What are the most common types of eczema in babies and children?
Atopic eczema
This is the most common type of eczema we see at itchy baby co. This form of is often hereditary and can go hand in hand with asthma and/or hay fever. In atopic conditions the body’s immune system responds to triggers which normally do no harm, for example certain foods, house dust mites and irritants, such as soaps and fragrances. This response makes the skin red and itchy. Dry skin is a symptom of it and is thought to be caused by a breakdown in the skin’s natural barrier. The breakdown of this barrier means that moisture escapes from the skin more easily and allergens and irritants are more likely to aggravate the skin, causing inflammation.
Seborrhoeic eczema
Thisa is usually seen where there is a large number of oily glands, such as the scalp. Infantile seborrhoeic eczema is most commonly seen on the scalps of babies less than one year old and is also know as called cradle cap. It can also affect the face, ears, neck, behind the knees, inside the elbows and armpits and nappy area. It causes the oil glands in the skin to become inflamed. This inflammation causes the thick, yellow crusts.
Discoid eczema
This is most commonly seen in adults and teenagers, although it can be seen in children too. It looks very different to other types of eczema – it looks like coin shaped discs. These discs start off bumpy, but then quickly become itchy and the chance of them becoming infected is high. When the discs clear, the skin is left dry and flakey.
Pompholyx eczema
This is usually only seen on the hands and feet and is characterised by extremely itchy, watery blisters. It also causes a burning and prickling sensation on the skin. What causes it is not known but triggers such as emotional stress, heat and sweating can trigger it. It is also likely that people with pompholyx eczema will also have atopic eczema.
What do to do?
If you think your child has a form of the above see your doctor and then start an eczema management plan which will include a routine of steps to put the most amount of moisture into the skin, as well as monitoring for any signs of the skin being infected. This blog post was brought to you and your child with love from Julia and the Itchy Baby Co. team. X Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.