Eczema sufferers are believed to have a problem with their immune system which causes the condition but as yet no-one has discovered how this occurs. This skin complaint is usually triggered by an adverse reaction to a substance, foodstuff or chemical etc. For baby's, eczema can be an awful condition where the rash is followed by flaking skin that can easily become cracked, causing a great deal of distress. In the USA, it can affect anything between 10 and 20 percent of infants.

Despite the problems it causes the child and parents, this is only a problem for a couple of years as it has normally disappeared before the child reaches two. Unfortunately in a few children do not get over this problem and continue to suffer with it when they are adults. While people of any age can get this condition, it is most common in babies and young children. Sufferers have generally had the condition since before their fifth birthday and almost a third of sufferers before they were a year old.

Seen as a red, itchy and scaly rash, baby eczema is usually of the more common atopic eczema variety. A lack of moisture within the baby's skin is often thought to be the trigger to atopic eczema, which is often a hereditary condition. Mothers must be watchful about the types of detergents their baby's clothes are washed in as these are known to trigger inflammation. A number of scientific studies have shown that baby eczema is linked to early weaning so continued breastfeeding may therefore be protective in some way.

Although asthma triggers could also include other respiratory problems and medical conditions. It has also been found that if the baby's mother has asthma, they are more prone to suffer with this condition but other contributing elements include food allergies and allergic rhinitis. Specialists in food allergies believe that up to 3 cases in ten of childhood cases are because the child has a food allergy; if a particular food is suspected as the likely cause, that food can then be removed from the diet. Although the process of diagnosing which food is responsible is often a case of trial an error, there are some that are often found as the cause including:

<ul> <li>Fish</li> <li>Milk</li> <li>Wheat</li> <li>Any type meal prepared using eggs</li> <li>Foods where peanut oil may have been used</li> </ul>

In some instances, baby eczema is the result of antibiotics being prescribed for the child when they are born. Infants, in particular babies with the condition need to be washed gently in lukewarm water using proprietary lubricating creams. After washing, a baby needs to be dressed in natural fabrics such as cotton; using only fragrance-free products, can also help. The best way to stop a baby scratching and causing further infection is to keep their nails short and make sure they wear mittens. For more sever cases of baby eczema, the pediatrician may suggest the use of antihistamines which can help relieve itching; local steroid creams are also prescribed when needed but just long enough to heal skin lesions. One thing is certain; this skin disorder is very common, yet remains a difficult form to control and fully overcome.