the itching, reducing redness, clearing the infection, and removing scaly lesions.​

Tips to Reduce Severity of Your Baby's Eczema

Bathing

• Don’t bathe your baby for more than ten minutes. Make sure the bath water is warm, not hot.
• Ensure the cleanser you use to bathe your baby is fragrance-free and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals. A bleach bath twice a week may also be recommended by the dermatologist.
• Never rub skin after a bath, instead lightly pat-dry it.

Moisturizing

• Apply medicine only when the skin is almost dry. Apply moisturizer over the medicine and on the rest of the body. Moisturizer can also be applied in the morning immediately before putting your baby’s clothes on.
• The moisturizer should be thick. Petroleum jelly is an inexpensive, yet effective option. Always check that the moisturizer/lotion doesn’t contain alcohol because it will strip the skin of moisture. Try using pure oils to help relieve dry skin problems and intensely hydrate the skin.
• Applying moisturizer twice a day can prevent dryness, cracking, and may keep the need for eczema medications to a minimum.

Hygiene

• Always use laundry detergent meant for sensitive skin to wash your baby’s clothes. Avoid scented detergents and fabric softeners because these can cause irritation.
• Cut your child’s fingernails regularly to decrease the chances of any scratching and puncturing the skin. Another option is to slip cotton gloves over your baby’s hands at night to prevent any scratching during sleep.
• Your baby’s diapers are made using plastic, which is guaranteed to irritate his/her skin, leading to rashes around the edges of the diaper. This can happen to even those babies who aren’t suffering from eczema. Cloth diapers can help soothe irritated skin and even though they cost more, they come up to the same price as normal diapers in the long term.
• To help your baby avoid dry skin, make sure it is always hydrated. Organic, unscented soap contains very few ingredients that remove moisture from the skin. For example, fat-based soaps made from olive oil can clean the skin without stripping it of natural oils.

Clothing

• When buying baby clothes, try to find items that do not have tags and labels on them because they can cause irritation when they rub against the skin.
• Always wash new baby clothes before using them to remove excess dyes and other chemicals which can potentially irritate the skin.
• Invest in organic cotton clothing. It is made without the use of synthetic fertilizers, toxins, harsh chemicals or dyes. Not only is this type of clothing free from allergies, it is also soft and comfortable for your baby. Using organic cotton is a quick way to reduce the chances of skin irritation.
• When buying baby clothes, stick to one brand for a while to see if it results in any allergic reactions. If you find it to be skin-friendly, you can buy more clothing from the same brand.  Doing so will prevent you from wasting money on nonorganic clothing which may or may not work for your child.
• Avoid using fabric softeners which are packed with chemicals and scents, leading to inflamed and itchy skin. It may be a good idea to run an extra rinse cycle to ensure that all soap has been removed from clothing. It also makes sense to rinse your own clothing properly to ensure that no chemicals are transferred to your baby.

General Tips

• Breast milk is hypoallergenic and is the best option for your baby if food allergies are the cause of eczema. The mother can change her diet to ensure the baby is receiving the most nutritious milk possible by eating food high in anti-inflammatory elements Fish oil, berries and dark greens such as spinach work well in such cases.
• Homemade baby food can help because it contains fewer chemicals than store-bought baby-food. Buy organic foods because they contain less chemicals. Cook all fruits on a stove until they bubble and then puree them. After the food has been pureed, freeze it for use later. Simply microwave the food to warm it up. Home-cooked food is healthier for your baby and will save you money as well.
• Check your baby’s toys because they can be a hotbed for all sorts of chemicals. Check the plastic, the paint and the dyes as any of these factors can cause an allergic skin reaction. Wooden toys are a safe alternative. Remember to wash any fluffy toys at least once a week to eliminate dust mites, which can cause skin irritation.
• Don’t let the room temperature reach uncomfortable levels of heat or humidity as these are the most common triggers of itching and scratching.
• Be wary of using scented products around the home because they tend to be produced chemically. If the product’s scent is not produced naturally, avoid using it altogether. Common products where chemically manufactured scents can be found include perfumes, dishwasher soap, household cleaners, wood cleaners, air sanitizers, bath lotions, wipes, deodorants, and antiperspirants.
• Did you know that your baby’s shoes can cause skin irritation around his/her ankles? Always look for shoes made from chrome-free leather. These are free of chemicals used in the shoe-tanning process and will also let your baby’s feet breathe.
• Walk through your home and examine all possible areas where your baby may come in contact with chemicals. For example, carpets and bedding can be the biggest culprits. Replace them with skin-friendly options or get rid of them altogether.

Final Thoughts

Eczema is a common condition faced by several babies, but with proper care and precautions, it doesn’t have to be too uncomfortable for your child. Taking care of basic hygiene and making a few lifestyle changes can keep this problem at bay, while making your baby as comfortable as possible when undergoing treatment.

Author Bio:

Rachel Oliver is a freelancer who has a way with words. She likes to write about anything and everything under the sun, but themes like parenting, baby health & fitness, fashion, business and technology interests her more. You can get in touch with her on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter.

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