Baby skin rash (Eczema)

Aliya with skin rash on her face

Causes:

Many different things can be the irritating agent or trigger. Here is a list of common triggers to watch for:

• Rubbing the skin
• Moisture, such as saliva or milk
• Overheating
• Common housedust
• Wool or other scratchy fabric
• Dog or cat dander
• Cigarette smoke
• Clothes washed in irritating detergent
• Body soap
• Water

Occasionally, the eczema is caused by an allergic reaction to food or foods in the baby's diet.

How to prevent?

The first step in treating eczema is to identify the precipitating event or trigger and avoid it if possible!

You may not see an immediate improvement, but if you are going to successfully treat eczema, it is important to break the cycle! Here are some tips:

• Avoid situations that will make your baby sweat -- don't pile on blankets or put her in a blanket sleeper.
• Cut cows' milk, eggs, citrus fruits, and peanut products from her diet.
• Wash her clothes in a laundry detergent made for sensitive skin, such as Dreft Laundry Detergent.
• Avoid dressing your daughter (or yourself for that matter) in wool or any other harsh material (cotton is excellent).
• To keep skin healthy, it is better to avoid long baths. We once thought that cutting down on all baths was important. Now we know that long baths and soaps are the problem for most children. When the skin prunes, this disrupts the moisture-retaining layer of sensitive skin.

You can help minimize inflamed patches of eczema, but her skin will remain sensitive until she outgrows the condition. A rash on your baby's face invites you to look beyond the shallow covering of the outer layer of skin to see her true beauty that lies beneath.

Read more: http://www.drgreene.com/qa/eczema-causes-and-treatments