Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. Itchy Skin in Babies Is your kid scratching like crazy?
Image: Masich Mariya. What is itchy skin like for a baby? When should I take my baby to the doctor with her itchy skin? Next on Your Reading List. To remedy the discomfort, infants will rub their skin on surfaces to get rid of the itch.
This friction worsens skin breakdown and creates rashes. Eczema in babies presents in two main ways. First, a baby may seem fussy or irritable for no reason or constantly rubbing his or her cheeks or body on surfaces to get rid of the itch.
Second, a baby may have dry, flaky skin that can be either skin tone or appear pink or red. Generally, parents will turn to eczema creams or lotions to soothe their child.
Here are three of my tips for choosing a cream that will work best for your baby:. As a pediatrician, I look for creams that have known soothing properties or natural ingredients, but there are many on the market that work well.
Often, the generic versions of well-known brands work just as effectively. Here are a few other key things to remember about the importance of paying attention to skin care for babies:. Breastfeeding moms should pay attention to see if their child breaks out more frequently after certain food types. The cream was used more extensively in the past when fewer effective antiscabietic preparations were available. It is applied twice daily for 5 to 7 days. Nonspecific management of scabies.
While specific antiscabies therapy is mandatory, it does not necessarily give rapid relief from the generalized eczematous and irritated reactions. The relief of pruritus and secondary eczema may take 2 to 4 weeks. Frequently, the persistence of pruritus produces so much patient concern that it leads to overuse of the irritating topical antiscabietic agents, which themselves can cause contact dermatitis.
The persistence of scabies for any period of time usually invokes a nonspecific papular eczema, which can involve areas other than the classic scabietic locations. In fact, the actual number of mites in the skin is usually small compared with the widespread extent of the eruption. The itch-scratch cycle can be self-perpetuating, causing great patient discomfort and anxiety. The following general instructions for managing irritated eczematous skin should be given to families:.
These are valuable agents for the secondary irritation reaction. Start topical corticosteroids immediately following the first antiscabietic treatment, applying two to three times daily.
For more severe and persistent reactions, medium-strength topical corticosteroids such as triamcinolone 0. Antipruritics such as menthol 0.
These can be helpful, especially for nocturnal pruritus. Hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine are commonly used. As with all medical conditions, the patient and family will do best if they are well informed.
The diagnosis of scabies, or even the suggestion of scabies, can produce disbelief and an emotional reaction based on the erroneous understanding that improper hygiene is the cause.
Management can be a challenge, especially when the problem does not clear quickly. Managing other conditions. Atopic dermatitis is too large a subject to discuss here in detail. However, a review of the basic principles can be useful. The factors that make atopic skin itch include the following:. Efforts to minimize the above factors are as important to the dermatologic management of a child with atopic eczema as are the specific therapeutic agents prescribed.
At times, the diverse ethnicity of our patient population and the resulting language barriers can make it difficult to obtain adequate treatment compliance. Even without language barriers, it is hard for some parents to accept that there is no simple and single treatment to assure speedy clinical success.
The general nonspecific skin care practices outlined for scabies are also good for nonscabietic conditions. An important addition is the regular and thorough lubrication of atopic skin. Applying bland emollients to dampened not dry skin is required. Emollients will vary depending on patient comfort and preference and can range from petroleum jelly to lighter, less greasy, unscented products. Antipruritic therapy includes oral agents such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine.
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of topical treatment. The choice of specific agents is similar to that outlined for the treatment of scabies. The objective should be to use the least potent product possible because of the potential long-term cutaneous side effects. It is prudent not to give unsupervised refills of topical corticosteroids. A significant advance in topical therapy for atopic dermatitis has been the introduction of topical immunomodulators: tacrolimus 0.
They can also be used intermittently for the long-term and for mild and moderate disease. They are especially valuable when the conventional therapies are inadequate or pose risks. They are not to be used when there is clinical evidence of viral infection. The most common adverse reaction is a sensation of burning or warmth, which is usually transitory. The expense of the preparations makes their use most feasible for relatively localized disease. Nonspecific management of other conditions.
Papular urticaria usually responds readily to treatment, providing the insects stop biting. General measures should be used to keep the skin cool and free of irritation. Topical corticosteroids, essentially the same ones that are used for treating an eczematous reaction to scabies, are satisfactory. Oral antipruritics can be helpful. Patients and family members benefit from reassurance regarding the nature of the process.
Insect bites can be difficult to treat because it is often impossible to identify the biting insect, making only general measures of environmental management possible. Attention to the possibility of infested pets is needed.
Remember that adult fleas and eggs can remain viable for months in a vacant house. Insect repellents such as diethyltolumanide DEET are the preferred agents, although not always totally efficacious.
Encephalopathy due to extensive and repeated use of diethyltoluamide has been reported in children. Permethrin spray of clothing can also be helpful. There are numerous common products, such as thiamine, that have their proponents. Unfortunately, there is no scientific support for their use.
Molluscum contagiosum is said to be a self-limiting infection, although in my experience this seldom seems to be the case. Isolated sparse lesions can be removed physically by extraction, curettage, or cryotherapy. Multiple lesions, especially in young children, can be successfully managed with the use of the topical blistering agent cantharidin solution Cantharone. This treatment produces vesiculation at the applied site and usually heals without much incident. Caution needs to be used when treating facial lesions and also when individuals are darker skinned.
Repeat treatment sessions are frequently required. Look also for affected family members as a source of reinfection. In patients who do not respond to the usual treatments, there have been encouraging reports of the use of the topical immunoresponse modulator, imiquimod cream Aldara. The disadvantage is the cost of the medication. Nevertheless, in children or those with widespread or awkwardly situated lesions, such as on the face, it can be a very satisfactory choice.
The treatment course is usually 8 to 12 weeks. Topical keratolytic agents, such as tretinoin 0. The management of an itching child is not easy. The age of the patient often does not permit motivation or self-discipline to be part of the therapeutic program.
It is not always easy to make a rapid diagnosis, and parent expectations concerning the length of treatment required can be unrealistic. In spite of the best efforts and a high index of suspicion, scabies can be missed.
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