What medicine should be used for infant eczema?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Infant eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease that is fairly common in infants and young children. When eczema occurs, the affected area typically shows skin redness, followed by rashes and rough skin. Some may experience scaling and exudation, and the itching can be quite intense for the child. Eczema, as the name might suggest, is not caused by moist skin but rather by dry skin in the affected area, hence moisturizing makes up a significant part of the treatment. A thick layer of moisturizer specifically designed for infants should be applied to the child, three to four times a day. Based on the severity of the eczema, mild steroid creams can be used to effectively control the condition. For breastfed children, the mother should avoid consuming beef, lamb, nuts, seafood, and fermented rice wine, as these might exacerbate the condition. For children on formula, depending on the severity of the eczema, amino acid-based formulas or extensively hydrolyzed protein formulas should be given.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Why does infantile eczema cause asthma?

There are many causes of infantile eczema, mainly indicating that the baby is experiencing allergic phenomena. These allergies can be due to internal factors or exposure to certain allergens or food allergies, all leading to eczema. Often, children with this type of eczema have an allergic constitution, making them prone to developing asthma. Therefore, when babies with asthma come for a consultation, it is routine to ask if they have a history of eczema, as having eczema often suggests an allergic constitution. It's not that infantile eczema causes asthma, but rather, babies with this constitution are prone to asthma attacks.

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Can baby eczema cause fever?

Does infant eczema cause fever? Generally, this is not the case. Eczema is an allergic disease, characterized by the appearance of rashes on the skin due to an allergic reaction; fever typically does not occur in this case. If a baby develops a fever, the first consideration should be whether it is a cold. The second consideration should be whether there are any other infections present. Fever is generally considered to be caused by infectious factors, such as bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc. Therefore, it is essential to identify the pathogen and determine the cause of the fever.

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What should be done about infant eczema in the summer?

If the baby has eczema, the hot weather and increased sweating during summer can easily aggravate the condition. Therefore, it is essential to keep the child cool. If it is hot outside and the child is sweating profusely, try to keep the child indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned room. However, the air in air-conditioned rooms is quite dry, which can also worsen eczema. In such cases, it is necessary to use a humidifier, which can effectively prevent worsening of eczema due to heat and excessive sweating during summer. Additionally, even in summer, it is important to keep the child's skin moisturized. If the eczema is particularly severe, it is also necessary to use mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Children who are formula-fed should continue with amino acid-based formula and hydrolyzed protein formula.

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Can olive oil be used for infant eczema?

It is not recommended to apply olive oil for baby eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. The treatment of eczema includes two aspects. The first is localized moisturizing, and the second is the use of mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Olive oil, being an oily substance, is not suitable for eczema. Moisturizing for eczema should be done with a baby-specific moisturizer, which can effectively alleviate the dryness of the skin. Additionally, if olive oil is used, it can make the skin particularly greasy and impede skin breathability, hence it is not advised for use on children. It is very important to use a baby moisturizer.

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What age can infantile eczema recover?

Infant eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common skin disease in infants and children under three years of age. Most children’s eczema is controlled between the ages of one and one and a half years, but a few may continue to experience symptoms until after the age of three or even into childhood. In severe cases, the eczema can persist into adulthood. This depends on the child's own constitution and physical condition. For children who are inherently allergic, the duration of eczema can be particularly prolonged. If the eczema is due to an allergy to breast milk or formula, it can be well controlled once breastfeeding is stopped, or the formula is switched to a hypoallergenic hydrolyzed protein formula.