What is this eczema?

Question

I saw the doctor because my 3.5 month old baby has a rash that keeps coming back. Started a little bit on her face and went away. It came back a bit there and now she recently got it on parts of her tummy, upper thighs, elbows and parts of her back as well. She glanced at it and she said that could probably be eczema. I was told to put Vaseline on her several times throughout the day, cortozone 2 times per day, and no soapy water. She said that it wouldn't start getting better until she was like 2 years old.
1. Could eczema be confused with something else like just an allergy?
2. Is there anything better that I can do for my baby?
3. Did your child have this and how did it go for you?
4. Did it go away, was it easy to control etc..?

Thanks for any help/advice!!

Answer 1

Hi. Eczema is an itchy rash usually on cheeks or chin, but may show up on the head, trunk, back of arms, or front of legs; dry thickened scaly skin or sometimes tiny red bumps that may ooze. Most common in families with history of allergies or asthma.

1. Yes, could also be hives.
2. --
• Try to keep your baby's skin from becoming too dry.
• Allow your baby's skin to breathe (and not overheat) by dressing him in natural fabrics like cotton. Avoid wool and other scratchy materials, though, because these can irritate his very sensitive skin.
• Switch to mild, fragrance-free soaps and shampoos, or those made for sensitive skin. Use mild, fragrance-free detergents for sensitive skin when laundering your baby's clothes and bedding, too.
• Rapid changes in temperature can make eczema worse, so try not to let your baby get too hot and then cool quickly, or vice versa.
3. My child has yet to have it, but I've had it.
4. It went away when I was about 13. But I had to use a cream form steroid to make it go away. If your childs rash doesn't seem to get any better. Ask your doctor about it. Applying this cream sometimes works wonders to help break a stubborn cycle of eczema.

Remember: Eczema is not an allergic reaction to something, but it can be provoked by allergens in your baby's environment or diet, or in your diet if you're breastfeeding. Eczema can also be aggravated by heat, by irritants that come in contact with your baby's skin (like wool or the chemicals in some soaps, lotions, or detergents), by changes in temperature, and by dry skin.

Answer 2

I'm really sorry your little one has this. I started to have eczema when I was 2. Then more server I got atopic dermatitis. I've had it ever since. I've had many different doctors tell me different things. To this day, I use cortizone religiously. It's the only thing that keeps it under control. I used to take predinzone sometimes when I was a kid. But it's a steroid. It would make me a little crazy and could only be taken for a short period of time.
Many people have eczema. Most are small cases of it. I used to live in California where my skin was the most awful, when I moved to Alabama.. it cleared up in about a month. Something about the climate help. But I still have it and scars from scratching.
I could go on for hours about it.
My advice is to keep a little coritzone on the spots that she usually gets it even if there is not a breakout at the time. Usually after a bath is a very good time.
Doctors even my Dermatologist told me I would grow out of it but I never did. But I'm sure most people do.
1. Not really... but allergies and eczema go hand and hand.
2. There is no cure for it just temporary relief.
3. Explained above
4. Still have it, keep on the cortizone. Try to keep her from sweating too much.. that always made me itch until I would bleed.

Really good link below

Best of luck to you and yours

Answer 3

Well I have eczema. Its something you can inherit from ANYONE in your family. I got it from my grandfather. You can't catch it. And no it can't go away but it better in the summer. Because in the winter it gets itchy and dry! It can go away temporarily but it comes back. You just need to put some ointment to relief the itching! But it doesn't hurt. It just itches. I hope this helps. Also don't give ur baby long baths 3 or 2 minutes should be enough! Cause Im a child and I have eczema. It looks bad but trust me I went to a dermetoligist and he said it gets better when I'm like 11 or twelve. It can go away for good but that's rare. He gave me this ointment and I stopped itching!

Answer 4

I would get a second opinion eczema is generally caused when skin becomes dried out and as long as your are not bathing her to often then she shouldn't be having this issue. My son got eczema when he started crawling and I put gentle naturals a disney product you find in the lotion aise this was a real thick cream that I would put on after his bath. Also, I was instructed to use cetaphil the cream not the lotion the cream stayed on better. His went away just fine but he mainly got it because it was winter and he was constantly crawling around and causing irritation. he never had it on his face. It went away and I had it come back after a few times but then I just repeated the above and haven't had a problem since.

Answer 5

I my self have eczema and doctors say it can either be related to azma (either you get azma or eczema) or that it is an allergic reaction. However I believe that it is not an allergic reaction because I was born with it on my fingers and I was a c-section. I usually only get it when the wether changes (winter to summer or summer to winter). When I cannot get to the doctor to get a prescription I use aveeno baby lotion witch helps with the itching and help clear it up.

Also it usually doesnot go away on its own so I'm wonndering if your baby just has a really bad heat rash. My son has a nasty heat rash right now that comes and goes on its own.

Answer 6

MANY people have eczema. It is a skin promplem. it might look like red goosebumps.. tiny pimples... and may itch really badly. Never itch it in any way (or dont let your baby). You just have to take what the doctor says. FAce it ... its eczema and nothing else. If you do what the doctor say your baby will be safe and in good hands. I promise you.

Answer 7

Eczema is extremely dry skin, that is generally controllable with a prescribed cream. My wife has it and My 3 year old has it too. I think it is hereditary. Ellidel is a popular cream to use with it. When it gets out of hand they will probably prescribe a steroid cream to get it under control. I don't think it ever goes away to be honest. Good luck.

Answer 8

God, cortisone is dreadful for little ones. It thins the skin. I discovered that calamine cream works much much better on my little one (17 months) - his excema is mainly confined to the crooks of his elbows and behind his knees. Also not bathing him too often and keeping the water pretty cool helps. The calamine you can put on as many times as you like and it doesn't have any side effects. Lotion will do just as well but it looks a bit odd.

It runs in the family here - grand-dad and great grand-dad both suffered with it.

Answer 9

My aunt's kids have eczema. Its basically dry skin. She puts lotion that her doctor prescribed on them all the time. It didn't go away for them yet, but I think it can go away as she gets older. Its nothing serious just sensitive skin. You should go to this website and read about it. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/whatIs.html

Answer 10

when my 14year old was born he to had eczema some nurse told me to bring hi to the beach so when I went to puerto rico the salti water releaves the ich and after taking him many times it whent away my boy was 6month at the time