Coping with Newborn Baby with Eczema

Eczema is a dry skin condition that leads to redness/ itchiness and rashes. Prior to giving birth, I have read that rashes are common for babies especially those who are born after their due date (due to more of the natural moisturizing lotion being used up). Therefore, when my baby first developed the rashes, I didn't think that it could be eczema. However, the rashes (small and red) spread throughout the face and cradle cap started developing. In the next visit to the paediatrician, it was diagnosed as eczema. From then, it could be said a journey of patience as I find ways to help her as well as work on controlling my own anxieties.

Causes
- Mostly linked to hereditary and yes, my husband has eczema. It is easy to play the blame game at this point but as we all know, putting the blame on our partner serves no practical purpose and only worsen the relationship
- Usually triggered by some food/dust ; Since a newborn's food intake is milk, the doctor recommended changing to a hypo allergenic (HA) milk and in Singapore, there are only 2 brands of HA milk, Enfalac and Nestle NAN. My baby's milk intake dropped from 80ml to as low as 30ml but gradually increased since. This is partly due to HA milk being not as sweet and thus, the lowering of appetite.
- Though not common, I realized that my baby's eczema is also triggered by cloth that loses the color, for instance, a dark colored sling.

Methods tried
1. Changing to HA milk helps though it is extremely worrying to see your baby's milk intake dropped so drastically
2. Lots of moisturizer, using Physiogel
3. Using hydro cortisone lotion, to be used sparingly due to adverse effects such as loss of collagen
4. Taking warm and longer baths filled with Cetaphil ( a gentle body cleanser); baby cries less after a bath
5. Wearing long sleeve shirt with collar helps reduce the redness on the neck and arm skin fold

Having done all the above though, with 1-3 recommended by doctor, the eczema has not gone away and really seem to come again another day. Days when baby is very colic, I went for a walk with the baby.. plus as all mothers would have experimented, singing to and cuddling the baby.