What is infantile dry eczema?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on October 19, 2024
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Infant dry eczema, also known as fissure eczema, is mainly due to loss of skin moisture, reduced sebum secretion, dryness, and fine cracks in the epidermis and stratum corneum. The skin appears pale red, with cracks being more pronounced and resembling cracked porcelain. It can occur on many parts of the body, mostly seen on the limbs. This condition is commonly seen in winter when the air is dry and secretion decreases, further exacerbated by frequent hot water washing. Infant dry eczema is actually due to irritant contact dermatitis. Treatment can involve the application of emollients, such as petroleum jelly, vitamin E cream, and mineral oil, while also protecting the moisture within the skin. It is best not to use corticosteroids for treatment.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
13sec home-news-image

How to treat allergic eczema?

The treatment for allergic eczema primarily involves avoiding allergens and, under the guidance of a doctor, choosing oral medications such as antihistamines, vitamin C, or topical treatments like ointments or powders.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Is infantile eczema contagious?

Pediatric eczema is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition that typically presents during infancy and early childhood. Some children may continue to experience symptoms into childhood and even adulthood. It is characterized by skin damage but is not infectious; thus, pediatric eczema is not contagious, which should reassure parents. The causes of pediatric eczema are complex and relate to immune dysfunction or deficiency, and nutritional disorders. External factors also play a role, such as allergies to milk, fish, shrimp, or eggs, as well as mechanical irritation or improper care, all of which can lead to eczema. However, it is not contagious. Poor care can lead to local bacterial infections of the skin, which parents must be careful to avoid.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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How to treat infant eczema?

Infant eczema is a common skin problem in infants and toddlers, also known as atopic dermatitis. The first thing to pay attention to when a child has eczema is to moisturize the affected skin. Eczema is caused by dry skin, so moisturizing is particularly important. On top of moisturizing, under the guidance of a doctor at the hospital, we can use some mild corticosteroid creams. Through such measures, eczema can generally be well controlled. However, the biggest characteristic of eczema is that it is particularly prone to recurrence, so for children, we must treat it through diet and allergens. For children who drink formula, depending on the severity of the eczema, the child should be fed amino acid formula or hydrolyzed protein formula. For breastfed children, the diet of the nursing mother needs to be controlled – beef, lamb, nuts, seafood, and foods containing distiller's grains should be avoided. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Eczema is divided into several types.

Eczema, based on common classifications, includes: 1. Eczema classified by the course of the disease can be divided into acute eczema, subacute eczema, and chronic eczema. 2. Classified by the location of the outbreak, it can be divided into eczema of the scalp, face, nipple, genital area, anal area, hands, and intertriginous eczema, among others. 3. Classified by age, it can be divided into adult eczema, infant eczema, etc. There are also some other classifications: 1. By the characteristics of the rash, it can be divided into erythematous eczema, papular eczema, vesicular eczema, pustular eczema, exudative erosive eczema, and crusty desquamative eczema. 2. By the nature of the cause, it can be divided into bacterial eczema (infectious eczematous dermatitis), fungal eczema, autosensitization eczema, seborrheic eczema (seborrheic dermatitis), dyshidrotic eczema, occupational eczema, atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis), among others.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
48sec home-news-image

What is infantile dry eczema?

Infant dry eczema, also known as fissure eczema, is mainly due to loss of skin moisture, reduced sebum secretion, dryness, and fine cracks in the epidermis and stratum corneum. The skin appears pale red, with cracks being more pronounced and resembling cracked porcelain. It can occur on many parts of the body, mostly seen on the limbs. This condition is commonly seen in winter when the air is dry and secretion decreases, further exacerbated by frequent hot water washing. Infant dry eczema is actually due to irritant contact dermatitis. Treatment can involve the application of emollients, such as petroleum jelly, vitamin E cream, and mineral oil, while also protecting the moisture within the skin. It is best not to use corticosteroids for treatment.