Eczema in babies: features

Eczema is a baby skin problem which is often called milk rash or breast milk rash. even though breast milk does not cause a rash on your little one's skin. Then, what is eczema, which occurs very often in babies even when they are children? The following is the full explanation.

What is eczema that often occurs in babies?

Eczema or what is called atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that is inflamed, such as red, irritated, rough, and possibly scaly skin.

Sometimes, small lumps filled with fluid can also appear when the baby has eczema. Usually, eczema appears on the cheeks, forehead, back, hands and feet.

There are two types of itching and inflammation of eczema, wet and dry eczema.

Quoting from KidsHealth, a disease that is included in chronic dermatitis can occur in one in ten children. Symptoms can appear several months after the baby is born, or at around 3-5 years of age.

Half of the children who experienced eczema in their childhood, may experience eczema in adolescence.

No need to worry, eczema is not contagious. If the baby has eczema, you may need to avoid some of the things that can trigger eczema in the baby to recur.

One of the things that can trigger eczema is the food consumed by breastfeeding mothers.

Is eczema the same as milk rash in babies?

The term eczema milk or milk rash originates from the understanding that everything a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding gets absorbed into the breast milk.

So when the mother eats foods that can trigger inflammatory or allergic reactions on the skin, these substances will be channeled into the baby's body through the breast milk he drinks.

These inflammatory substances are also believed to cause a rash on a baby's cheeks when the milk's liquid comes into direct contact with the skin while feeding.

However, this assumption is not quite right. Eczema milk is not an official and correct medical term to describe the appearance of a red rash on your little one's skin.

This was clarified by dr. Srie Prihianti, Sp. KK, PhD, a skin specialist who is also the chairman of the Child Dermatology Study Group (KSDAI) at PERDOSKI (Indonesian Association of Sexual Dermatologists).

When met by the Hello Sehat team in the Mega Kuningan area, South Jakarta, Monday (5/11), he emphasized that the red rash on the baby's cheeks is not exactly called milk eczema.

The medical world only knows the term eczema, aka atopic dermatitis. Eczema is classified as a type of dermatitis that commonly occurs in infants and young children.

What causes eczema in babies?

Eczema occurs due to chronic inflammation which is triggered by the inability of the body to produce so-called fat cells ceramide in sufficient quantity.

The cause of eczema is not certain. However, the rash or reddish spots characteristic of eczema that cause a baby's cheeks to be red, scaly, and itchy are not caused by consumption or exposure to milk (breast milk).

Until recently, the risk of atopic dermatitis was most likely influenced by genetic factors, the function of the infant's immune system, and other external factors.

Babies who have eczema are usually born to families who have a history of eczema, asthma, and / or allergic rhinitis.

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, gene mutations that are inherited from children from their parents can affect the skin's protective ability.

Damage to the skin barrier can leave the skin vulnerable to irritation and infection because germs will enter the body.

Eczema can also be caused by food allergies that are passed down from the parents.

Quoting from the National Eczema Association, about 30 percent of eczema sufferers in the world already have food allergies. Usually allergies from foods containing nuts, eggs, and milk.

There is a link between food allergies, including milk allergy, with the emergence of eczema. However, milk itself is not the cause of eczema for the first time.

Eczema itself is a type of long-term (chronic) disease whose symptoms can improve and then return at any time.

Foods that cause eczema rash in babies

Breast milk is not a food that causes eczema in your little one. In fact, exclusive breastfeeding is still the best food for babies until they are 6 months old.

However, the food that mothers consume must be considered properly because it can affect the appearance of eczema in babies.

If you are breastfeeding under 6 months who are still drinking breast milk, you should avoid eating the following foods so that the baby is not allergic, such as:

Nuts
Shellfish
Cow's milk
Foods that contain additives

These foods are foods that can trigger eczema in babies, even if the mother consumes them.

What are the symptoms and signs of eczema in babies?

According to the National Eczema Association, the characteristics of eczema that appear in babies can be distinguished based on their age development.

In babies, eczema symptoms usually begin to appear on the face within the first 6 months of life.

Characteristics of eczema in babies under 6 months

The most characteristic features of eczema appearing in babies in the first 6 months of age are: rash

A sudden reddish rash on the scalp, face, especially on the cheeks and forehead.
Dry, scaly, itchy skin; scales can crack and ooze.
Difficulty sleeping because the skin feels very itchy
The emergence of infection due to scratching the skin until it is injured
Sometimes, small bumps filled with fluid can also appear on the surface of the skin.

This reddish rash can cause itching and burning, which can make the baby fussy because it is uncomfortable.

Characteristics of eczema in infants aged 6-12 months

The eczema rash that was centered around the baby's face is now starting to spread to other parts of the body.

Babies over 6 months to 12 months of age tend to experience a red itchy rash on the elbows, knees, and other areas that are easily scratched by their hands.

Broadly speaking, the characteristics of eczema in babies over 6 months can include:

Some parts of the skin turn dry and scaly. Initially on the face, namely the cheeks, chin, and forehead which can extend to the feet, wrists, elbows, and the folds of the body.
Skin irritation occurs which causes itching and burning.
Babies feel uncomfortable and often cry due to itching
The rash on all parts of the body generally has an identical shape.

