1. Internal Factors - Allergic Constitution
Eczema babies often have a congenital hereditary allergic constitution, with some having a family history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. For eczema babies aged 3 months to 1 year, the most common allergy is to eggs, followed by milk, peanuts, and legumes.
2. External Factors - Environmental Factors
The increase in the incidence of allergic diseases in recent years is related to rapid environmental changes and the body's maladaptation to these changes. The skin, as the organ that comes into direct contact with the environment, will first show signs of maladaptation.
A living environment that is too clean for babies may also be a reason. Many mothers now pay great attention to their baby's hygiene, washing, soaking, and disinfecting various items, which keeps babies away from the microorganisms that coexist with humans. As a result, the immune system's self-balance and regulation become uncontrolled, leading to excessive sensitivity to external stimuli.
What does a baby's eczema look like?
Eczema in relatively younger infants often occurs around 40 days after birth, commonly seen on the head and face, especially on both cheeks and the forehead, but it can appear on any part of the skin. Initially, it presents as dense small rashes and millet-sized papules, which quickly turn into small blisters. After rupturing, they leak fluid, forming spot-like erosions and yellow scabs. The condition can fluctuate in severity, often recurring, and can easily merge into patches, spreading to surrounding areas. The itching and stinging can be unbearable, causing the baby to be irritable and cry incessantly, especially worsening at night. About 80% of affected children experience recurrent skin damage.
How to manage eczema?
Symptomatic treatment for eczema: Mothers should first understand that infant eczema can recur, and they should not expect a one-time cure. They should work with doctors to keep the condition under control at its mildest state. For mild cases, if the skin is just dry, doctors may prescribe some topical medications specifically for infants.
For babies with slightly more severe symptoms, if medications do not improve the condition, doctors may suggest testing for allergens and avoiding allergic foods to address the problem fundamentally.
How to care for a baby with eczema?
Try to breastfeed. During the eczema outbreak, breastfeeding mothers should avoid spicy and pungent foods to prevent indirect effects on the baby through breast milk. For formula-fed babies, trying hydrolyzed protein formula or formula with added prebiotics may help alleviate the baby's symptoms.
Many sensitive infants develop eczema due to eating eggs, so it is recommended that mothers do not introduce egg yolk before the baby is 6 months old; the introduction of egg yolk should be delayed.
Babies should wear cotton, soft, and loose clothing to avoid direct contact with synthetic fibers and woolen products. It is important to keep the baby cool and dry. When breastfeeding, place a cotton cloth between the mother's breast and the baby's face, and change it promptly if it gets wet. Reduce various factors that may trigger eczema.
Eczema fundamentally relates to the mother's diet, genetics, and the child's physical condition. Preventing allergies should start during pregnancy, focusing on the mother's environment, the choice of delivery method, and the feeding method after birth. Adhering to breastfeeding is one of the fundamental measures to establish the baby's intestinal health and prevent allergies. Our hospital's pediatric department has introduced a breast milk analyzer, which will soon conduct quantitative analysis of breast milk components: using infrared spectroscopy technology to collect information across the entire infrared spectrum, determining the quantitative analysis of fat, protein, lactose, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc in breast milk, providing dietary nutritional guidance for mothers, thereby improving the quality and composition of breast milk. This reduces the occurrence of nutritional diseases in babies and better promotes the mother's postpartum recovery and scientifically strategic child-rearing.
