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It’s a condition that can be agonising for babies and heartbreaking for parents unsure about how they can help. But baby eczema is surprisingly common – around one in five youngsters will develop it before they have their first birthday — and there are lots of ways you can help alleviate the symptoms and make your little one more comfortable.

What causes it?

Three quarters of baby eczema is genetic – it occurs where there’s a family history of eczema, asthma or hayfever. So if you, or members of your close family are sufferers, then it’s worth keeping an extra close eye on your baby’s skin to see if they start to develop it so you can start treatment straight away.

How to spot the signs

Eczema shows itself in tell-tale patches of red, dry and itchy skin on the face or behind baby’s ears. It’s also often found in the creases of the neck, knees or elbows. You’ll probably also notice changes in your baby’s behaviour. If they’re old enough to be able to scratch themselves, they will and, ecause their skin is so delicate, it can easily become broken and infected. Your usually happy son or daughter could also become much more irritable, crying more than usual and finding it difficult to get to sleep because they are so itchy.

Treatment

Parents who believe their baby is suffering from eczema should go to see their family doctor so they can talk about a treatment plan to best manage their little one’s condition. The mainstay of any eczema treatment is to keep skin clean and well moisturised because dry skin is more prone to flare ups. Lots of mums and dads find it difficult to find the perfect cream for their youngsters. But the right moisturiser can make all the difference to your child’s condition. While perfumed and synthetic moisturisers can actually make eczema worse because of ingredients like paraben, fortunately, there exist natural and organic alternatives with ingredients that are suitable for even the most delicate skin. Oils with natural ingredients like aloe vera juice, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, rose hips, orange peel and lavender are known to effectively balance out moisture and oil levels for your baby, preventing skin drying out. Skincare experts suggest applying any cream with gentle downward strokes rather than rubbing it up and down.

Bath time

Soap and bubble baths can also exacerbate infant skin conditions and experts suggest sticking to fragrance-free baby wash, shampoo and bath oil. Many mums report that aloe vera helps to reduce inflammation and jojoba oil locks in moisture.

Bed time

For babies with eczema, bed time can be fraught with difficulty. It can be the time of day babies feel at their most itchy and getting too warm can make things worse. Keep their nursery cool and use light natural fibres for their bed linen. Don’t let pets into their bedroom because cat or dog hair can cause further problems. Dust mites can collect on bed linen and soft toys so wash everything at least once a week at 60C to make sure you kill off all the mites. If you don’t want to put your machine on such a hot wash, another tip is popping toys and bedclothes into the freezer for 24 hours before washing. Rub in a final application of moisturiser before reading your baby their favourite bedtime story and kissing them goodnight to try to make sure they, and you, have a restful sleep.

Bonding time

While eczema can be distressing for baby and parents alike, it can also lead to opportunities for bonding. Get into the habit of moisturising every time you change baby’s nappy and make extra time to moisturise your little one’s skin through baby massage. The bonding experience can be encouraged through touch, spending quality one-on-one time together and through eye-to-eye contact. Baby massage can improve your baby’s circulation and digestion along with helping your baby through colds, colic and teething problems. Mums who have suffered from postnatal depression can also benefit from gentle time alone with their baby and it’s great for dads who might be feeling a bit left out. All of this, and you can help your baby’s skin condition at the same time. Ingredients like jojoba and primrose oils are perfect to rub into delicate skin.

Some more tips

There are some basic tips that most mums and dads find help. Babies who are breastfed are thought to be less susceptible to eczema as cow’s milk, and other dairy products have been found to make the condition worse in some children. Ordinary soaps and washing detergents can irritate delicate skin so make sure everything you use is as natural as possible. Wool can also make baby even itchier so look for natural fibres like cotton or bamboo.

And, they may be tiny but if you run your finger over the top of your baby’s nails, you’ll find they’re razor-sharp. So, to make sure they can’t scratch themselves and make their skin even more irritated, keep nails as short as possible. The best way to do this can be to nibble them off rather than simply cut them to make sure there aren’t any sharp edges. If they’ll keep them on, putting their hands in little mittens, especially at bedtime, can also be a good idea.

When to seek further help If your baby’s eczema begins to ooze pus or you spot little yellow blisters on the skin, then go back to your GP or family doctor straight away. It means the eczema is probably infected and could need further treatment like steroid ointment. The good news While some people are unlucky enough to have eczema throughout their lives, symptoms do come and go and two-thirds of babies outgrow their eczema before they hit their teenage years.