I am quite obviously no guru at this parenting business, so even though I risk being accused of meting out unsolicited advice, I shall go ahead and share my two cents worth anyways (guilty as charged). So if a baby ever happens to you (one with above mentioned condition) you would know exactly what to do.
Firstly, infant eczema usually shows up between two to six months of age (for conrad's case it started when he was around three months). It will resemble a nasty, itchy rash and will commonly start from the face, spreading behind the ear to the neck, torso, arms and legs. You may even find some on your baby's scalp. The affected skin in the affected area is typically very dry and irritated, this may cause your baby to start scratching that area and it may start becoming wet and consequently be even more prone to infection. Unlike baby acne, this is not something you can leave untreated. So please, for goodness (vanity) sake, do SOMETHING about it!
Infant eczema can be caused by an array of factors, or a combination of some. Conrad is a victim of bad genes (its hereditary, from yours truly), your baby could be too of course, or he/she could have been exposed to a host of other triggers e.g. moisture from milk, saliva or sweat, heat, dust, chlorinated water, scratchy fabric like nylon cloth, detergents and soap, or other food allergies.
Of course, you should ensure your baby is indeed suffering from eczema (a pediatrician should be able to confirm your fears) before embarking on any course of action. Once you have been reassured, you may begin building your ammunition to combat those flare-ups.
The most commonly prescribed medication, would be for external use. For more severe cases like conrad's, the pediatrician gave him BioGaia (probiotics drop) which will constitute a two-prong approach to help relieve the symptoms. Otherwise, steroid cream (hydrocortisone 1%), a very good moisturiser (like physiogel or mustela), and soap-free cleanser (think cetaphil or you could use your $200 dermalogical ultra-calming cleanser, which I do not advise) should work pretty well to minimise the skin damage.
The steroid cream will work like a charm. But resist the temptation to keep using it cause it thins out baby's already delicate skin (with prolong use). Give baby a good dose (usually one or two weeks, twice a day, morning and night), and then stop. By then baby's skin should be clear and you should continue the moisturising through the day routine. MOISTURISE MOISTURISE. Like smack on moisturiser on your baby every two hours. Like smear so much your baby's skin starts to shine back at you. No perfumes in those please, physiogel is by far the elixir of all moisturisers for people with sensitive skin, at least I think so. Expensive, organic soaps are no good here ladies. Paying $40 for a small bottle of che-che sexy organic baby body foam does not make it any less of a soap. NO SOAPS, period.
And oh yes baby, besides inheriting the no-good genes from mummy, your sarong seemed to be aggravating your skin condition too. You see, in mummy's time, sarongs are no longer hand made from soft, comfy sarong cloth. They are machine sewn and mass-produced pieces of nylon cloth with holes sold on the innocent looking shelves of Kiddy palace. Your "wai po" took the trouble to source out one of those "near to extinction" cloth retail shops, you will never find in a mall, to buy you proper sarong cloth. Despite being busier than mummy, she also took great pains to finish sewing three most adorable sarongs overnight, for your sleeping pleasure. You are very loved, my boy.
Conrad's eczema is now under control. I hope you sniff out those suspicious buggers and successfully excavate them from your baby's environment. I do not wish this upon any parent though. Good luck!
You are now handsome, again.
p.s. the shine is from the ten sessions of moisturising daily.
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