Identifying Eczema
Atopic dermatitis, often called eczema, is a term used for a group of skin conditions. It affects people of all ages, but 65 percent of people with eczema develop symptoms before age one and 90 percent develop symptoms before age five. About 10-20 percent of all babies suffer from eczema.
Each child's condition is different, but typically you can identify eczema by the dry, hot, patches on your baby's skin – usually on her forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. The intense itchiness of the rash usually causes your baby to scratch and scratch, which just makes the condition worse. In severe cases, the skin can break open, become raw and bleed.
Eczema is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.
At the first sign your baby has a skin rash, call your child's physician, who may refer your baby to an allergist or dermatologist for more specialized care.
It is important to work with a doctor who can help you determine what is triggering the rash and how to heal the baby's skin to relieve her discomfort.
Typically, there are two goals to help your baby feel better:
- Prevent the rash by finding out what is triggering it, and
- Heal your baby's damaged skin.