Eczema is a disease that causes itchy, inflamed skin that often starts in infancy. And because parents worry unnecessarily about the safety of the drugs that ease the itching, their kids don’t always get the relief that they desperately need.

Eczema is more than just sensitive skin. Normally, the skin acts as a barrier to environmental irritants such as dust, pollen, and animal dander. But when your child suffers from this condition, his skin acts like a sieve that allows these irritants to pass through and into the body. These foreign substances cause the immune system to go into attack mode, triggering itchiness all throughout the body. It is worse for some children because it has become a genetic condition that inhibits the production of filaggrin, a protein that covers the outer layer of the skin.

Although the disease does get passed on from one generation to the next, experts say that there has been a rise in babies suffering from eczema. If a baby’s immune system is not busy building resistance to childhood infections, it may be more likely to overreact when they’re exposed to otherwise harmless foreign substances.

Eczema usually begins at the scalp or forehead, or in the crooks of elbows and knees. However, the first signs may be as subtle as fussiness. Technically, this is the only rash that’s created by scratching, but infants don’t know how to use their hands to soothe their discomfort, so they get it on their face and scalp from rubbing against the linens or even adults. So if you notice your baby wiggling a lot, go see your pediatrician immediately. If your doctor rules out other conditions, go to a dermatologist to examine your baby’s skin for subtle signs of eczema. It’s important to get a diagnosis early because your child can fall into a vicious cycle of itching and scratching that leaves their skin raw and painful.

Several stories prove that the impact of eczema is more than just skin deep. Your baby will have to learn to live with the discomfort of itching. You may try to stop them from scratching, they resist until it becomes a power struggle. And since they will also have trouble sleeping, they’re often irritable and unable to concentrate. Whether your child has mild redness or a scaly rash from head to toe, your doctor may prescribe different types of safe and effective drugs. These over-the-counter prescriptions reduce the inflammation. Parents go into panic because they associate the word steroids with performance-enhancing, muscle-building steroids. Those anabolic steroids are completely different from the creams prescribed for eczema. The creams simply mimic cortisol and hydrocortisone, the two steroid hormones your body naturally produces to control inflammation.

Although medicines play an important role in relieving symptoms, there are also other crucial ways to prevent flare-ups. Moisturizers replace missing lipids and seal the skin off from external irritants. The best over-the-counter choice would be a thick ointment such as petroleum jelly. There are also natural fluids that won’t feel too greasy on the skin. Supplement your efforts by regularly giving your child a bath and making them wear comfortable and soft clothing.