Scratching and crying: the external signs of eczema
It is logical that you as a parent are very worried when your baby's skin is covered in red spots. Eczema in your baby is very annoying. Not only for you as a parent, but also for the child itself. It is good to know that many babies suffer from eczema and that it often just goes away. It is important to recognize the symptoms of baby eczema in time, so that you can start the right treatment and optimally care for your little one's skin. Do you want to know how to quickly recognize eczema? Then read this blog!
'The symptoms usually start in infancy with eczema. Then come asthma, food allergies and hay fever. These diseases often occur together, although not everyone gets all four.'
- Suzanne Pasmans, dermatologist and professor of pediatric dermatology
What are the symptoms of eczema?
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. Substances are released during the inflammation that stimulate the nerves in the skin. This explains why babies and children with eczema suffer a lot from itching. Eczema is active when the child experiences itching. Children and babies scratch the spots a lot, even to the point of bleeding, which can cause wounds and scabs. They often suffer from dry, rough and flaky skin that feels tight. This is very unpleasant for both child and parent. Eczema can be divided into two phases: acute and chronic.
An acute attack often lasts several days to weeks. Characteristics of acute eczema:
- Severe itching
- Red, warm and swollen skin
- Development of bumps on the skin
- Development of fluid-filled blisters on the skin.
In chronic eczema, the redness actually decreases. Characteristics of chronic eczema:
- Dry skin, flaking
- Swelling of the skin
- Development of coarser skin lines
- Origin of fissures
Eczema can develop within a few weeks of birth. It often starts with dry skin (feeling like sandpaper), but calms down after the first year of life. Unfortunately, this does not have to be the case.
Where is eczema located?
A rash can actually appear anywhere on the body, but eczema is often found in specific places. In babies, for example, it often starts on the face and can be recognized by the redness and flaking on the cheeks, on top of the head and behind the ears (often there are cracks near the earlobes). When these areas are wet, it is also called dew worm.
Eczema can spread over the entire body. Think of the torso, arms, legs, hands, around the mouth and in the neck. Usually the eczema is not within the diaper area.
In toddlers, eczema is mainly found in the skin folds around the joints, such as the elbows, knees, wrists and ankles.
In addition, you can also find eczema around the eyes, in the neck and neck. After the age of ten, mainly the hands, feet and flexion sides of the elbows and knees are still covered.
Eczema at a young age (conclusion)
Eczema is a skin condition that is common in children and babies. The first signs of a rash can already appear within the first year of life. It often starts between the ages of 0 and 4. However, eczema is not age-related and can occur at any age. Fortunately, most children grow out of eczema and no longer suffer from it later in life. Unfortunately, it is still impossible to predict whether a child will continue to suffer from eczema throughout their life. Often, the older you get, the less the eczema. But it can also work the other way around. For example, it can also become more or less temporarily: periods with many complaints can alternate with periods with few complaints.
When a child has eczema at an early age, there is a chance that your child can develop a food allergy. You can prevent this by starting to feed allergens at an early stage of life (around 4-6 months). This ensures that a child has a small chance of developing eczema. Vini Mini products can help prevent a food allergy. Vini Mini offers starter kits of different allergens, which are safe, healthy and easy to use.
Sources:
Deaconess Hospital
Ter Gooi MC
Tjongerschans hospital
UMCG
UMC Utrecht
Viecuri