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Baby Eczema

Up to 25 percent of babies and toddlers experience eczema. Learn more on how to help relieve eczematic skin with our clinically proven Aveeno baby eczema treatment.

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What Is Baby Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that usually appears as an itchy, red patch on the hands, feet, backs of elbows and around knees, ankles and wrists. It also may affect a baby’s cheeks, chin, chest, forehead or scalp.

Eczema can appear in other areas too, though not usually the diaper area where moisture acts as a barrier. Dry skin, sweating, pet dander or even dust can cause a flare-up of your child’s eczema. Scratching also can make eczema worse, causing redness, swelling and other symptoms like itching.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO TREAT & MANAGE BABY ECZEMA

Baby Eczema Triggers

Irritants

Many soaps, disinfectants and fragrances can make eczema worse for baby’s skin. Common products that may cause a flare-up include: detergents and dryer sheets; bubble bath and some shampoos; disinfectants like chlorine; dyes, and coarse fabrics like wool. Always wash new clothes before they are worn, use dye-free and fragrance-free detergents, and choose sunscreen made for sensitive skin.

Allergens

Typical allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold can cause itchy, inflamed skin. Make your home an allergy-free zone by vacuuming and wet-dusting frequently, keeping soft toys (which trap dust) to a minimum and washing them often, and grooming pets regularly.


Environment

Extremes in temperature and humidity may trigger an eczema flare-up. Environmental triggers include very hot or very cold temperatures, high or low humidity, cigarette smoke and pollution. Keep the baby’s bedroom between 68 and 72° F and maintain even humidity in your home.

Food

It’s relatively rare in infants, but one in 10 children with eczema experience symptoms caused by food allergies. In general, children under age 5 with severe eczema also may have a food allergy, most commonly triggered by milk, eggs, nuts, seeds or wheat.

Stress

While stress doesn’t cause eczema, symptoms may worsen as the result of tension, anger or frustration. If your child is having problems at daycare, you may notice more eczema flare-ups than usual. Stress also can cause habit scratching, which perpetuates the itch-scratch cycle. In that case, keep your child’s fingernails short and consider cotton gloves or mittens if your child tends to scratch while sleeping.

Eczema Therapy For Baby & Toddler

AVEENO® Eczema Therapy treatment for babies & toddlers is clinically shown to help relieve dry, itchy, irritated skin with eczema. The formulas, either with Oat or Colloidal Oatmeal, intensely moisturize and help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function to protect against moisture loss and helps prevent recurrence of extra-dry skin.

Eczema Equality

Eczema appears quite differently on different skin tones. We saw when parents searched for images, the results were almost all Caucasian babies. Visit our resource library to see how we created eczema representation on every baby’s skin tone.

Tackle Baby Eczema With Confidence

It is important to remember that eczema and its symptoms are different for everyone. Eczema almost always includes itchy skin. At times, the itch can get so bad that it causes people to scratch - also known as the “itch-scratch cycle”.

What to look for:

  • Itch

  • Dryness, sensitive skin

  • Inflamed, discolored skin

  • Rough, leathery, or scaly patches of skin

  • Oozing or crusting

Your baby may have all or just a few of these symptoms. There may be times when symptoms go away, and other times when your baby has flare-ups. The best way to find out if your baby has eczema is to consult a healthcare professional.

References:
1. Atopic Dermatitis - National Eczema Association Atopic dermatitis- Symptoms and causes | National Eczema Association Accessed 9.28.22
2. Eczema - National Eczema Association Eczema Causes, Triggers & Symptoms | National Eczema Association Accessed 9.28.22
3. Eczema - American Academy of Dermatology Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis overview (aad.org). Accessed 9.28.22

The exact cause of eczema in babies is unknown. What researchers do know is that eczema in general is linked to a combination of impaired skin barrier function, environmental allergens and/or genetics. Up to 25% of babies and toddlers experience eczema, and an estimated 60% of people with eczema develop it during their first year of life.

Atopic March:

While there is no cure, eczema symptoms can be managed by identifying and avoiding things that cause flareups and establishing a daily skin care routine.

References:
1. Nemeth V, Evans J. Eczema. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538209/
2. Baby Eczema - National Eczema Association Baby eczema: causes, symptoms, treatment and more (nationaleczema.org). Accessed 9.28.22
3. Atopic Dermatitis Causes - American Academy of Dermatology. Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis causes (aad.org). Accessed 9.28.22
4. The Allergic or Atopic March - Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Allergic March | AAFA.org

Goals of eczema treatment include relieving itch and moisturizing to help restore the skin's moisture barrier. Gentle skin care and generous use of moisturizers are considered first-line therapy formanagement of eczema symptoms.


Cleansers and Moisturizers
Moisturizers help replace lost moisture, help restore the skin moisture barrier, and help relieve flare-ups. It is important to continue a regular moisturizing routine even when your child is not experiencing a flare.


Bathing Tips
• Use lukewarm water to wash your child.
• Use a mild, non-drying, gentle cleanser,
• Gently pat skin dry — don't rub.
• Avoid body sponges and washcloths.


