Handle your baby with care

MANILA, Philippines - Every time a newborn comes into the family, there’s always one rule that goes along with it: Don’t pinch the baby’s cheeks. Whether it’s to avoid future sagging or hurting the baby, it’s a golden rule to always handle the baby with care. However, even the gentlest of touches can be painful for a baby who has atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a skin rash characterized by severe itching. Persistent scratching can result in red patches on different areas of the body. While adults are also susceptible to atopic dermatitis, it is usually present in infants before the age of one. Almost 15 to 20 percent of infants have to deal with regular rash breakages on their arms, legs, and faces, particularly the cheeks.

Though there is no particular cause, atopic dermatitis is commonly linked with asthma, eczema, or hay fever in the family history. Couple this with bad weather and food allergens, and you may be looking at an outbreak.

While there is no direct one-all treatment, there are several ways to manage atopic dermatitis. Read this:

• Get your kid on a good diet. Peanuts, eggs, milk, and shellfish are the most allergy-causing foods, but there are still others that can cause a skin eruption. Have your baby tested with skin prick tests to see which ones he is allergic to.

• Keep ’em clean and simple. Regular washes with a wet soft cloth may help tame your baby’s irritated skin. Irritants such as dust, food particles, animal hair, or other toxins may aggravate the outbreaks further, so make sure to cleanse affected areas at least three times a day.

• Ask your doctor. As a person gets older, the degree of skin irritation also progresses. Prescribed antihistamines or oral corticosteroids can be ingested to help manage atopic dermatitis breakouts in adults or older children.

• Moisturize, moisturize. Slather on lotion that can protect your baby’s skin from dirt and other allergens. Just make sure that the lotion or moisturizer that you are using does not cause further irritation. Avoid lotions with fragrances as they may contain extracts that can bring allergies.

An effective way to alleviate your baby’s irritated skin is through Ezerra, a non-steroidal topic preparation. It specifically targets atopic dermatitis by mimicking antihistamine properties. Ezerra contains Pentavitin, which is similar to the skin’s natural moisturizing factors. Pentavitin enables long-lasting water retention in the skin, keeping it moisturized under any condition and preventing the recurrence of dry skin.

Another active natural ingredient is Stimu-tex, a plant derivative that contains valuable fatty acids and vitamins. Stimu-tex effectively treats sensitive, dry, and itchy skin, and protects it from histamine-induced allergic reactions.

Make sure to ask your dermatologist for a prescription to prevent any more itches and scratches on your baby’s skin.