Patient Groups

Patient Groups

10 Tips for controlling eczema in infants

Eczema commonly begins during infancy and generally begins on the face, scalp, neck and upper chest. It may spread to the forearms and shins later.

  • Avoid frequent baths.
  • Keep baby's skin from becoming dry and itchy by adding non-allergenic oil to the bathwater. Pat the skin dry.
  • Use a gentle, unscented moisturizer on your baby's skin to reduce dryness, especially after a bath when baby's skin is still moist.
  • Avoid scented laundry detergents and bath products. Double rinse clothing.
  • Dress your baby in loose cotton fabrics. Avoid overheating by keeping the room cool.
  • Your physician may recommend weak corticosteroids.
  • If moisturizers and mild topical corticosteroids fail to control eczema, bottle-fed infants younger than 6 months of age should undergo a 6- to 8-week trial of replacing cow's milk formula with an extensively hydrolyzed protein formula or amino acid formula.
  • Seek the advice of a dietary specialist for children over 6 months of age, regarding offering a diet that includes soya protein.
  • Women who are breast-feeding children with eczema should receive dietary counseling regarding removal of specific foods from their diet if food allergy is suspected.
  • Keep infant nails short to keep them from scratching. Use cotton mittens if necessary.

7 Tips for managing eczema in children

Less than 50% of children will outgrow their eczema by six years old. Those who do outgrow the condition will continue to have dry skin.
  • Moisturize the skin regularly.
  • Use unscented body washes, moisturizers and laundry detergents.
  • Do not use bubble bath as it is drying. Make sure bath water is not too hot. Pat skin dry and apply moisturizer immediately after bathing.
  • Saltwater and chlorine irritate skin. Apply a moisturizer before swimming. Shower immediately after and reapply a moisturizer.
  • Allergy testing is not needed for most children with mild eczema.
  • Dress children in cotton fabrics rather than synthetic and layers of clothing that can be removed to avoid overheating.
  • Arrange for your child to have seating away from heating sources such as radiators or windows in the classroom.
  • Keep nails short.
  • Weak to moderate potency steroids may be used in children and for more severe conditions topical immune modulators are used.
  • For children unable to sleep due to itching and discomfort your physician may recommend antihistamines that cause sedation at bedtime.