Introduction
Eczema is a collective term for various skin diseases characterized by redness, swelling, blistering and weeping with the formation of crusts and scales on the affected skin area. Eczema is one of the most common skin diseases in babies. Typical locations of eczema in babies are the hairy head, the face, especially cheeks and around the mouth (lat.
: perioral), as well as the feet, hands and bottom. The causes of eczema are numerous. Depending on the cause, different forms of eczema can be distinguished.
These include, for example, toxic contact eczema, allergic contact eczema, atopic eczema (neurodermatitis in babies) or seborrheic eczema. By definition, however, eczema in babies is not caused by an infection, so eczema is a non-infectious skin disease. The typical leading symptom of baby eczema, regardless of the trigger, is usually severe itching.
More rarely, non-itching eczema is also found in babies. Since the severe itching can lead to constant scratching of the affected skin area and this can lead to injuries and subsequently to colonization with bacteria or viruses, eczema in babies should always be treated. Nurturing ointments, gels, lotions or baths are particularly suitable for this purpose.
Cause
Eczema is caused by a disruption of the skin barrier caused by external environmental factors or internal influences. The disruption of the skin’s barrier function mediates an inflammatory reaction which further maintains the disrupted barrier function of the skin. The immigration of inflammatory cells mediates the typical symptoms of eczema, such as redness, swelling and blistering.
Depending on the cause of this disturbed barrier function of the skin, different forms of eczema can be distinguished. If contact with toxic, aggressive substances (e.g. chemicals or strong radiation) causes skin damage and disruption of the skin barrier with redness, swelling and blistering, this is known as toxic contact eczema. A distinction is made between toxic contact eczema and allergic contact eczema, which is not caused by toxic substances but by so-called allergens.
These are various substances which, due to a hypersensitivity reaction to these substances, trigger an exaggerated immune reaction in some people when they are touched and thus finally cause a disruption of the skin barrier with the above-mentioned consequences. Substances that often act as allergens are nickel (nickel allergy), fragrances and aromas, preservatives and latex (latex allergy). Atopic eczema (neurodermatitis) is also caused by a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to normally harmless substances, especially pollen, animal hair or house dust mites.
Atopic eczema is often associated with other diseases such as hay fever or allergic asthma. Why these harmless substances, such as pollen, animal hair or house dust mites lead to hypersensitivity reactions in some people is not conclusively clarified. Since family members of the affected person often suffer from atopic eczema, hay fever or allergic asthma, a genetic predisposition is suspected above all.
The three forms of eczema mentioned above, toxic and allergic contact eczema as well as atopic eczema, form the main group of all eczema in babies. Another form of eczema that is also frequently found in babies is seborrheic eczema. In seborrhoeic eczema, the cause is not clearly defined. It is suspected to be a genetic predisposition as well as heavy sweating and a moisture retention in the skin due to wrong clothing or wrong skin care products.
