Eczema in babies can be caused by the food that the mother eats

Eczema in babies can make babies uncomfortable and cry a lot. Babies may try to scratch their itchy areas when the eczema recurs but scratching can actually make the eczema worse. Several things may have to be avoided if your baby has eczema, one of which is certain foods that are consumed by breastfeeding mothers. Anything?

What is eczema in babies?

Eczema or also known as atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition where the skin will be red, irritated, rough, and possibly scaly. Sometimes, small lumps filled with fluid can also appear when the baby has eczema. Usually, eczema appears on the cheeks, forehead, back, hands and feet.

According to KidsHealth, eczema can occur in one in ten children. Symptoms can appear several months after the baby is born, or at around 3-5 years of age. Half of the children who experienced eczema in childhood, may experience eczema in adolescence.

Don't worry, eczema isn't contagious. However, the cause of eczema in babies is not certain. If your baby has eczema, maybe you should avoid some of the things that can trigger eczema in the baby to come back. One of the things that can trigger eczema is the food consumed by breastfeeding mothers.

Foods of breastfeeding mothers cause eczema in babies

Food alone is not the cause of eczema. However, food to some extent affects the appearance of eczema symptoms in babies. Especially if the baby has certain food allergies.

A mother who is still breastfeeding her baby may have to pay attention to the foods she eats. This is because the food that the mother eats can enter the baby's body through breast milk.

Avoid foods that cause allergies

If a baby with eczema is still breastfeeding, it is best for the mother to avoid common foods that cause allergies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some foods that often cause allergies and should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers are:

• Cow's milk
• Nuts
• Egg
• Shellfish or other seafood

This should not stop you from continuing to breastfeed your baby until 2 years of age. Plus, breastfeeding your baby can protect your baby from the effects of eczema. This is because breast milk contains special antibodies that can boost the baby's immunity.

Eat foods that can support immunity

To prevent eczema in babies from recurring, breastfeeding mothers should also eat lots of foods that can support immunity. One of them is consuming foods that contain probiotics during breastfeeding, and it is also recommended to be consumed during pregnancy.

Research shows that probiotics can maintain a balance of good bacteria in the gut, so that this in turn can boost immunity. Some foods that contain probiotics are yogurt, tempeh, and kimchi.

Baby food intake must also be considered

Apart from the mother's food intake, the baby's own food intake can also affect eczema, especially if the baby is receiving bottle milk or has received other foods besides breast milk.

If your baby is bottle-fed and has severe eczema, you may need to give him a non-allergenic formula, such as a formula made from hydrolyzed protein.

Meanwhile, if your baby has started receiving solid food, you should offer the baby food one by one. After the baby has eaten, look for signs if a rash or reddish spots appear on the baby's skin or if the baby feels itchy. If so, your baby may have a food allergy.

However, usually a new allergic reaction appears after a few days of the baby eating foods that cause allergies. Therefore, you may need to see a doctor to confirm allergies in babies.

Overcoming eczema in babies

To help treat eczema, also provide foods that contain probiotics to babies to support their immunity. Also, give your baby foods that are high in essential fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, tuna, almonds, walnuts, avocados, and others.

Research shows that essential fatty acids can help combat inflammation in the body, thereby supporting the health of the baby's skin.

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