Eczema affects as many as one in eight babies and young children and appears to be on the increase. It is a red, itchy rash causing flaking of the skin, which may weep and form a crust. It can cause children great discomfort and keep them awake at night.
What is the cause?
The tendency to eczema seems to be inherited, but it is frequently provoked by allergies to foods - the most common trigger being cow's milk - or chemicals in the environment. Eczema is an atopic condition, related to asthma and hay fever.
House dust mites are a common cause of allergies, and many parents have to keep the child's bedroom, and especially their bedding, washed and free of dust. Old carpets, mattresses and duvets often have to be removed. Cotton clothes are best, as artificial fibres may provoke a rash. Clothes have to be washed in detergents that are free of perfumes and other added ingredients.
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