What is infantile dry eczema?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on October 19, 2024
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Infant dry eczema, also known as fissure eczema, is mainly due to loss of skin moisture, reduced sebum secretion, dryness, and fine cracks in the epidermis and stratum corneum. The skin appears pale red, with cracks being more pronounced and resembling cracked porcelain. It can occur on many parts of the body, mostly seen on the limbs. This condition is commonly seen in winter when the air is dry and secretion decreases, further exacerbated by frequent hot water washing. Infant dry eczema is actually due to irritant contact dermatitis. Treatment can involve the application of emollients, such as petroleum jelly, vitamin E cream, and mineral oil, while also protecting the moisture within the skin. It is best not to use corticosteroids for treatment.

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Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of infantile eczema infection

Infant eczema is a very common skin disease in young babies. There are many causes of infant eczema, with the main reason being allergic factors, which are closely related. The symptoms of eczema include the production of many rashes. The most common locations are the baby's face, and many babies might have rashes all over their bodies. Eczema can easily recur, especially when exposed to allergenic substances or when consuming allergenic foods. Additionally, damp skin is also a significant factor. All these causes can lead to a worsening of eczema. It is crucial not to let the child scratch the affected area, as breaking the skin can lead to infection symptoms.

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Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
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What should I do about baby eczema?

Parents of babies with eczema can alleviate or eliminate their child's clinical symptoms through home care and medical treatment, and try to prevent the disease from recurring. Initially, children should be bathed with clear water, paying attention to controlling the water temperature. Additionally, it is important to choose mild emollients from reputable manufacturers for application over the child's entire body. Furthermore, children's clothing should be loose to minimize skin irritation and avoid allergies. During the illness, topical corticosteroids can be used for treatment. If the itching is severe, a calamine lotion can also be used for local nourishment. Moreover, it is important to control the child’s diet, and mothers should avoid spicy and irritating foods during breastfeeding.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can eczema be inherited?

Eczema does not have a genetic predisposition. Patients with atopic dermatitis likely experience rashes due to genetic factors, and their offspring may also inherit this propensity for allergies. However, different members within the same family can suffer from different allergic diseases.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Does baby eczema spread?

Babies with eczema indicate that the child has skin damage. Eczema is a common skin disease in infants and is not contagious, so eczema does not spread as only infectious diseases are contagious. When a child has eczema, the first step is to ensure proper moisturizing. On this basis, under the guidance of a doctor, some mild corticosteroids can be used. Normally, if we come into contact with a child who has eczema, we will not contract it ourselves. Parents can be reassured about this, as this is an inherent immune response of the child and is not spread through contact or the respiratory or digestive tracts.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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How to treat infant eczema?

Infant eczema is a common skin problem in infants and toddlers, also known as atopic dermatitis. The first thing to pay attention to when a child has eczema is to moisturize the affected skin. Eczema is caused by dry skin, so moisturizing is particularly important. On top of moisturizing, under the guidance of a doctor at the hospital, we can use some mild corticosteroid creams. Through such measures, eczema can generally be well controlled. However, the biggest characteristic of eczema is that it is particularly prone to recurrence, so for children, we must treat it through diet and allergens. For children who drink formula, depending on the severity of the eczema, the child should be fed amino acid formula or hydrolyzed protein formula. For breastfed children, the diet of the nursing mother needs to be controlled – beef, lamb, nuts, seafood, and foods containing distiller's grains should be avoided. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)