How to Know if Baby Eczema is Healing?

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Baby eczema is a common skin condition that’s very uncomfortable for parents and kids. It’s not fun for a little one to have red, dry, cracked, and itchy skin, and it’s very hard for parents to watch their children be so uncomfortable. Luckily, eczema in babies isn’t particularly dangerous, and it’s easy to treat.

But how do you know if your baby’s eczema is healing? If the treatments are working, you should see your little one’s eczema rash clear up.

Begin the Healing Process With Eczema Treatment

There is no cure for baby eczema, but there are lots of ways to relieve symptoms and prevent flare-ups. All it takes is a little patience, dedication, and three important steps: skin care, itch control, and trigger management.

Skin Care

The right skin care helps strengthen your baby’s skin so it can fight back against eczema flare-ups. What is a good skincare routine? Daily baths in lukewarm water are key. Be sure to cleanse his skin with a gentle eczema body wash, as many common products are too harsh and drying.

Finish off bath time with a baby eczema cream to moisturize his skin and protect it from possible irritants. Look for a fragrance and dye-free eczema moisturizing cream to avoid irritation.

Itch Control

Baby eczema is very itchy, and the more your little one scratches, the worse the rash will get. You can help control your baby’s itching by trimming his nails, placing cotton mittens on his hands when he sleeps, and applying moisturizing cream for eczema.

You can also consult a doctor for wet wrap therapy or OTC anti-itch oral and topical products that you can use to soothe intense itching associated with eczema at night.

Trigger Management

Triggers are environmental factors that can cause or worsen an eczema flare-up. While every child might have slightly different triggers, there are a few common ones to avoid, such as extreme temperature, restrictive clothing, scratchy fabrics, and, more rarely, food allergies. One of the biggest triggers is harsh products. Many skincare products like soaps, shampoos, and body washes are much too harsh for sensitive young skin.

Chemicals to Avoid in Eczema Products

Here is a list of some harsh chemicals that you should avoid in your baby’s eczema skincare products

Fragrances
Color
Surfactants, for example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Preservatives or parabens.
Phthalates
Dimethicone

PRO TIP: What makes a cleanser not harsh?

There are environmentally friendly surfactants that are not as drying but still make plenty of lather that are classified as “sulfate-free.”

A gentle eczema shampoo and body wash will have the words. “fragrance-free,” “sulfate-free,” “paraben-free,” and “dye-free.”

It’s very important to see your pediatrician if your baby’s eczema flare-up does not clear or improve with these treatments. He or she will be able to prescribe prescription creams or ointments that can accelerate the healing process to comfort your baby.

Signs That Baby Eczema is Healing

Eczema usually goes through different stages, the first stage is the acute stage. During this, the eczema symptoms start to develop and the itching can be very severe. However, when it starts healing, it progresses to the sub-acute stage, during which itching, irritation, and red rashes associated with eczema will start getting better.

There are chances that your eczema can flare up again from the sub-acute stage, so it is essential that you take proper care and treatment during that stage. But what does healing eczema look like? You will notice the following if your baby’s eczema is healing

Reduced inflammation
Skin becomes less flaky and rough
The itching becomes less intense
Reduction of blisters
Skin rashes start to improve
Reduced skin redness and discoloration
Smoother skin texture
Less burning or stinging sensation

The healing signs in most eczema cases will be similar but may appear differently..

Does Eczema Itch when Healing?

No itching does not mean that your eczema is healing. It is one of the most prominent symptoms of eczema and is usually present at all three stages: acute, sub-acute, and chronic.

However, the itching is more intense during a flare-up and gradually becomes less severe when the eczema starts healing.

Does Peeling Skin Mean Eczema is Healing?

Peeling or flaky skin can be and cannot be a sign of eczema healing. During an eczema flare-up, you may experience skin peeling and flaking due to dryness, irritation, and scratching.

However, peeling skin can also be a sign of your eczema healing. During a flare-up, the itching, scratching, and rashes can damage the top layer of skin. But when your eczema gets better, the skin will try to heal itself by removing or peeling that damaged skin and replacing it with healthy, soft, smooth skin.

In babies peeling skin is often a natural process they go through after birth. So the peeling may be because of that. However, it is essential to keep your baby’s skin moisturized when its peeling.

How Long Does It Take for Eczema to Heal?

The healing time for eczema can vary from child to child as it depends on the underlying cause of the flare-up.

For example, flare-ups from a contact eczema trigger, like an itchy shirt or a harsh shampoo, usually clear up within a few days or weeks with the proper treatment plan. Allergic contact dermatitis flare-ups, like those caused by an allergic reaction to a food or product, can last longer.

Many babies outgrow their eczema completely. Baby eczema often dissipates by the age of four, but for some, flare-ups continue into young adulthood or adulthood.

Conclusion

Even though there is no cure for eczema, you can help manage and soothe your baby’s eczema by maintaining a proper eczema skincare routine, avoiding the triggers, and controlling the itch.

Knowing the signs of healing eczema can help you ensure that your baby’s condition is getting better. Some common signs you will notice are reduced itching, redness, inflammation, and dryness.

If you are searching for eczema-friendly skin care products for your baby, try Happy Cappy Two-Step Eczema Skincare Routine, specially formulated with soothing natural ingredients for sensitive eczema-prone skin of babies.

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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How can you tell if eczema is healing?

The best way to tell if your eczema is healing is by noticing the symptoms. If you notice that your itching, inflammation, redness, and dry skin are getting better, then it means your eczema is healing.

How long does it take to cure baby eczema?

There is no permanent cure for eczema. In some babies, eczema may be cured permanently as they grow older, while for others, it may become a life-long condition that may flare up occasionally.

Does eczema darken as it heals?

Some people may experience skin darkening or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after their eczema gets better. This is more common in people with darker skin tones. However, some people may experience skin-lightening or hypopigmentation when their eczema heals.

Does eczema turn yellow when healing?

If you experience a yellow crust on your eczema, it is usually due to the weeping skin that has dried out. This does not mean that your eczema is healing in fact it means it might be infected and needs proper treatment.