Flare-ups can be controlled if eczema is caused by a known allergen or irritant. Simply take out the allergen or irritant and the episode of itchiness will be gone. Among the common triggers for eczema flare-ups besides soaps are dust mites, food allergies, and some types of fabrics. Besides identifying the source of the rashes, parents can also help control the problem by keeping the skin of the baby well-moisturized. This can also be applied at certain parts of the body that are not responding to other treatments. It is also possible for your doctor to recommend UV light phototherapy treatment, the use of coal tar lotions and shampoos and the use of cyclosporine to suppress the body s immune system. As a parent, you have to constantly research about the latest findings on this kind of skin problem. It, however, runs in families where members have eczema, asthma or hay fever. Symptoms Red, itchy patches on the skin occur mostly in hands and feet. Other common areas are the elbow bends, backs of knees, ankles, wrists, necks and upper chests. But they can also happen anywhere in the body, including the face and around the eyes. Irritants are however harder to control because these can be anything you encounter in your daily life. Usually, irritants are chemicals that your skin reacts to like strong soaps and detergents, paints, shampoo. If you notice that your skin gets rashes when you use a particular item, refrain from using that immediately. For this reason, you must always consult your doctor before proceeding with the process. You wouldn t want to aggravate the problem by giving your children any kinds of supplements that will put their health at risk. You also wouldn t want any harm to happen on the baby on your womb, if you are pregnant, hence you really need to take precaution. The other causes are airborne particles that get embedded in clothes and against the skin (under the collar, along the waistband). Harsh chemicals touching the hands or saturating the clothes cause eczema. Other workers get them from chemicals that become hazardous after being exposed to the sun. (These are most common in roof and agricultural workers.