The exact reasons for eczema remain a puzzle despite all our medical knowledge. Sufferers are aware that they have an allergic reaction to an external substance which brings on the condition. The condition known as baby eczema usually starts with a red rash on the infants face but this gradually gets worse until the skin becomes ridged and cracked. Although the problem is widespread around the world; in the USA as many as 20% of infants will be treated for this complaint at some point.

Fortunately, most of these cases of have cleared up before the child reaches 2 years old. For a small number of children this skin complaint does not disappear when they are young but continues into adulthood. This is primarily a condition suffered by babies and young children although it can affect someone of any age. Unfortunately most people have suffered with this since they were at least 5 years of age but around 33% will have contracted the condition by the time they reached their 1st birthday.

The most common type in babies is atopic eczema and this type of baby eczema is characterized by itching, and red, scaly skin on the scalp, face, arms or legs. Usually hereditary, atopic eczema is often thought to be triggered by a baby's skin drying out. Often the trigger mechanism is either the detergent or fabric conditioner used to wash the baby's clothes and this can also be the trigger for the condition in adults as well. It has also discovered that baby eczema was more likely if the mother gave up breastfeeding early which could mean that breast milk may contain something that protects the infant.

Of course we must not neglect some respiratory complaints that can exacerbate the condition. Mothers who have asthma are also more likely to have a baby that has the condition but allergic rhinitis and food allergies can also play a part. Specialists in food allergies believe that up to 3 cases in ten of childhood cases are because the child has a food allergy; discovering the foodstuffs responsible should be a relatively simple matter, which once this is done, can be removed from the diet completely. Removing the guilty foods comes down to trial and error although there are some common foodstuffs that should be looked at first including:

• Fish
• Milk
• Bread
• Any type meal prepared using eggs
• Peanuts

Baby eczema can also be caused as a result of the baby receiving antibiotics when the mother gave birth to her child. Treating babies requires a little more thought as they cannot tell us what irritates them so only bath them in lukewarm water and use fragrance free, hypoallergenic creams. Once they have dried, they need to be dressed in soft natural clothing made from cotton. A baby's nails should be kept short or covered with mittens to prevent itchy skin from becoming further damaged or infected from excessive scratching. Unfortunately, baby eczema sometimes needs further help and in these cases, the doctor might prescribe the use of antihistamines to relieve the itching; when required it is not uncommon for the child to have steroid cream applied to the affected area but this cannot be done for very long. One thing is certain; this skin disorder is very common, yet remains a difficult form to control and fully overcome.