Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-14
Your Baby and Mine
BY MYRTLE MEYER ELDRED.

Among the many causes of eczema
upon which little emphasis is laid are
the purely external ones, those which
have little or nothing to do with baby's
food, but arise from rather insignifi-
cant local irritations.
We must remember that a baby's
skin is so fine and tender that even
slight irritations may have far-reaching
consequences. One of the unhealthy
skin conditions present on the small
baby is cradle cap. This arises from
imperfect cleansing of the scalp i'm
mediately following birth and from
then on. The fear with which mothers
and nurses touch the palpitating
frontanel is somewhat amusing when
one remembers the punishment to
which baby's head is subjected at birth
This too delicate washing and cleansing
results in an accumulation of oil and
dirt until thick and odorous crust is
formed, which adhereS and reappearS
despite treatment. This is quite I'M
necessary, for if the scalp is washed
vigorously and thoroughly enough all
over with soap and water to remove oil
and dirt and then is oiled with warm
oil to soften any remaining accretions
the cradle cap will eventually disappear.
If present 1t is, I am reluctant to say,
an indication of careless and inefficient
cleansing, nothing more. But If al
lowed to run on, this constant irrita-
ton and dirt is very liable to end in
a chronic case of eczema of the scalp.
Portions back of baby's ears may
go undried or skin around baby's
mouth may be allowed to stay damp
because of splitting up or drooling and
this moist skin may lead to a begin
ming ecZematous rash.
When this happens it Is better to
n fIo nd
necessary. keep it oiled well so that
moisture will not irritate it. Olive oil,
mineral oil or mild baby cream can
be used if any sign of irritation shows
up. Prevention is far easier than cure.
Tanning the skin improves its
ability to withstand irritations (an-
other reason for paying attention to
baby's daily sun BATH.
Some of the other factors which may
be present in baby's environment and
which may be irritating to him per-
sonally are wool in Undertaking or
bed clothing, feathers, kapok (flller
for pillows, strong soaps and powders,
medicated salves, soaps or powders;
rabbits, kittens, strong winds, extremely
cold or hot water, or clothing or bed
ding contributing to these conditions,
dirt, wells over baby's face that hold
in the breath moisture in Winter or
SCt Wei dllQ W UdDy ohAilS NldAAC
cap, vermin especially head lice),
drooling, strong soaps or washing
powders used to wash baby's clothes,
with imperfect rinsing One or many
of these external causes may be con-
tributing to the eczema or preventing
its cure, despite treatment.
Eczema is tricky ailment 1t has
a dozen causes, both external and
internal Until one has ruled them all
out it is useless to say that one has
tried everything"
Mrs EIdred has leaflet on Eczema"
in which she discusses the internal as
well as the external causes and sug
gests methods of counteract3ng the
condition. Any reader may lave the
leafiet If she will accompany her re-
quest with a self-addressed, stamped
envelope. Address all queries to Myrtle
Meyer Eldred, care of this paper.