Causes of Infant Eczema

The most common of causes of infant eczema is the simple fact that they are born with the genes to get a dry skin. This tends to go with a tendency towards hay fever and asthma in the family. Women who suffer with any of these conditions should try to exclusively breast-feed until the child is at least four months old, as to not do so could be one of the causes of infant eczema. Many babies and toddlers are troubled by eczema for a few years, but it becomes far less of a problem as they get older; though it can come on at any age, out of the blue. Although hereditary factors are relevant, there are good reasons to suspect that the environment has a key responsibility in the causes of infant eczema. However, apart from allergies to things like house dust mite and possibly some foods, little is known about which things in the environment may be responsible for the causes of infant eczema.

The exact causes of infant eczema in babies under one year old, is also largely unknown. Seborrheic eczema - also referred to as cradle cap - usually starts on the scalp or the nappy area and quickly spreads. Although this type of eczema looks unpleasant, it is not sore or itchy and does not cause the baby to feel uncomfortable or unwell. There are no guarantees that a child will grow out of eczema. However, research has shown that 60-70% of children are virtually clear of the condition by the time they reach their mid-teens; many never really getting to the bottom of what actually causes infant eczema. Although not life threatening, eczema can be a miserable condition for children and their families, therefore the causes of infant eczema are something all parents of sufferers are desperate to discover. Eczema has probably been increasing over the last 20 years, and today it affects around 15 to 20% of British schoolchildren. Research has shown that even without fully knowing the causes of infant eczema, the frequency and severity of flare ups are dramatically reduced with the careful daily use of moisturisers and prescription steroids, and avoidance of known trigger factors such as woollen clothing, soaps and bubble bath. So it is re-assuring to know that, although the causes of infant eczema are not entirely clear, only one in four (unless you’re the one!) will continue with it into adulthood.