Irritants

Many soaps, disinfectants and fragrances can make eczema worse for baby’s skin. Common products that may cause a flare-up include: detergents and dryer sheets; bubble bath and some shampoos; dyes, and coarse fabrics like wool. Always wash new clothes before they are worn, use dye-free and fragrance-free detergents. Also try a sunscreen made for sensitive skin.

Allergens

Typical allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold can cause itchy, inflamed skin. Make your home an allergy-free zone by vacuuming and wet-dusting frequently, keeping soft toys (which trap dust) to a minimum and washing them often, and grooming pets regularly.

Environment

Extremes in temperature and humidity may trigger an eczema flare-up. Environmental triggers include very hot or very cold temperatures, high or low humidity, cigarette smoke and pollution.

Food

Certain foods can trigger a flare-up, just like other environmental triggers. This can occur by eating the trigger food, or by skin contact with the food. It is important to note that food allergies do not cause eczema, however foods can trigger a flare-up.

Stress

While stress doesn’t cause eczema, symptoms may worsen as the result of tension, anger or frustration. If your child is having problems at daycare, you may notice more eczema flare-ups than usual. Stress also can cause habit scratching, which perpetuates the itch-scratch cycle. In that case, keep nails trimmed short and filed smooth. This will help to reduce damage done to the skin from scratching.

Unfortunately, the more babies scratch, the more likely they are to perpetuate or even worsen the itching, redness, and swelling. This is referred to as the “itch-scratch” cycle and it can be very painful.

More often than not, eczema will go away as your baby grows older. Treatment at the onset can stop eczema in its tracks, which is why daily skin care like bathing and moisturizing is essential.

An effective and scientifically proven skin care regimen, like AVEENO^® BABY^® Eczema Care for eczema-prone skin, can strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and help you prevent the recurrence of itchy, dry, irritated and uncomfortable skin.