Eczema is a chronic skin problem that causes dry, red, itchy skin. It is also called atopic dermatitis or AD.

Your child may have eczema if her or she continually experiences itchy, dry, red skin and small bumps on parts of the face or parts of the body. Eczema usually appears on the face and scalp of babies and in the crooks of elbows and backs of knees in older children. The condition usually develops before the age of 18 months, when a baby’s skin is still developing. It can come and go for months or years and often disappears by adolescence. Occasionally it persists into adulthood.

According to a recently published study, how often a baby gets a bath, what is in the baby wash and shampoo and whether the skin is properly moisturized after bathing are things that could help bring on eczema.

Researchers say many babies may be getting too many baths as they increasingly believe that environmental factors, such as bathing, pollutants etc., can disrupt the skin’s ability to keep moisture in and allergens and microbes out.

Eczema was long believed to begin as an allergic reaction, perhaps to something a child ate or encountered, that then led to skin inflammation. But experts say decades of viewing allergies as the primary culprit behind eczema yielded few preventive strategies.

“The more we understand about the causes of eczema, the more it seems how we take care of the skin of babies may be relevant,” says Eric Simpson, associate professor of dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

 

“Are the things we’re doing that we think are good for our babies causing eczema?” he says.

How can parents prevent eczema in children and babies?

• For the first year don’t give baths to often to avoid drying out the baby’s skin.
• Apply moisturizer liberally immediately after the bath. Putting it on when the skin is still moist will seal in the water.
• Use mild, non-soap cleansers designed for a baby’s skin.
• Fragrance-free is best. Even herbal ingredients can be irritating to the skin.
• Thicker or oily moisturizing products are better at keeping the skin moist.
• Consider products with the National Eczema Association’s seal of acceptance. These don’t contain ingredients that are known irritants to sensitive skin.

The National Eczema Association offers more advice on how parents can deal with eczema in children.