Managing baby eczema symptoms

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What is eczema in babies?

If a baby is fussy and constantly rubbing their cheeks, they might be suffering from baby eczema, which is also called infantile atopic dermatitis. While not contagious, atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that often causes dry, itchy skin. Eczema can occur any time in a person’s life, but studies suggest that it’s more common in children. In fact, 60 percent of eczema cases develop within the first year of life.

If a baby is suffering from eczema, it can be stressful for all involved, especially as their parents watch their little one experience discomfort. Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for eczema, so the goal in treatment is to choose the right option to help reduce symptoms and bring the baby some relief.

What does baby eczema look like?

“In babies, eczema often looks like pink scaly patches on the cheeks, neck and hands,” says Elizabeth Lebrun Nestor, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Siperstein Dermatology Group based in Boca Raton, Florida. “In older children, however, it’s more often present in the skin folds, such as elbow creases or behind the knees.”

Eczema on a baby’s face and elsewhere looks like dry, raw and scaly skin, and it may develop into a bubbly rash that leaks fluid. These uncomfortable rashes can turn painful during periods of flare-ups when the skin can crack and even bleed, says Dr. Nestor. Additionally, the itching sensation of eczema may cause babies to scratch the area, thereby increasing the inflammation, redness, oozing and crusting.

What causes baby eczema?

Eczema doesn’t have one specific cause — it’s brought on by a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies suggest these common causes:

• Food allergies (an egg sensitivity, for example) may be related to baby eczema.
• If a parent has eczema, their children are two to three times more likely to develop eczema than other children.
• About half of people with eczema have less of the skin protein filaggrin, which can lead to a weakened skin barrier.

Eczema is not contagious, so babies can’t catch it from other children or adults.

What causes eczema to flare up?

“When people have a genetic predisposition for eczema, there is often a trigger that causes an eczema flare in their skin,” says Dr. Nestor. “These triggers may be emotional (such as stress) or environmental (such as exposure to certain irritants, chemicals or fragrances).” Heat and humidity may be as additional triggers for a baby’s eczema, as are dry, cold or windy weather. These conditions irritate the skin and disrupt the skin barrier and can aggravate rashes, according to Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified adult and pediatric dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, California.

How long does baby eczema last?

Wondering if a baby will grow out of this itchy condition? The good news is that some children start experiencing fewer flare-ups as they get older, and eczema may go away completely by age four. For other people, this is a lifetime condition that extends into adulthood.

When a baby is experiencing a flare-up, it may take a few weeks for the skin eruption to subside. A health care provider may recommend sticking with a new treatment for at least two weeks to see if it has a positive effect.

Bathtime tips for baby eczema

Always check with a health care provider before treating baby eczema. Here are tips that may help ease eczema’s itch and discomfort at bathtime.

Baby eczema treatment

It’s best to first visit a child’s pediatrician or a pediatric dermatologist to receive a definitive diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan. Typical treatment for baby eczema involves daily bathing and moisturizing.

When bathing a baby, Dr. Shainhouse encourages the use of warm — not hot — baths, with bathtime limited to 5 to 10 minutes. She also recommends the following regimen:

• Choose a fragrance-free, mild non-soap liquid wash. (Shainhouse also notes that fragrances and soap are common triggers.) While on the go, wipes will work in a pinch.
• Pat skin dry after bathing.
• Moisturize skin with lotion immediately after patting dry to help lock in moisture.

Choosing a baby eczema cream

“Choose a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizing factor, or glycerin to attract water into the top layers of the skin, and ceramides to repair and strengthen the skin barrier,” instructs Dr. Shainhouse. “Look for ingredients such as dimethicone, panthenol, sunflower oil or petrolatum to act as a barrier to help lock in that moisture.”

How can caregivers stop their baby from scratching?

It can be especially hard to keep babies from scratching — a parent can’t reason with them to stop, after all. Dr. Nestor recommends keeping a baby’s nails short, which may help minimize damage. “Some parents may put mittens on their babies to prevent scratching,” she adds.

By learning to care early on for a baby’s skin, a parent will have the tools to manage flare-ups as their children get older, helping to keep future eczema issues as infrequent — and painless — as possible.

Baby eczema vs. acne

While acne may be more associated with middle school than the baby stage, acne is common in the first few weeks of life, with about 20 percent of newborns experiencing neonatal acne.

Baby eczema and acne may look similar: Both often occur around their cheeks and show up as red, bumpy and rash-like. What can look like eczema on a baby’s scalp can actually be seborrheic dermatitis (“cradle cap”). If a baby is experiencing any of these conditions or their parent isn’t sure, it’s best to see a health care provider to get a diagnosis and start on the proper treatment path.