Baby and Mother's |
Eczema in infants can make the baby uncomfortable and often cry. Babies may be trying to scratch their itchy body parts when eczema relapse but scratching can actually make the eczema worse. Some things may have to be avoided if your baby has eczema, one of which is certain foods that nursing mothers consume. Anything?
What is eczema in infants?
Eczema or also called atopic dermatitis is an inflamed skin condition, where the skin will be red, irritated, rough, and may be scaly. Sometimes, small fluid-filled bumps can also appear when the baby has eczema. Usually, eczema appears on the cheeks, forehead, back, hands, and feet.
According to Kid Health, eczema can occur in one in ten children. Symptoms can appear several months after the baby is born, or at the age of about 3-5 years. Half of the children who experience eczema in childhood, may experience eczema as a teenager.
Do not worry, eczema is not contagious. However, the cause of eczema in infants is not known for certain. If your baby has eczema, you may have to avoid some things that can trigger eczema in a relapse. One of the things that can trigger eczema is the food that nursing mothers eat.
How does feeding nursing mothers trigger eczema in infants?
Food alone is not the cause of eczema. However, the food has little effect on the appearance of eczema symptoms in infants. Especially if the baby has certain food allergies.
The mother who is still breastfeeding her baby may have to pay attention to the food she is eating. This is because the foods that mothers eat can enter the baby's body through breast milk.
Avoid foods that cause allergies
If a baby with eczema is still breastfeeding, you should avoid common foods that cause allergies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some foods that often cause allergies and should be avoided by nursing mothers are:
- Cow's milk
- Nuts
- Egg
- Shellfish or other seafood
This should not stop you from continuing to breastfeed your baby until the age of 2 years. Moreover, breastfeeding babies can also protect babies from the effects of eczema. This is because breast milk contains special antibodies that can boost the baby's immunity.
Consumption of foods that can support the immune system
To prevent eczema in the baby's recurrence, nursing mothers should also consume lots of foods that can support the immune system. One of them is eating foods that contain probiotics during breastfeeding, even also recommended for consumption during pregnancy.
Research shows that probiotics can keep a good balance of bacteria in the gut, so this can then boost immunity. Some foods containing probiotics are yogurt, Tempe, and kimchi.
Baby food intake should also be considered
In addition to maternal food intake, baby food intake alone can also affect eczema, especially if the baby receives bottled milk or has received other foods other than breast milk.
If your baby drinks bottled milk and has severe eczema, you may need to give formula milk that does not trigger allergies, such as formula milk made from hydrolyzed protein.
Whereas if your baby has started receiving solid foods, should offer baby food one by one. After the baby eats, look for signs of whether rash or reddish spots appear on the baby's skin or whether the baby feels itchy. If so, maybe the baby has a food allergy.
However, usually a new allergic reaction occurs after a few days the baby eats food allergens. Therefore, you may need to see a doctor to ensure allergies in infants.
To help overcome eczema, also provide foods that contain probiotics in infants to support their immune system. Also, give baby foods that contain lots of essential fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, tuna, almonds, walnuts, avocados, and others. Research shows that essential fatty acids can help overcome the inflammation in the body, so it can support the baby's skin health.
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