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Atopic dermatitis is a very common problem among babies. It is the appearance of small red balls on the child’s body, which causes itching and irritation. This disease can appear from the age of three months, and can persist throughout life, or, as occurs in approximately 60% of cases, the problem disappears until the age of 12.
The atopic dermatitis in baby usually affects the face, neck and folds the arms and legs, the great annoyance of dermatitis is itching, small balls usually loosen a net result of the child’s act scratching with nails and this uncontrollable scratching the site can even generate inflammation in the skin.
Atopic Dermatitis – Baby Skin Treatment
This is a problem that fits in chronic disease, and therefore, treatment is more difficult and must be persistent so that effective results can be observed. It is worth mentioning that the baby does not have the self-control that an older child or adult person would have to try their hardest not to scratch. In cases of children who do not yet have control over their own bodies, the most common reaction is to show irritability through excessive crying .
Symptom Relief Tips
In the bath – Do not take long baths with the baby, 5 minutes is enough. On warmer days, try to leave the water at a temperature from warm to cold. This can relieve irritation.
No rubbing – On irritated skin use only water and a minimum of soap, the recommended option is to opt for hypoallergenic soaps or even produced from plant and calming substances. You should not use any type of plugs on the child’s skin, nor those considered softer.
Lotions – The child’s irritated skin must be preserved as much as possible, lotions must be abolished, as well as perfumes or colognes, all of these items can further irritate the child’s skin.
Cotton clothes – Use light cotton fabrics, clothes should be washed with mild soap and the ideal is that even fabric softeners are not used. Coconut soap is the most suitable for washing clothes.
Syndets – These are known synthetic detergents that do not alter the pH of the skin in allergy sufferers . It is worth checking the products that have this active ingredient.
Powdered antibiotics – It is very common, especially when the mother is desperate to see the child’s suffering, to surrender to using some powdered antibiotic on the baby’s skin, as is the case with penicillin, but this is an agent that can still cause more irritation.
Home remedies – If the pediatrician or dermatologist has not indicated any specific product or any homemade solution, it is important not to do anything on your own, as it can only make the situation worse, causing even more discomfort and discomfort for the child.
Moisturizers – They are not abolished, on the contrary, but everything will depend on the type of moisturizer used, generally hypoallergenic ones are the most suitable. As the affected skin is usually dry and is what worsens the skin condition, the ideal is according to the product indicated by the doctor, to invest in the hydrations of the child’s skin throughout the day.
Medications – The doctor, depending on the problem presented by the child, may indicate some antiallergic, ointments based on corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications.
IMPORTANT: Only the doctor can indicate the specific treatment for the baby. Ideally, parents should not follow tips from other parents, as each case is different and may require other methods for healing.
Contact Dermatitis in Baby – Causes
The contact dermatitis is the result of an inflammatory reaction that takes place in the skin after exposure to an active principle that can cause irritation or allergy. The main symptoms are: rash, redness, itching and flaking .
This problem can present itself soon after exposure to a component or it can appear after some time. The most common causes of this problem are usually: the use of soaps, cosmetics, jewelry , perfumes, exposure to plants, among others.
Treatment
The treatment of this problem involves the initial identification of what has caused the reaction on the skin and after the agent is discovered, it is enough to avoid contact with the substance and the problem is solved. Cold compresses or the use of anti-inflammatory creams may be recommended by the doctor to relieve symptoms and treat the problem.
It is worth remembering that at the first sign of irritation on the baby’s skin, it is important to take him to a consultation with a pediatrician for a first analysis or for referral to an allergist or dermatologist.
Seborrheic Dermatitis in Babies – Cause and How to Treat It
Another problem that can affect babies is seborrheic dermatitis, which is also commonly known as milky crust , although it can frighten parents, it is a problem considered frequent and harmless for the child.
Seborrheic dermatitis occurs due to the appearance of thick, yellowish crusts on the child’s scalp, it is not a contagious disease and does not require treatment . This is a problem caused by the uncontrolled production of oil from the sebaceous glands.
Treatment
The recommendation by experts to remove the scales from the child’s scalp is to gently massage the area with your finger or cloth, in addition, the child’s hair should be washed at least once a day with a mild shampoo.
It is worth remembering that when massaging the baby’s skin with your hands, they must be clean, freshly washed and disinfected with gel alcohol, and the cloth to be used must be clean and specific for this purpose.
In cases of more resistant scabs, parents can use some mineral oil specific for babies, this oil can wrap the affected region for a few minutes and then the child’s scalp can be washed with shampoo.
When the problem affects other regions of the baby’s body, it is important to seek medical advice for the recommendation of specific treatment. In most cases, this is a problem that soon disappears and therefore is not a cause for major concern .
See also: What to do when the baby’s skin is dry?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
