What causes eczema in babies?

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a fairly common skin condition in babies and young children.

Dry, red, and itchy skin usually starts to appear when babies are 3-6 months old and can make parents start to worry.

It can be helpful to know that you and your child aren’t alone, as eczema affects 20% of children in the UK.

But beyond that, parents often have a lot of questions about their baby’s chronic skin condition.

Here’s a quick guide to what causes eczema in babies and how to avoid eczema triggers.

What causes infant eczema?

Research into the causes of eczema is still ongoing, so there’s no definitive answer yet.

However, it’s widely understood that eczema is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

That means your baby is born with overly-sensitive skin and an overactive immune system, which reacts to irritants by causing inflammation.

This inflammation results in red and dry skin that can become flaky or scaly and feel itchy.

People with eczema tend to have a weaker skin barrier due to a lack of a protein called filaggrin, which makes it easier for moisture to escape and harmful bacteria to get in.

This is why the skin dries out so easily and is prone to infection.

While the condition is caused by genetic factors, eczema inflammation happens when the immune system is triggered by usually harmless substances.

Eczema is linked to other genetic conditions like asthma, hay fever, and food allergies where the body reacts abnormally to things like dust, pollen, pet hair, or food ingredients.

If your family has a history of conditions like these, it’s more likely that your baby will develop them, too.

Other than allergens and irritants, things like hormone levels, stress, and temperature changes can also affect eczema.

Since an exact single cause of eczema isn’t known, there’s currently no cure for the condition.

Eczema tends to come and go in ‘flare ups’ caused by environmental triggers.

It’s possible to control the condition by keeping your baby’s dry skin hydrated and tracking what causes their flare ups so you can avoid these things from then on.

What causes eczema flare ups in babies?

What triggers eczema in babies can vary from person to person, but here’s a list of common eczema triggers and what you can do to avoid them:

It can help to keep a written record of your baby’s eczema flare ups to identify what might have triggered them.

In the meantime, treat the dry skin with emollient creams and prevent your child from scratching.

How to soothe eczema flare ups in babies

Though your baby might not be able to express it properly, eczema can be very irritating and upsetting due to the uncomfortable itching.

Itchiness is the primary identifying symptom of eczema, but scratching the skin often makes the condition worse.

Severe itching can interrupt your baby’s sleep and cause stress that creates a cycle of eczema flaring up.

If your baby scratches a lot, it’s a good idea to dress them in protective clothing with built-in mittens and socks to keep moisture in and stop their nails from doing any damage.

HappySkin’s soothing baby clothes are designed to wear underneath regular clothes next to your baby’s skin, moisturising and reducing the itch.

Wearing protective and restorative garments can help to prevent future flare-ups by keeping irritants away from your baby’s sensitive skin.

Home treatments like these can go a long way in keeping your baby’s eczema under control so both parents and baby can enjoy a happy and stress-free life.

Remember that you should always take your baby to a doctor if their eczema becomes particularly severe, especially if it blisters or leaks fluid.