Eczema in babies can be a scary thing for parents and caregivers. It does not look nice at all...red, dry patches of skin that usually are found on a baby's cheeks and at the joints of their arms and legs.

It isn't known for sure why some babies get eczema and others don't, but most research finds that if a parent has eczema, it will impact whether or not their children have it.

What causes eczema in babies?

There are several things that can bring on this uncomfortable condition.

• Sweat due to warm conditions
• Irritants like laundry detergent, scented soap, even scratchy clothing
• Dry environments, such as home interiors in the winter, if there is no humidifier present
• Stress...yes, even babies can feel stressed, and when they are upset and crying, their skin can become flushed, which can lead to an irritation of their skin

The good news about eczema in babies is that most of the time it goes away by the time a child reaches school age. Thank goodness for that!

A small percentage of children continue to have this condition, but for many if it doesn't disappear entirely they may just have a tendency to have dry skin.

Cradle cap is a form of seborrheic eczema found in babies (infantile or neonatal seborrhoeic dermatitis, also known as crusta lactea, milk crust, honeycomb disease). It is a yellowish, patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash that occurs on the scalp of recently born babies.

It's easy to diagnose by the appearance of patches of thick, yellowish scales atop an infant's head. It sometimes appears in the diaper area, neck, face and behind ears, too.

It's harmless and goes away quickly when treated. Use shampoo formulated for infants, then after shampooing, lightly massage and brush scalp with a soft brush. If it doesn't improve, it's important to seek medical advice.

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