Moisturizing Tips
• Apply an emollient- rich moisturizer, to damp skin (within 3 minutes after the bath).
• If needed, apply prescribed medications first and then liberally apply moisturizer. Talk to your healthcare provider about the use of prescribed medications.
Over-the-counter Medications
Topical anti-itch creams containing hydrocortisone may help to ease symptoms for children over 2 years of age. Follow the directions on the label carefully. Do not use more often or longer than recommended
on the label or by your healthcare provider.


References:
1. Eczema in Babies and Children - American Academy of Pediatrics Eczema in Babies and Children - HealthyChildren.org. Accessed 9.28.22
2. Baby Eczema - National Eczema Association Baby eczema: causes, symptoms, treatment and more (nationaleczema.org) Accessed 9.28.22
3. Atopic Dermatitis Causes - American Academy of Dermatology. Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis causes (gad.org), Accessed 9.28.22

In the US, 19.3% of Black children have some form of eczema usually developing during infancy and early childhood1. The risk for severe atopic dermatitis (AD) may be 6 times higher in black children compared to white children2 and is also thought to be more treatment-resistant3. AD prevalence is 12.94% in Chinese children, very close to that of Japan and Korea4.

Eczema can look very different on darker skin tones. Eczema is commonly thought of a red, dry, and itchy rash – how it appears on lighter skin tones. But redness can be a challenge to detect on darker skin tones which may make diagnosis more difficult. On darker skin, patches may appear darker than the rest of the skin, looking purple, ashen grey, or dark brown1,5,6.

Studies have shown that melanin-rich skin does not retain as much water as white skin7, which means that in general, black people are more likely to have dry skin. Although eczema can be found anywhere on the body, eczema on black skin is often found on extensor surfaces – like the fronts of the arms and legs3.

Other signs to look for1:

  • Very dry or scaly skin

  • Intense itching

  • Skin thickening (lichenification)

  • Dark circles under the eyes

  • Small bumps on torso, arms, or legs (called papular eczema)

  • Bumps that develop around hair follicles and resemble goosebumps (called follicular accentuation)

Although eczema severity improves for some patients in adolescence, it can be a lifelong issue affecting performance in school. One US study found that Hispanic children were 3.4 times more likely to be chronically absent from school due to AD than non-Hispanic white children, and non-Hispanic black children were 1.5 times more likely to be absent due to AD compared to non-Hispanic white children8.

References:

  1. Eczema on black skin - National Eczema Association. Eczema on black skin: pictures, symptoms and treatment (nationaleczema.org)

  2. Ben-Gashir MA, Hay RJ. Reliance on erythema scores may mask severe atopic dermatitis in black children compared with their white counterparts.

    Br J Dermatol. 2002;147:920-925.

  3. Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E. Racial differences in atopic dermatitis.

    Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;122:449-455.

  4. Guo Y, Li P, Tang J, Han X, Zou X, Xu G, Xu Z, Wei F, Liu Q, Wang M, Xiao F, Zong W, Shen C, Li J, Liu J, Luo Y, Chang J, Sheng N, Dong C, Zhang D, Dai X, Zhou J, Meng C, Niu H, Shi X, Zhang X, Xiang J, Xu H, Ran Q, Zhou Y, Li M, Zhang H, Cheng R, Gao X, Wang H, Gu H, Ma L, Yao Z. Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis in Chinese Children aged 1-7 ys. Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 19;6:29751. doi: 10.1038/srep29751. PMID: 27432148; PMCID: PMC4949439.

  5. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. New Website Spotlights Unique Differences of Eczema In People of Color - ACAAI Public Website

  6. Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Brown Skin - Eczema in Skin of Color.org Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Brown Skin | Eczema in Skin of Color

  7. Wan DC, Wong VW, Longaker MT, Yang GP, Wei FC. Moisturizing different racial skin types. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(6):25-32.

  8. Wan J, Margolis DJ, Mitra N, Hoffstad OJ, Takeshita J. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Atopic Dermatitis–Related School Absences Among US Children. JAMA Dermatol. 2019;155(8):973–975. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0597

Eczema is a chronic condition, which means that it cannot be cured1. Treatments, however, are very effective in reducing the symptoms of itchy, dry skin. Goals of treatment include relieving itch, and moisturizing to help restore the skin moisture barrier.

Some children outgrow their eczema. Others continue to have eczema flares and remissions for life. If your child’s eczema becomes more severe, your child’s doctor will consider other treatment options to manage symptoms and help prevent flares. The treatment plan will be tailored to your child’s individual eczema symptoms1. Tips for managing flares include2:

  • Knowing triggers so that you can avoid exposure.

  • Sticking with a daily bathing and moisturizing routine

  • Using OTC creams, balms, and prescription medications when needed, consistently and as prescribed.


References:

  1. Can eczema be cured? American Academy of Dermatology: Can eczema be cured? (aad.org)

  2. What is eczema? National Eczema Association: https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/

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