Eczema is a dry rash and skin condition in any stage of life, but it can be very common in infancy. Also known as atopic dermatitis, its root cause is unknown, but those with at least one first-degree relative with eczema, asthma, or hay fever are predisposed to having drier skin.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAP, a pediatric specialist and chief medical officer at SpoonfulONE, says one in five children have dry skin classified as eczema. It can appear as small, dry flakes or develop into cracks in the skin that may lead to bleeding. Pediatricians call it the “itch that rashes,” and if unchecked, eczema can be persistent, recurring, and long-lasting.
When the skin breaks down, cracks and fissures form, causing the body to become an entry point that consumes everything in the environment. “The skin is the largest organ in the body and serves as protection from the outside world,” says Dr. Swanson. “What we know from data over the last 20 years is that when an infant is first introduced to food through the skin, the immune system reacts to it as an irritant, versus when the child begins to eat solid foods at the four-to-six-month mark.” By that time, the immune system is more comfortable and recognizes harmful substances, but due to cracks, rashes, and the intake of food through the skin during the early months of infancy, babies are prone to eczema.
Food Diversity
“A child with eczema is 600 times more likely to develop a lifelong food allergy,” says Swanson. “Studies show that the tummy is dominant to the skin, so that is why it is so important to introduce a diversity of foods as early and as often as possible to help develop the immune system.”
Swanson continues, “When solid foods are consumed through the stomach and not the skin, the immune system becomes more comfortable, normalizing intake rather than overreacting to it. The immune system is unique in that it needs to be ‘taught’ protection, and that only happens with food diversity.”
The skin provides security from outside elements, but through food diversity, the immune system “learns” how to react and protect. “How babies are fed early in life can be life-changing, so a diversity of foods is highly recommended,” Swanson commented. “Introducing new foods is not the risk, it’s the delay in introducing the foods that is the risk.”
According to Swanson, 8% of American children have a food allergy, which equals six million kids, or two in every classroom. A diverse diet in infancy protects against the development of allergies. “The more diverse a diet is at infancy through toddlerhood, the less likely he or she will develop food allergies,” says Swanson.
“Peanuts, eggs, and milk are the most common allergens in infancy, and parents need to understand they can help their child avoid a food allergy by getting proper foods and nutrients into the stomach to refortify the skin’s barrier.”
Establishing good food diversity is essential to a baby’s well-being. Formulas are not recommended after 12 months, but breastfeeding and/or formula can be sufficient up to the four-to-six-month period. Usually, from six to 12 months, a baby should become accustomed to a standard solid diet.
Breastfeeding
If a mother breastfeeds her baby exclusively during the first three months, the chances of the child getting a food allergy will not decrease, but breastfeeding does decrease the risk of eczema because the nutrients in a mother’s milk provide a baby’s skin with an extra level of protection. Developing a firm, protective skin barrier is important to deter eczema, and this can be done if parents recognize the importance of various food groups.
Solid Food Diet
The best way to get proteins and nutrients into a baby is through the stomach. “All the things Mommy consumes goes into her breast milk, but not all of it contains the necessary proteins needed to fortify a baby’s immune system,” Swanson commented. “Breastfeeding is great, and it can reduce the risk of eczema, but the USDA has made it clear that by four to six months, parents should be introducing allergens such as fish, shellfish, peanuts, wheat, eggs, and so forth into a baby’s diet.”
During pregnancy, a woman will eat many different types of foods, and the diversity of what she eats is what feeds her baby. A diverse diet of foods introduces more allergens and that is important in a baby’s early life — particularly if a child has eczema. The more proteins in the body, the more stabilized and healthier the baby will be.