What is eczema?
Eczema is a kind of dermatitis, or skin irritation. Sufferers often have cracked, red, dry skin that is irritating. Atopic eczema is one of the most frequent types of dermatitis in infants and young children. This is one of the most prevalent types of allergy encountered by newborns who are allergic to cow’s milk.
An allergic response causes atopic eczema. (atopy is an increased sensitivity to allergens). Atopy is characterized by a combination of eczema, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and allergic asthma.
How does eczema occur?
It is unknown what causes eczema in newborns, children, or anybody for that matter. One possibility is that the skin barrier that guards against moisture loss is not functioning properly, causing the skin to dry out. This may induce changes in the skin’s immunological system, causing the immune system to generate chemicals that cause irritation, redness, and itching.
When eczema is caused by a cow’s milk allergy, it is caused by the body’s allergic response to the proteins in cow’s milk in atopic newborns or children.
How may Eczema caused by a cow’s milk allergy be treated?
Cows’ milk allergy symptoms might include eczema caused by an allergic response.
Eczema flare-ups in allergic newborns may become rather common if they are given a cow’s milk-based diet. Cows’ milk allergy is incurable, thus both the allergy and its symptoms (in this example, eczema) must be controlled or outgrown. In addition, to relieve eczema flare-ups, you may need to try a cow’s milk-free diet under physician supervision.
Where does eczema occur?
Eczema on a baby may be seen in the following areas:
• Hands
• Face
• Neck
• Elbow
• Behind the knees
How can eczema in babies be managed?
Unfortunately, eczema cannot be cured in newborns or children. There are, however, some things you may do to assist alleviate the symptoms of infant eczema:
• Dress your infant in light, natural fibers like cotton to enable his or her skin to breathe.
• Avoid using fabric softeners, which may cause skin irritation.
• When washing clothes and bedding, use fragrance-free soaps and detergents since the chemicals that generate the aroma might cause irritation.
• Cut baby’s nails short to reduce scratching, which may aggravate eczema. If your infant would tolerate it, put on mittens and socks before going to bed.
• Apply a cold compress several times a day during eczema flare-ups, followed by moisturiser. This may be a soothing approach for parents and children suffering with eczema to cope with the disease.
There are other actions you may do before flare-ups to assist alleviate the impact on newborns with eczema:
• Avoid smoking near your infant since tobacco smoke might irritate delicate skin.
• Because extremes of heat and cold impact the skin, avoid both. Apply a moisturizer or emollient to the skin to keep it moisturized, particularly in cold weather.
• Because babies with eczema sometimes have additional allergies, such as hayfever, restrict their exposure to substances that might cause allergic responses, such as pollen or dust.
• Vacuum on a regular basis, wash bedding at 60°C, and groom dogs as frequently as possible to decrease dander from their fur.
Eczema may be a challenging illness to manage since it can distress newborns and young children, as well as parents. There is no treatment for eczema since the actual cause is unknown; however, newborns with eczema may sometimes grow out of it by early childhood, and most children grow out of it by the time they reach their adolescent years.
Where eczema is connected to cows’ milk allergy, addressing the underlying allergy by removing cows’ milk protein from your baby’s diet (or your diet if you are nursing) will help ease atopic eczema symptoms.
What to do next
If you feel your newborn or infant has eczema or other symptoms that might be caused by cows’ milk allergy, visit The National Eczema Society may also provide guidance and assistance to individuals who have eczema or care for someone who does. (www.eczema.org).