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Article Does my baby have eczema?

By Julia Simmonds
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48 Comments

I had just been through the most difficult three months of my life. In and out of hospital with my baby boy who had pneumonia, a urinary tract infection and reflux.

I finally felt as if I was getting it all together and about start enjoying my newborn when a rash kept persisting on his cheeks.

At first I didn’t want to overreact and I was so exhausted from everything else that had happened the previous months that I ignored it. Plus I told myself rashes tend to come and go all the time with babies…right?

Looking back on photos now, I can’t believe I thought this rash might just go away.

The rashes persisted and there were more coming up in the creases of his elbows, behind his knees and on his scalp. I also noticed that he kept rubbing his face against me to scratch. I finally acknowledged that it was time to have these rashes seen by a doctor. Diagnosis…eczema.

Here are some signs and symptoms that your baby might have eczema:

1) The age when eczema usually appears

Eczema is not usually present at birth, but tends to show itself within the first year of life. Six weeks to three months seems to be a common time for the eczema to appear. It almost always develops within the first five years.

2) What eczema can look like

The look of the rash can be different between children, and sometimes with my toddler I have noticed his eczema can look different depending on where it is on his body.

Generally the rash will be scaly and dry and sometimes have little red little bumps. Some rashes come and go, but eczema that isn’t managed persists.

3) Eczema is very itchy

The rash is very, very itchy. Your toddler’s skin can easily become damaged and infected from all the scratching and rubbing which he is not able to control.

4) Where is eczema on the body?

The rash usually starts on the face, scalp or the elbows and knees. These places are easier to scratch or rub. As your baby gets older behind the ears is a common place, but eczema can appear anywhere on the body.

5) Eczema in the family

Like with any medical concern it’s important to know your toddler’s family history. There is a genetic link with eczema. Also a diagnosis of eczema is even more common if any family members suffer from asthma or hayfever.

If you think your baby might be showing signs of eczema it’s important you see your doctor so you can start an eczema management routine.

Do any of your children suffer from eczema? How do you manage it for them? Please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com
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Comments

  • Thankfully no. I was a sufferer as a child and at times in my adult years.

    Reply

  • Yes my daughter did, thankfully it has cleared up now.

    Reply

  • Fortunately my son’s eczema seems to be limited to his extremities only now that he is 9. In the early days it was so very difficult and heartbreaking to deal
    With, and do the wet dressings and all the other creams

    Reply

  • I was lucky my kids grew out of the Excema as they got older.

    • wow that is amazing to hear that. thankfully they grew out of it

    Reply

  • she has been through the most difficult 3 months

    Reply

  • My 11 month old daughter has eczema on her scalp, back, neck and occasionally face I tried so many different creams, soaps etc but still nothing was working. A friend recommended trying pure coconut oil on it daily and we have really noticed a big difference it’s amazing!

    • Hi – thanks for your comment – I have found coconut oil (virgin, unrefined) to be effective too. x

      • Thanks for this comment! I have been desperately trying everything for my toddler over the last few weeks (change in temp) and nothing has worked. I am going out to buy coconut oil today

      • i hope that this works for you, and bub, poor darl!

    Reply

  • I just tried the Dermaveen Soap free wash on my son and noticed an improvement in a day, it really has helped to hydrate his skin.

    Reply

  • we use to get it and since buying homemade soap its cleared up

    Reply

  • Allergies and rashes are difficult to deal with 2 of my 3 had super sensitivities to heaps of things and frustrating when an outbreak of eczema occured.

    Reply

  • My daughter had it. Still has flare ups, usually during stress or when she wears some sort of metal who body doesn’t like. Not often and not as bad as it was either

    Reply

  • I too have eczema and my husband suffers from bad skin conditions so unfortunately our two little ones seem to have inherited this from us :(

    Reply

  • My daughter has it sometimes. Now, it’s mostly if something sets it off. This can be something simple like cheap earrings :/ a belt buckle :/ Thankfully, it’s not really bad

    Reply

  • One of my girls suffers with eczema !

    Reply

  • Thanks for sharing this article great read

    Reply

  • very common – I found the only wash powder I could use was dynamo, and the only thing that helped was a prescribed ointment, and QV cream

    Reply
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