Seeing your baby scratching their skin uncontrollably is very distressing. As a parent, you naturally want to ease their irritation. While this could be caused by a number of things, infant eczema could be a likely cause. This skin condition can cause itchy rashes that start on your baby’s cheeks. This can then spread to other areas of their body and cause significant discomfort and even scarring. It’s often an inherited condition that can appear seemingly out of nowhere and it’s causes vary. From heat to pollen, there could be multiple reasons why your baby’s eczema has flared up. To help you soothe your baby’s rashy skin, here are some simple techniques you can try.
Give them a bath
Bathing your baby is not only an essential part of their bedtime routine. It’s also a gentle way of soothing irritable skin. A bath can provide moisture to your baby’s skin, while also removing dirt and bacteria. It’s crucial that you only use soaps and cleansers that are fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin. Harsh chemicals may cause further irritation to the eczema rash, making your child even more uncomfortable. Even some organic and natural bathing products have ingredients that can inflame eczema rashes. Bathe your baby for around ten minutes and pat them dry with a soft towel. This will lock in more moisture and cause less damage to the skin.
Put them in loose clothing
Tight clothing may stop your baby from scratching the affected areas directly. But they can often do more harm than good. Their close contact with the skin can cause rubbing and trap sweat which can make the itching worse. So keep them in loose layered clothing, preferably made from cotton. This will give their skin some breathing space and make them feel more comfortable. To stop them scratching at their rashes, you might want to invest in some baby mittens too. The mittens cover their hands and stop them from causing more damage to their skin. Buy a pair that cannot be easily taken off by your baby as this defeats the purpose of using them.
Remember to moisturize
Moisturizing your baby’s skin each day is a fantastic way of keeping their skin hydrated. It can also provide relief to their rashy areas and relieve the itching for a while. This is particularly important if your baby has dry skin. Dry skin can worsen their skin condition and bring out more inflammation and cracking. So start applying moisturizer to their face and body regularly. Opt for thicker moisturizers which contain a lot of water as this will provide the hydration their skin needs.
Again just ensure you are using products that are for sensitive skin and don’t contain harsh chemicals. Put these in the fridge before application for added cool relief.
As well as trying these soothing technique, take your baby to see your family doctor. If irritated too much, infant eczema can become more infected and inflamed. Your doctor should be able to help you keep it under control and pinpoint the cause in no time.
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