The more frequently scratched, the baby's skin will be more damaged and easily infected from germs in the surrounding environment.

As a result, the skin can turn yellow and appear red rashes that cause pain when scratched.

The characteristics of eczema in children 2 years and over

Quoting from the American Academy of Dermatology, eczema symptoms in young children usually appear at the age of 2 years until puberty.

Various symptoms of eczema that usually appear in children are:

Rash especially in the crease of the elbow or knee. However, eczema can also appear on the hands and feet, neck, or the creases of the buttocks.
Unbearable itching in the inflamed area of the skin.
The surface of the skin is bumpy because there is a bump or thickening of the skin that is sometimes permanent.
The skin on the affected area is lighter or darker.

Half of babies and children who have eczema in their childhood may continue to have eczema in adulthood.

Recurrence of eczema symptoms in your little one can be triggered by various internal and external factors.

How is eczema diagnosed in babies?

If you see a reddish rash similar to eczema symptoms on your baby's skin, it's best to see a doctor. The doctor can also refer you to a pediatric dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis.

Apart from checking the symptoms that arise, the doctor can advise your little one to undergo the following medical examinations:

1. Skin examination

In this case the doctor will take a food extract that is considered to be a trigger for eczema in babies, then rub it on the skin.

Next, see if there is any response. If indeed the area of the skin is red and the pores are enlarged, then this food is a trigger for eczema in babies.

2. Blood test

This blood test is done to see what types of food can cause eczema in babies. To do all these examinations, you should first consult a pediatrician.

3. Food elimination test

If certain foods that the doctor suspects are triggers for eczema symptoms, the doctor will recommend stopping giving them to babies for 10-14 days.

In that time frame, it will be known whether these foods can trigger eczema.

After that, usually the doctor will ask to give the food again in small portions. This is to determine the cause of atopic dermatitis in infants.

After the doctor confirms the diagnosis, he or she can recommend you about the best dermatitis treatment for your child.

Can complications of eczema occur in babies?

For some children, the symptoms of atopic dermatitis can improve or even disappear over time. If the eczema symptoms that appear persist, do not improve, form pus, and further disturb sleep, see a doctor immediately.

If not treated immediately, eczema in babies can turn into complications of eczema, such as:

Skin infection. When the skin is injured as a result of being scratched due to severe itching
Asthma and hay fever
Contact dermatitis
Eye disorders (when eczema attacks around the eyelids).
Sleep disturbance.

Someone who has eczema, especially babies and children, tends to have trouble sleeping. The itching cycle can cause the child to wake up repeatedly and consequently reduce the quality of his sleep.

How is eczema treated in babies?

The signs of eczema in babies are generally dry skin that has a red, scaly rash that feels itchy. This skin inflammation can last a long time, but the symptoms can subside and recur at any time.

Although it can recur at any time, a skin disease that is considered to be milky eczema can actually be treated with treatments for dry and sensitive skin.

It's also important to avoid the triggers that cause eczema to recur. Parents can relieve eczema symptoms in babies in the following ways:

1. Apply eczema medication to the baby after bathing

When bathing, try to immerse all the baby's body, especially those affected by eczema, to get complete moisture. Rinse with clean water.

Then use a medicated cream or eczema ointment for babies exposed to milk.

You can apply it within three minutes of getting out of the bath to keep the skin moisturized.

2. Choose a baby soap that does not contain perfume

After using the ointment for babies who are exposed to milk, you can choose a soap that does not contain perfume.

To prevent skin irritation from getting worse due to milk eczema, it's a good idea to choose a soap that contains ingredients hypoallergenic, colorless, and scented.

Usually scented, colored soaps contain harmful chemicals that can make eczema worse.

3. Use a skin moisturizer

Moisturizer is recommended hypoallergenic which is light (says "mild" on the label), pH balanced, and contains organic ingredients.

Instead, choose a baby skin moisturizer to contain ceramide which is useful for repairing sensitive skin tissue of babies.

Apply moisturizer at least 3-5 minutes after bathing the baby. Also avoid wearing baby clothes made of materials that often trigger itching or irritation (wool or synthetic fabrics).

4. Avoid factors that cause relapse

Atopic dermatitis is an incurable disease that can recur at any time. That means, your little one will have this disease for the rest of his life.

But there's no need to worry. American Academy of Dermatology explains, to avoid recurrence of baby eczema symptoms, you must avoid your little one from the trigger factors.

Observe various things around the baby that could be suspected as triggers in the baby.

The triggers for eczema in this baby can be sweat, saliva, friction, animal hair, or chemicals that are present in some products.

Make sure the baby is avoided from these substances so that symptoms do not recur. If your little one is often exposed to triggers, the symptoms of eczema will quickly recur and get worse.

If at another time you find that saliva triggers a severe itching sensation on the baby's chin, immediately wash off the saliva. Then, apply petroleum jelly around the affected skin.