An Essential Guide to Baby Eczema: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Although eczema affects many adults, it is more common in children.

This so-called baby eczema or infantile eczema usually persists through childhood and adolescence, and in some cases even into adulthood.

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes baby eczema, but they believe it’s most likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Eczema is not contagious.

Infants are more likely to develop eczema if family members have a history of eczema, hay fever, or asthma.

While these conditions don’t cause one another, infants are more likely to develop hay fever or asthma if they already have baby eczema.

Scientists believe eczema results from an immune-system dysfunction that affects the skin barrier and its ability to hold in moisture.

While baby eczema is the result of immune-system dysfunction, likely from a genetic predisposition, studies have found a number of risk factors.

• Thickened skin
• Discoloration and swelling
• Darkened skin on the eyelids and around the eyes
• Changes to the skin around the mouth, eyes, or ears

Cradle cap causes symptoms not commonly seen in other types of infantile eczema, such as greasy yellow scales on the scalp that sometimes appear in a thick layer covering the entire top of the head. Over time, the scales become flaky and rub off.

Baby eczema is most prominent on the cheeks, forehead, and scalp of an infant within the first few months of life, and often tends to make the skin look more irritated and “weepy” than at other ages.

The eczema can appear on other parts of the body as well, including the diaper area.

When the infant begins to crawl, usually between 6 and 12 months, eczema will typically affect the elbows and knees, which rub on the ground. The eczema rash can become infected, resulting in a yellowish crust or tiny bumps of pus.

When the child is around age 2, eczema may begin to appear on the insides of the elbows and behind the knees, as well as on the wrists, ankles, and hands. It may also appear around the mouth and eyelids.

Eczema usually isn’t a persistent condition, but rather one marked by long symptom-free periods followed by flare-ups.

Various environmental factors may cause the immune system to respond as if the body has encountered a harmful substance, resulting in inflammation and worsening eczema symptoms.

• Pet dander, pollen, mold, and dust mites
• Allergenic foods (such as peanuts, soy, and eggs)
• Clothing made of wool or synthetic fibers
• Cigarette smoke
• Scented products, such as laundry detergents, perfume, and air fresheners, especially ones that contain alcohol
• Excessive heat or dryness
• Dry winter air with little moisture
• Skin infections
• Sweating
• Stress

There’s no cure for baby eczema, but the condition usually becomes less severe over time.

Treatment focuses on managing skin dryness to prevent flare-ups and on reducing skin inflammation.

• Avoid giving your baby long hot baths (use cool or lukewarm water instead) or rubbing your baby’s skin too much, especially with rough washcloths, loofahs, or towels.
• Consider twice-weekly diluted-bleach baths, which can help babies older than three months whose eczema gets infected frequently; discuss with your doctor.

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• Moisturize your baby’s skin frequently with fragrance- and dye-free ointments, creams, and lotions, especially right after a bath.

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• Dress your baby in soft cotton clothing that “breathes.”
• Avoid using scented products.
• Keep your baby’s fingernails short to prevent scratching, which can damage the skin and lead to further inflammation and infection.
• Remove irritants and known allergens from the household as much as possible.
• Keep your baby cool to avoid excessive sweating, possibly by using cool compresses (a wet, cool washcloth), especially on irritated areas.
• Consider using mittens on your small child’s hands if you need to leave the child alone for a short period of time, such as when you’re using the bathroom. This will help prevent the child from scratching their skin when you are out of sight.

• Topical corticosteroids
• Antihistamines
• Antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal drugs for skin infections
• Oral medication that suppresses the immune system
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors, which are nonsteroidal drugs that control inflammation