The skin is the largest organ you have. With flexible and versatile functionality, your skin works to protect your insides from dangerous bacteria and other outside forces. Skin health is extremely important for adults and babies, but sometimes issues like eczema and can arise, targeting the skin and resulting in painful and frustrating symptoms.
Eczema can target adults and babies alike. Both groups can experience rashes, itchiness, and general discomfort in different areas of the body. Today, we’re looking at eczema on adult bodies and baby bodies to identify their similarities and differences.
What is Eczema?
Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is the skin’s reaction to certain triggers, including:
- Skin dryness
- Humidity
- Irritants, such as:
- Soaps and detergents
- Lotions
- Perfumes
- Metals
- Fruit or vegetable juices
- Emotional stress
What Are the Underlying Issues with Eczema for Adults?
When it comes to eczema, certain triggers that may affect one patient could not affect another. It is an elusive condition that causes skin flare-ups when a patient’s genes negatively interact with components of their environment.
How Can Adults Manage Eczema?
Eczema is best managed through:
- Quality skincare
- Anti-inflammatory diets
- Stress reduction
- Preventative measures created by an eczema specialist
Eczema for Babies
If a baby suffers from eczema, parents or caregivers will notice patches of skin that have crusted over or have become flaky and rough to the touch. It tends to appear within the first few months after birth, and many children outgrow it as they age.
Much like it does with adults, baby eczema can appear anywhere on the body. However, it is most commonly reported on the arms, legs, or cheeks.
What are the Underlying Issues with Eczema for Babies?
Baby eczema could be an inherited genetic issue, but that is not always the case. Just like adults, baby eczema can appear because of certain triggers, including:
- Detergents
- Dry air
- Lotions
- Metals (like buttons and snaps)
- Soaps
- Stress
If your baby has a food allergy or intolerance, exposure to the allergen can also cause an eczema flare-up.
How Can You Manage Your Baby’s Eczema?
There are a number of ways to help relieve your baby of their eczema, such as:
- Moisturizing the skin with fragrance-free ointments or creams (ideally ones with ceramides)
- Providing short lukewarm baths (make it an oatmeal bath for added TLC)
- Examining your soaps and laundry detergents and only using mild, fragrance-free options
- Dressing your baby in loose cotton clothes